Page 13 of Burning Secrets

“Wolf attack. Not me. But I think I figured out the SOR’s bigger plan.”

Rio folded his arms.

“Food supply. They dosed the salmon, and JoJo thinks that the wolf ate the salmon, got sick.”

Rio was nodding. “They also sprayed a homestead near the Refuge. Killed the chickens, and the woman had some sort of toxic reaction.” He ran a hand behind his head. “Are you any closer to figuring out where they’re storing this, or even how they’re making it?”

“No. I know there’s more than one location. Jer is back—he disappeared not long after I embedded. He came back a few weeks ago. And Viper has taken over after Howards’s death.”

“Tristan.”

“Yeah. He killed him trying to get his sister and her friend Logan out. How is he?”

“Dunno. He went off the radar after he was found in a fire. Went to the hospital, then AWOL. Probably laying low.”

“Or dead.”

Rio’s mouth made a tight line. He nodded. Then glanced past him to JoJo. “She was on the property?”

“Nearly.”

He sighed. “The SOR still hunting the SJs?”

“There’s talk.” Crew turned, spotted her in the light. So pretty, and laughing, and something simply grabbed him, squeezed.

Desire, maybe. “I’m tired of this, boss. I’ve been embedded for over a year and…”

A hand clamped on his shoulder, and he glanced back at Rio.

The man nodded, his eyes kind. “I know. I get it. More than you can imagine. We just need to find out the bigger picture andstop them. And if you can locate the warehouse, that would go a long way to shutting down this bioweapon.”

“They have me on patrol, but that’s all.”

“Which means you need to get back before they start wondering where you are.”

He sighed, nodded.

“I’ll drive you.” Rio urged him toward the dirt street, away from Northstar.

“I need to say goodbye?—”

“No, you don’t. It’ll only make it harder. Trust me on this.”

Crew turned, his gaze on JoJo.I’ll be back.

Sorry, Jo.

He stood for a long moment, then turned and followed Rio through the shadows and away from the light.

THREE

She hadn’t exactly prayedfor fire—no one did that. But to be honest, the noise of their new Twin Otter aircraft, the quiet tension as the Midnight Sun jumpers sat in the belly, simply drilled out the question that wouldn’t stop thrumming inside.

Why had he left?

No word, just walked away into the sunny night and never returned.

She’d waited with Skye, finished her pizza, listened to music, waited some more. Skye’s husband Rio had even shown up after about forty-five minutes, looking for her.

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