Page 17 of Tabitha

I’m not sure if he’s looking for pets or just telling me that this human is claimed.

Duly noted, doggo.

Gage grabs his laptop, then pulls out a thumb drive from a chain around his neck that looks like a normal necklace. He plugs it into the port, clicks a few things, then stands and sets the computer on the table and turns it toward us. “Should we get down to business?”

I cock my head to the side at his no-nonsense manner. Maybe it’s because he’s even more closed off than I am, or maybe he reminds me of Darcy, my hacker friend, but I want to mess with him, just to piss him off, and I barely curb the impulse.

Bast easily takes the lead, distracting me from my thoughts as he begins the briefing. “We’re a private security firm hired to look into the missing person case of one Private First Class Toris McNeil. He was last seen in Harpersville. We’ve been searching for three weeks, but we haven’t made much progress. The only thing we can tell is that he never left.”

There is a nuance to his low voice that is almost hypnotizing, but I can’t get over the itchy, crawling sensation that he’s lying about something.

The question is, why?

So I ask him point-blank. “Why ask for my assistance if you’re only going to lie to me?”

Everyone in the room stills in a way only done by soldiers. All eyes are on me, and I feel Pierce stiffen behind me, his hands on my hips tightening, like he’s a second away from tossing me over his shoulder and hightailing it out of here.

One of his hands slides back, and I feel a gun at my lower back. The man is ready to go to war.

Bast only cocks a single brow, not the least bit put off by my remark. “The details of why we were hired are irrelevant. We’re sharing with you the part of the case that pertains to your job.”

I don’t know if he is being condescending or just secretive. I consider leaving it alone, but fuck it. What fun would that be? If they can’t tell me the truth, I can’t trust them at my back.

I turn on my heel and head for the door.

“Wait!” River frowns in confusion and takes a step to follow. “Where are you going?”

I glance at them over my shoulder and shake my head. “If that’s all the intel you have on the case, then I guess my security clearance is higher than yours and I don’t need your help.”

River opens and closes his mouth, completely at a loss for words. Gage just wordlessly closes his computer and crosses his arms, thinking I’m bluffing. Bast searches my face, a furrow appearing between his brows, then he curses when I head out the door.

As I step onto the porch, Pierce is at my back, covering our retreat, not bothering to hide his weapon. I inhale a deep breath, feeling like I’ve just taken off my bra and let the girls free for the night. I reach the bottom of the steps before the others follow us out of the cabin, Bast in the lead.

“He’s dead, isn’t he?” Bast crosses his arms and leans against the porch support post. “You’re a cleaner.”

I hesitate, think about lying for all of a second, then give them the courtesy they didn’t give me and tell them the truth. “If all you came here for is to find the kid, then close your case and leave.”

They obviously still have morals or something, and I don’t want them around to fuck things up for me. I head toward my bike, grab the helmet—

“Wait,” Bast mutters, then saunters down the steps.

I turn to meet him halfway, lift my chin, and wait.

“The boy—”

“Is dead. You and I both know the case is now more of a recovery mission.” I look away from him, the sight down the mountain giving the perfect view of the town. A little cul-de-sac rests at the base of the mountain, and I can see a hive of activity. I glance at the houses, easily picking out the one my grandfather built from the pictures shown to me—it’s the biggest.

Smack dab in the center.

The shipping container I ordered already rests outside.

Bast steps in front of me, forcing me to look at him, and I oblige. “We’re not leaving, not until we’ve been called off the case.”

His eerie, beautiful eyes are resolute as he gazes down at me, not an ounce of him willing to back down, and I can’t help but admire him…even if it means he’s going to be a pain in my ass.

“A month. That’s how long you have to find the kid before I take action.”

It’s the best I can give him.

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