driven Archie every bit as crazy as she had me.
“Yeah, I got,” I assured him.
“I have the info you requested on her missing sister though Patrick asked me to run checks on her and two more sisters as well. He didn’t say why. They came back clean. What’s up?”
Silas was standing by listening in.
“I have to get through debriefing this morning first, then we’ll talk.”
Archie seemed annoyed by my answer but for once he didn’t press things.
I hightailed it to the gym for a two-hour workout with the team. Then hit the locker room and took a quick shower and dressed for the day. Our unofficial uniform seemed to be black sweat pants and black tee-shirts, at least around base. We all wore the same thing and left any personal items in our locker with the exception of our badges displayed on our shirts.
I expected Silas and Patrick to sit in on my debrief, so when I entered the conference room to find the entire team I was a little surprised.
“Did I miss a memo or something?”
I looked to Silas for answers.
“I don’t expect your debrief to last long. We’ll get down to business when it’s over.”
“Everyone?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, of course not.”
“Let’s be real, we just want to interrogate you about the girl. You’ve been very quiet on details. Was she pretty?” Baine asked.
I fought back a growl. “Does it matter?”
“Always,” he insisted.
“Then yeah, she’s pretty.” That was the understatement of the year. She was gorgeous. “Are we waiting for O’Connell?” I asked trying to change the subject.
“He isn’t going to make it,” Silas informed me.
“Oh, well, okay. Let’s get this over with then.” I had planned to tell Silas about Susan during my debrief. I didn’t expect to have the peanut gallery in witness for it though.
“You’re frustrated,” Baine observed. “You need to get laid.”
I glared at him and set my jaw.
“Oh, never mind. My bad. I didn’t know.”
“Know what?” Painter asked him.
“Well, it’s obvious, he definitely got laid on this trip. That is clearly not the reason for his frustration,” Baine deduced.
I wanted to reach across the table and punch that irritating smirk off his face.
“Hostile,” Taylor said softly. “Interesting.”
“Why interesting? Baine’s being a grating ass,” Grant told her.
She shrugged. “Maybe.” She wasn’t buying it.
“This is ridiculous, can we just get on with the debrief?” I wanted to ask if they could all leave so I could talk with Silas alone, but I knew I’d catch even more shit if that happened.
“Tell us about the culprit.”
“Susan,” I said.
Taylor’s eyes widened in surprise as if she could figure it all out just in the way I said her name. It was unsettling but I ignored her and kept talking.
“Susan Duncan of Womack, Idaho. She lived with her mother Shay Dubois and two sisters, Sapphire and Sage. By day she worked at their family restaurant Shay Vous and by night she was our firewall breeching vigilante.”
“Vigilante? That’s an odd choice of words.”
“Not really. I’m certain you already know that she was really on the hunt for information about her missing sister, Sonnet Dubois, who was taken four years ago. After years of research she is convinced the Raglan have her sister. Patrick has Archie looking into it. She meant no malice and poses no threat to the Force or Westin Pack.”
“You let her off the hook?” Painter asked sounding surprised. “As obsessed as you were about this mission I expected you to drag her in kicking and screaming for formal interrogation.”
I clenched my fists in my lap trying desperately not to react.
I dared a look at Silas. The amused uptick in his mouth told me he already knew. Patrick had told him. That’s what this was all about. Silas was letting me hang myself.
“You didn’t bring her back?” Ben asked sounding equally shocked.
“I did,” I confessed.
“So she’s here?” Ben said.
I nodded.
“Has she been processed yet?” he pressed.
I shook my head this time. She wasn’t going to be either, but I didn’t say that aloud.
“So where is she?” he asked.
“Safe,” I simply said before turning back to Silas. “Next question.”
“Nope. You’re not off the hook yet that fast. How did Nonna do on the mission?” Baine asked with a serious face that broke into a big grin.
The whole room erupted in laughter.
I relaxed a little. I should have known they’d give me grief over that.
“She did great. She’s ready to sign up for the next one even,” I teased.
Silas looked horrified which only made us all laugh harder.
“I can’t believe