Chapter Fourteen

Reed

The deeper into this mess I get, the more I appreciate the work that is Rogue. I also don't know how I would have found nearly half the things I did without Mila. Our hours of throwing around theories and hypothetical ideas has had a major impact on how fast we're finding information. Everything comes down to teamwork and the woman at my side.

I was surprised when my phone beeped with an alert that someone picked up the intel I had found and was acting on it today. Valentine's Day of all days. I myself was only aware because now that I have Mila, these things are brought up often. Leaving her in the house, I run out to my shop and flick on the screens. Ciaran's name pops up and he's mobile. His last known ping is in Pennsylvania, right in the middle of the chaos that I've been keeping an eye on with Mila since she started investigating. I call him and he answers right away,

"Reed."

"No one else is working tonight," I point out the obvious while also pulling up all the info he's behind on, "Why are you?"

"Don't worry about me. Just tell me what you could find," he bites back, and I can sense the undercurrent of tension in his voice.

Mila comes down right as I'm clicking through all the information. "Okay?" she asks and I nod, pointing at the screen. With their family drama going on, and the issues between her sister and Ciaran, I thought maybe she would leave. Instead, Mila's face frowns in concern and she sits down next to me.

I turn my attention back to Ciaran before giving him the update. "We didn't capture this trail sooner because the direction of migration isn't coming west to east. The trail appears to be moving south to north. For some reason, this is the first time they have aligned with our border."

"Is this why Matt texted me about a territorial dispute?" he asks, and I glance at Mila, knowing he won't like the answer.

"Yes," Mila jumps in, her eyes lighting up in her mischievous ways. I know she's hoping something will spark Ciaran to figure his shit out with this case if he knows the full details.

Ciaran exhales, and if I could see him, I bet he's rubbing his forehead. "Just tell me, Reed."

The computer dings on his end. "Wait, Kai is on the line." A few seconds later, Kai and Oaklynn's faces are on screen. It's like a high school reunion almost.

"Oh good, you already have Reed on." Kai chuckles. "So you heard?"

"I think Reed was just about to explain," Ciaran replies, and once again, he sounds like he's gritting his teeth.

I don't wait and just jump in, knowing that timing is everything. Right before I can speak, Kai jumps in, "We got a signal from GO. Apparently, New York has been all over this. He's requesting a chat with you tomorrow. Apparently, he has plans tonight."

"He gave you a time I suppose," Ciaran asks.

I glance at Mila and she's smirking, just eating this shit up. I personally do not care, as long as we can get the job done.

"Ollie said that Nash would be in touch around nine our time, so eight for you," Oaklynn jumps in next and Mila smiles even brighter.

"Reed set up a secure line and sent it to Aimsworth. I'll be on," Ciaran snaps.

Kai laughs and covers it with a cough before he and Oaklynn jump off the call. With them gone, I finish typing up all the info Ciaran is going to need and send it to him.

"I thought his little startup was staying on their coast?" he asks me and I glance at him.

"Ghost Operatives has grown in numbers. It's not just him and Oliver anymore either, their friend Miles Foster started a few years back. I'm not surprised this area has grown or that their clientele would bleed into ours."

Ciaran grunts in response. "Thanks, Reed. Don't forget that line."

He hangs up and I shake my head while I finish up my end of things. Mila slides off her chair and pulls her cell phone out.

"The best thing for them right now would be for him to be there and light a fire under his ass," she says over her shoulder before walking away.

My own pulse is starting to pound in my head from all the drama. I'm starting to worry that all their issues will come back to haunt us when we need to be prepared. My senses are firing, and I'm never wrong. Something is happening. Something that Rogue hasn't seen before and it might destroy us if everyone isn't on the same page or thinking clearly.