Page 25 of Emergence: Prequel

“Your cover wasn’t blown,” I told him. “Kyle thinks Jessie was targeted because of him. You would have figured it out eventually, but you’re too close to it. Your fake employer fired you to protect their sons, but they haven’t killed you, which they would have done if your cover had been blown. My worry is I’ve been in touch with our contact at the Bureau and I’m not sure if I can trust what he’s told me.”

“You’re going to have to explain everything to me from the top and then give me the name of your contact,” Blake said, sitting back down.

I’d not ordinarily tell a stranger anything about our business, but I recognised a kindred soul when I saw one, and this man neededsomething to believe in. Between Cash and me, we filled him in on what we’d found out in a short period of time, and Blake filled in the blanks for us.

The relief on his face when he realised it wasn’t his job that had caused his baby girl to get hurt and the anger when we told him about how the boys had been targeting girls made me glad he was on board with us.

It turned out that his contact and ours were the same.

I let out a relieved breath when Blake told me, “He’s a good guy. He’s the one I mentioned going to when it all fell apart. If he’s bringing in the elite team that he mentioned, he’s pissed. Nobody knows much about them other than they are deadly, and if you are even a little bit guilty, you don’t live through their cleanse. He must have found out we have a mole. He’d only bring them in as a last resort.”

“Jesus, who are these guys?” Cash wondered.

Blake settled back in his chair, saying tiredly, “Nobody knows; they come in, do what they have to do, and leave. All we know is that they are massive, and they wear skulls over their faces to protect their identity. It’s what they’re known as The Skulls.”

‘Now why did that seem familiar?’I wondered. Cash and I exchanged a look, but neither of us said anything.

It was a long night, and it was just edging on four in the morning when we heard the sound of sleds coming our way.

Walking out to the parking lot, we waited for Kyle, Ford, and Robbie with his girlfriend on the back of his bike to park before we walked to meet them.

“Everything go according to plan?” I asked, pulling first Ford, then Kyle, into a hug, relieved to see them unharmed.

“Yeah, Pres,” Kyle assured me. “We need to take care of the sleds, then we’ll be in to let you know what happened.”

“We’ll sort them,” Bolt said quietly, stepping out of the shadows with his brother, Nickel. “You go debrief Pres.”

Kyle hesitated, “Are you sure, Bolt? It’s a prospect’s job.”

“It’s all good,” Bolt answered. “You can make it up to us. Keeping you in the clear is more important right now.”

‘Well, fuck me.’It seemed as if Bolt was finally growing up. Not that I’d ever expected him not to; it just seemed to be taking him longer than his brothers.

“Appreciate it, Bolt, Nickel. Robbie, let Nickel take your girl to my place for now. She looks done in.”

Robbie turned to the dark-haired girl whose hand he held, “You good with that, Raven?”

“Yeah,” she agreed, kissing his cheek. “You guys do what you need to; I’m going to shower and sleep for a week. Taking down dickheads is exhausting.”

We chuckled at her words.

She smiled, saying to Nickel, “I’m guessing you must be Nickel if he’s Bolt. Lead the way, sir,” she yawned wide on the last word, holding her hand to her mouth. “I’d apologise, but I’m too tired.”

Nickel sniggered, taking her hand, he wound it through his arm, “Come on, kicking ass is hard work; let’s get you to Pres’ house. I’m sure Kyle’s mom is up and waiting for you.”

“She’ll be okay,” I assured Robbie, who was watching them walk away with narrowed eyes. Waiting for his attention to come to me, I said, “Come fill me in so we can make contingency plans if need be.”

Turning, I walked back into the clubhouse with the boys following, Cash and Blake bringing up the rear.

It was a tight fit, but we managed to squeeze into my office.

“Fill us in, boys,” I ordered once we were all settled.

It was Kyle who took the lead, with Robbie and Ford filling in bits here and there.

KYLE

The evening had gone much as we’d planned. We’d left the football game and the school with a small bunch of teenagers whom both Ford and Robbie trusted.