“The FBI, and certain people working for Interpol, believe those helping your team are working as double agents for the Taurus. Hayato was, obviously. Sammi is as well. But we believe there are others.”
Vlad and I exchange a glance, his eyebrows rising. “Do you suspect who else?”
Caleb closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Just tell her, Caleb,” Sammi whispers, keeping her eyes glued on her hands.
“Lily, I know you aren’t going to want to hear this, but we’re almost positive Jax is dirty.”
My body snaps to attention. I’m sorry . . . what? “You must be mistaken. Jax may have done some questionable things, but there’s no way he actually works for the Taurus.”
My head pounds, all the blood rushing to it. How could Caleb or anyone else really believe that? I mean, the thought has crossed my mind, but everything must be a coincidence. Jax isn’t perfect, none of us are, but he saved my life. I agree something is fishy with him, but I’d be rotting in the ground, unknown and forgotten, if it weren’t for him. No. I’m willing to believe someone at Interpol is a double agent, but not Jax. Whatever the connection is between Jax and The Taurus, it isn’t because he is a bad guy. He’s been fighting them for as long as I have, so this must be one of them targeting Jax for revenge— the same way they’re targeting me.
“Here.” Caleb pulls a sealed folder from behind him and lays it on my desk. “Read the file before you start defending his innocence. Sammi has been forwarding us all her communications with the Taurus for the last 8 years in an effort to find the bastards working from the inside, Lily. If our suspicions about Jax are true, we’ll need you and your team to take him down.”
“What about Sammi?” Vlad’s voice is clipped.
She raises her head, tears sliding down her face as she stares at him. “Vlad, please.”
“No, Sammi. You should’ve told me.”
“I know and I’m sorry. Can we talk about this?” She’s begging. I’ve never heard her beg, not in the eleven years I’ve known her.
“Sammi stays. If she disappears, we lose our connection and her daughter will lose her life,” Caleb says, standing.
“She has to share every interaction with us. If I find out she’s hiding one thing, Caleb, I’ll slit her throat. If she lies about as much as one thing. I mean it.”
“Deal. Sammi, let’s go. I think Lily needs some space. We’ll go explain to everyone else.”
Vlad and I are immobile. Yells and foul language erupt from the other room moments after Caleb starts explaining. Blake and Dresden’s voices loudest among them. Eventually, Vlad shuts the door and sits across from me.
“Read the file, Viper.”
I shake my head. Whatever is in it, I don’t want to know. There’s no evidence in the world that will convince me of Jax being a Taurus. A knot forms in my stomach, matching the lump in my throat. Considering the attack by the Nigerian militia and whatever may be in this file, my world and everything I’ve been built from may collapse.
Jax is the only father I’ve ever known. He’s the one who raised me, trained me, and told me enough about my past to get me through life. When I was younger, he was the one who sat outside my bedroom door, listening as the nightmares ripped through me. He’s the one that hooked me up with Dr. Saladinya, who did everything in his power to get me into Interpol.
He can’t be a Taurus member. He just can’t.
With shaking hands, I pull the file toward me and rip it open.
†††
~Blake~
My heart stops as a thundering bang emanates from Lily’s office, followed by a snarling, blood-chilling scream. Vlad shoots from the door, pulling it shut behind him, his whole body shaking. Dresden and I both dart toward him, my heart beating in my chest so hard it actually hurts.
“Vlad?”
He shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut as more bangs and screams filter through the closed door.
“Don’t, Blake. Give her a few minutes.”
“What happened?” Caleb yells, dashing to my side.
“She read that fucking file,” Vlad growls, opening his eyes and pinning Caleb with a look that would kill stronger men.
“This is going to be bad,” Caleb whispers, running his fingers through his hair.