Page 138

“I told him four hours wasn’t long enough to plan a complicated mission. He said the tight timeline was for mission security. He also said he had to get approval from the inner circle for our team to be brought in on this mission.”
“We need to be part of that meeting,” Marsh said.
“Not going to happen.” This from Knight. “It’s a closed session. No one aside from the inner circle is allowed in the room.”
“Where do they meet?” Teagan asked.
“The conference room in the headquarters building. The room is locked when the group is in session so no one interrupts.”
A slow smile curved her mouth. “When do they usually meet? Day or night?”
“Night.”
She turned to Seth. “We need to plant a bug in there as soon as possible.”
“Have to clear the other bugs and cameras first,” Violet said. “That entire building is filled with them.”
“Another security sweep through the building will give us the chance to plant a bug in the conference room without raising suspicion if the inner circle isn’t meeting tonight.” Seth turned to Knight. “Any chance you’ll run into Jace this evening?”
“I can make that happen if I need to. Why?”
“Not having time to talk might mean a meeting has been called tonight.”
Knight rose. “I’ll see what I can find out.” A minute later, he was gone.
“Marsh, you and Bowen come with me and Teagan. We’ll do a sweep through the headquarters building. If we’re lucky, Peters will hold off on calling the inner circle into session until later tonight or tomorrow. Teagan, get your pack. The longer we wait, the more likely we’ll be caught.”
Teagan went to her room to grab her pack and returned. “Ready.”
“Noah, you and Violet make the rounds of the inner and outer perimeters of the camp. Let’s see if our guards are staying on task tonight. Everybody, watch your backs. We don’t have many friends in Haven.”
Violet gave Marsh her electronic signal detector, then Seth, Teagan, Marsh, and Bowen headed for the headquarters building while Violet and Noah went to the outer perimeter of the camp.
Inside the main building, Teagan showed Marsh how the signal detector worked.
“Looks simple enough. Where do you want us to start, Seth?”
“Second floor. Teagan and I will take the first floor. Go room by room.” Seth handed them a plastic bag for the unwanted electronics they found. “We’ll do the same. If anyone stops and questions you, tell them you’re doing a security sweep.”
“Copy that. We’ll be close if you need us.” The men headed for the staircase.
“Let’s start on the far end of the hall and work our way to the front,” Teagan said.
“Each room together,” he said and followed her. They cleared room after room, removing cameras and bugs as they went. Soon, they walked into the conference room.
Quickly, Teagan swept for electronics and found two cameras and two bugs. “Overkill,” she muttered after Seth removed them. She grabbed a bug from her pack and crawled under the large conference table. Seconds later, she emerged. “Done.”
They left the room and continued their search. Five minutes later, men began entering the conference room by ones or twos. Most of them glared at Seth and Teagan. Knight walked down the hall with a dark-haired man, talking about a family reunion the following summer.
“I don’t know,” Jace said. “I understand why your mom is interested in the family getting together next year but you and I will be busy with more important matters. Better not agree to any commitment for the foreseeable future, Elias. Your time and loyalty belongs to The Brotherhood until this time next year.” He grinned. “I’m betting you stay with us even after your contract expires. You won’t be able to resist the power and money coming our way. Babes are drawn like bees to pollen when you have power and money.”
Knight held up his hands. “All right, Jace. I’ll take your advice and hold off on commitments to Mom and her plans. She won’t be happy, though.”
“She’ll get over her disappointment when she sees you rubbing shoulders with the power brokers in our country, especially if you bring home a beautiful wife.”
Knight joined his cousin’s laughter but joy didn’t reach his eyes. Jace should have recognized the fake laughter. He didn’t.Knight clapped his cousin on the shoulder. “Thanks for the advice, cousin. I’ll see you later.”
After Jace entered the conference room, Knight joined Seth and Teagan. “Orders?” he murmured.