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I couldn’t say anything for the longest time. My jaw wouldn’t move; the words wouldn’t come.

“You there, Xan?”

“I’ve had better,” I managed eventually.

“Sorry to hear that,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed mine. All those reports of you all out and about. Exercise is good for the soul, and we both know NPPD needed the excuse.”

I let his banalities wash over me, thinking fast, my tired brain powered by a burst of adrenaline. “Where are you, Silas?”

“Me? On my estate. Watching the news. Have you seen the news, Xan?”

“No.”

“Well, I’ll save you the trouble: there isn’t any. Yet.”

“Are you ready to let me in on your plan?”

“Haven’t you figured it out?”

“You hit SPAR HQ,” I said, fighting to keep my voice neutral. I hated this man, but at last I had the whispers of an idea. Keeping my emotions under control was critical.

He laughed. “Yes, I did. I take it you’re somewhere in the city?”

“Yep. Out and about, enjoying the air.” I turned and wandered a short way down the street, putting some distance between Captain Williams and me. Kara and Iyoni’s footsteps followed behind me on the sidewalk.

“That lovely demon girl with you?”

“You know she always is.”

“Yes, I do.” He gave a mock sigh. “I’m not very happy with you, Xan. I think there may have to be … consequences.”

I’d expected him to say something like that, and I had my response ready. “What? Why?” I poured all the disbelief and incredulity I could manage into those two words.

“You know why, Xan,” he said like a parent talking to an errant child. “I set you a very simple task, and you didn’t do it.”

“Of course I did, Silas!” First-name use deliberate. “I’ve been working my ass off all week, just as we agreed!”

“If you were so busy working as I directed you, why are you in the city?”

Obviously he knew. There was never any chance he wouldn’t, not with SPAR and NPPD running around all week.

This was the moment. I had one chance to convince him it was all deliberate, all part of my plan, the whole time.

“Doing what I can to hamper the search, of course,” I said, dropping my voice like I was being overheard. “You told me to leak it, didn’t you? Wasn’t this what you wanted—SPAR running in circles, every asset they have out in the open?”

“I didn’t tell you that.” But he hadn’t denied it. How could he? With the convenient timing of the SATCOM going down, the truth had finally snapped into focus.

“Sure you did,” I said swiftly. “You said if I told SPAR, I had to make damn sure they don’t find it.

And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.

” I swallowed hard, letting him think I was nervous—which was easy.

I was. “That’s what you intended, wasn’t it?

You forced my hand. That was the game, wasn’t it?

Threaten Kara, give me a choice that wasn’t really a choice.

I figured you had to know I would tell them, so I leaned in.

Fed them just enough to keep them chasing ghosts, while you lined up your real target. ”

He went silent for a long moment, and I closed my eyes and held my breath, grateful he couldn’t see me.

When he spoke again, he sounded amused. “You expect me to believe this was all part of your plan?”

“You expect me to believe it wasn’t part of yours?” I let the question land and settle. “I did what you wanted, Silas.” Was that too heavy on his name? Were we best buddies yet? “I’m sick of posturing for SPAR. I want my reward.”

I wiped my arm across my brow, glad he couldn’t see I was sweating despite the cold. Had he bought it?

There was a pause on his end. “Nice try, Xan, but I know what you did to Turner.”

I’d been waiting for him to raise that. “Tidied up your loose ends, you mean? SPAR were onto him, Silas. If I hadn’t taken him out, they’d have made him talk. You wouldn’t have wanted that, would you?”

Another laugh. “He knew nothing.”

“Well, shit. I didn’t know that. When I learned Firth was intending to bring him in for interrogation, I acted. I figured you’d rather have him dead than spilling his guts. When we met, you asked me for a show of loyalty, didn’t you? I killed for you, Silas.”

Another long pause. “You’re smooth, Xan, I’ll give you that.” His voice chilled a notch. “A little too smooth.”

That wasn’t an outright rejection; it was a direction I could manage. “What’s that supposed to mean? We had a deal.”

“It’s a matter of trust. I need to trust those I work with, and … I don’t trust you.”

I didn’t expect him to, but I wasn’t done yet. A little misdirection, first. “You trusted Leighton Anders, and look what happened there.”

“Yes. You killed him too.”

“Because he went behind your back and undermined you. Another favor I’ve done.”

He chuckled again, but it sounded stilted. Less the natural arrogance of before, more a hint of unease. “Still, I don’t trust you. This is all a little too … convenient.”

“I figured you’d say that, Silas. But I can prove my loyalty. That’s why I have a backup plan.”

“Oh?”

At least he was listening. “I said I wasn’t idle this week. Would you be interested if I told you I uncovered a plot by another faction to undermine you?”

He tried his laugh again, though the unease was even more pronounced. “No one would dare.”

“Directly? Probably not. But from the shadows? Let’s just say this one likes the shadows.”

“Go on,” he ground out.

“I have enough hooks into them to set up a meeting.” I turned to face Kara. “I’ll bring them along, you name the time and place.”

Her eyes widened as she worked to put together the half of the conversation she’d heard. She didn’t look certain, but she still gave me a nod.

“Why would I agree to that?” Moreau asked.

“I assumed you’d want to deal with them yourself.”

“Some minor faction?” he said breezily. “I can’t be bothered.”

I gave my own dry, mocking chuckle. Perhaps it was language he could understand. “Minor?” I echoed. “Why would I bother bringing it to you if the faction was minor ?”

“Who is it then?” he asked, going for nonchalance, but I heard the tightness in his voice—because I was listening for it.

“Val’Sheran.”

The pause, this time, was gratifying. I stayed silent, letting the hook work its way deeper under his skin.

“Val’Sheran?” he said at last, the word carrying the weight of his emotion.

“You heard me.”

“Dacien Halden dares think he can take me on?”

“I have proof. How much have you given him to launder? Would you like to know what he’s really been doing with your money?”

I phrased it rhetorically, goading him a little more, hoping he didn’t say yes. Might’ve been awkward if he did.

“That backstabbing, ungrateful, slippery little bastard !” he choked out.

Confirmation, if ever I needed it, that Silas and Dacien were cut from the same cloth.

“Let me know if you want that meeting, Silas,” I said. “I’ll make sure he gets there.”

I killed the call and met Kara’s gaze. “Well?” I asked. “Do you think we can persuade your father to play his part?”

“I think you can,” she said, with more confidence than I felt. “A chance to get revenge on Silas Moreau? With you on his side? Yeah … I think he’d go for it.”

I waggled my phone in the air and bared my teeth. “Then we’ll just have to see if he’s angry enough to take the bait.”

*

My next call was to Natalie.

“Xan!” She hissed my name, the tension clear in her voice. “This is bad, Xan, this is really bad.”

“Slow down,” I said. “Explain what’s happened.”

“I’m hiding in a cupboard in the office,” she whispered, and I had to press the phone close to my ear to hear her. “Containment’s been compromised. They came in so fast. Someone let them into the vehicle bay and—”

“Stop, take a breath. Don’t talk unless you need to, I want you to stay quiet, stay safe. Use your finger. Tap the mic once for no, twice for yes. Stay silent if you don’t know. Understand?”

The line thudded twice in my ear.

“Are SPAR able to mount a resistance?”

One tap.

“Is Marlow alive?”

Nothing back.

“You said Containment’s been compromised. Have they gone anywhere else?”

Nothing. She didn’t know.

What if it wasn’t SPAR Moreau had been after at all? What if he’d always had another goal?

“Natalie … do you know if they went to the sublevels? Have they gone after the prisoners?”

Two distinct loud thuds echoed in my ear.

Shit . That had been his plan all along. Now he had some of SPAR’s Most Wanted out of prison and owing him.

And the only forces that even stood a chance of containing them were scattered across the city, unable to communicate.

“Stay where you are. Turn your phone to silent. Don’t answer to anyone except me. Don’t breathe loudly, don’t move. I’m coming for you.”

Two light taps, and the line went dead.

“Fuck,” Iyoni breathed. “SPAR had …”

“Anton Reznik,” Kara filled in. “Marietta Kye.” She grimaced. “More beyond that.”

“And now Moreau has them,” I said grimly. “Call your father for me please, Kara.” I never thought I’d actually want his cufflinks. Still, kind of ironic, when Kara had been with me every time we’d spoken. Could’ve saved some money on formal shirts.

“Father? Xan wants to speak to you.” She handed the phone across.

“Dacien.”

“Xan. Twice in as many days? I’m beginning to think you like me after all.”

“Can we banter another time? We have problems and opportunities.”

“I’m listening.”

“Moreau has played SPAR. He’s used his diversion to break in and release a number of maximum security prisoners.”

Dacien let his breath out in a hiss that conveyed clearly down the line. “The one thing that man didn’t need was more chaotic power.”

“My thoughts precisely. Also, I may have been able to draw him out to a meeting.”

Dacien chuckled. “Really? A meeting with Moreau? What did you have to offer him to agree to that?”

“Funny you should ask,” I said, and left it hanging.

Dacien caught on. “Me? You offered him me ?”

I heard Virelle make a comment in the background, and Dacien gave a muffled reply.

He came back on the line. “Why would he be interested in me?”

It was inevitable that he would ask, and I supposed he had to know. I took a breath. “Because I may have told him you’ve been screwing him over and spending all the money he’s given you to launder.”

“ What ?” It was half disbelief, half outrage.

I talked fast. “Large amounts of money involved, Dacien. You know he’d be paranoid about it. Obviously, I know you’re too honorable to screw over your clients”—was that laying it on too thick?—“but when he’s already been targeting you, he’d be all too willing to believe it.”

“You’re right,” he growled. “Let’s burn the bastard. Do you have a plan?”

I gave Kara a slow nod, letting her know he’d agreed.

“Moreau thinks I’m working for him,” I told Dacien. “He thinks I’m going to deliver you up on a plate.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, and his voice hardened. “What’s to stop you leaving me with him when I’m vulnerable?”

“Our oath. Or have you forgotten so quickly? I can’t harm you, directly or indirectly .”

Virelle spoke again, and there was a flurry of indistinct chatter between them. He came back with another question. “Are you planning on fighting him?”

“No, Dacien. I’m planning on killing him.”

“Sounds like fun,” he said. “Count me in.”

“Grand. Only problem: you don’t expect Moreau to come to a meeting and it not be a trap, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Do you have something to help level the playing field?”

“I’ll bring some men.”

“They’ll need to get in position without alerting Moreau. You’ll need to turn up alone, trusting me. He won’t accept anything less.”

“He won’t accept that either. He knows I’d never be so foolish.”

“Fair. You and Virelle?”

“Yes. And … I’ll try for one or two more, then not put up too much of a fight when they’re disarmed and left outside.”

“Sounds good. That’ll be five of us, then, and Moreau will think I’m on his side. It may just be enough.”

“Will Kara and your pet celestial fight?”

“You can count on it.”

Another background comment from Virelle.

“Don’t get my daughter killed,” he said coldly.

“Is it one of the days of the week when you care?”

“That’s not just coming from me. It’s coming from Virelle, too.”

In other words, her mother had insisted. “You can tell her this plan is precisely to keep Kara safe. Any other route, and Moreau would be targeting her. I’ll send the details when I get them.”

I killed the call and tossed Kara back her phone. “You got the gist?”

“Yes. And we’re with you every step of the way. Let’s take this bastard down.”

Iyoni crossed her arms. “All we need now is for Moreau to give us the chance.”

I nodded. “For now, it’s past eight o’clock on a Friday night. Sounds like a grand time to head into the office.”