Page 183 of Fractured Future

“Deliberately so. This is sloppy work. Whoever did this knew we’d be able to tell it wasn’t self-inflicted.”

“Okay… to what end?”

“Because it’s a warning,” Hyland answers my question. “Gael’s leaving us a message.”

This was the one person who offered us a chance of tracing Gael’s exports. Reduced to little more than a warning shot. With Diego dead and Luis gone, the raid was for nothing.

Unless…

“We have no choice,” I announce with grim certainty. “Madden is our best chance to reach the cartel.”

Spinning in his seat, Warner hits me with an aqua stare. “Not a chance.”

“He can help us.”

“He’s lying through his teeth to save his own skin!”

“Then why is he still in the building?”

Warner falls silent, stumped by the truth.

“Why haven’t you had him shipped off to some hellhole he’ll never escape from?” I push further.

Watching his shoulders sink, I wait for a reasonable explanation that he can’t give. Warner could’ve gotten rid of Blaine the moment we told him about the proposed partnership. Yet he hasn’t done so.

“Ember has a point.” Axel stretches his ink-riddled arms and shoulders. “We’re fresh out of options.”

“Shut up, pup,” Hyland snaps at him.

“What? I don’t get a say in this?”

“You don’t know Madden like we do!”

“I know he made a very good point!”

“What fucking point?” Hyland argues.

“That Gael is ready to expend all of his resources to recapture his champion. We need to locate him before he finds Ember.”

“No one is finding Ember,” Warner inserts, pulling his earpiece out. “Sabre remains the safest place for her. By our sides.”

“We can only ensure her safety if we have the advantage,” Axel calmly reasons. “Madden knows Gael’s operations. He has a personal stake. He could be useful.”

“He’s a fugitive!” Hyland gestures wildly.

“Look at what we do for a living! If we didn’t have these jobs to justify our actions, we’d all be criminals. I for one know I would be!”

“What is wrong with you, Ax?” Hyland squares off against him. “Why the sudden allegiance to Madden?”

Something passes between them—a mistrustful tension that turns the atmosphere to ice. I watch Axel’s eyes drop as he sputters defensively.

“I don’t have an allegiance to him.”

“You’re the one who told us what he wanted.” Hyland refuses to take his eyes off him. “You pushed for Ember to speak to him. Hell, you’ve been off ever since you interviewed him alone.”

“I have not!” Axel cries.

“I call bullshit on that.”