Page 51 of Girl Lost (The King Legacy #1)

CORBIN SHIFTED in the leather chair in the commissioner’s office, wincing at the streak of pain shooting through his body.

A little over a month later , and his injuries still nagged at him.

Luna sat close, her presence grounding him in a way nothing else could.

Her hand brushed his, a reassurance of support after everything they’d been through. Everything they’d overcome.

The past several weeks had turned his world inside out, leaving him adrift in a sea of change, but Tinch’s office remained exactly the same.

Actually, something was different. The air felt lighter, tinged with a weariness that seemed to emanate from Commissioner Tinch himself.

Gone was the fiery determination that had driven Tinch to push so hard for answers about Carlie.

In its place sat a man worn down by grief and the weight of his position.

Corbin recognized the look. He’d seen it in his own eyes often enough.

“Agent King,” Tinch began, his voice lacking its usual bite, “you’ve been cleared of any wrongdoing in the deaths of Jed Steven Kaplow and Jason Cossic.”

Kaplow, aka Steve, who attacked him at the skate park and who later was shot with Corbin’s own service weapon at the marina when he’d used his body as a shield. Cossic, the man he’d called Hitch, electrocuted in the data vault. The memory of that night flashed through his mind, vivid and visceral.

He nodded, not trusting his voice. The deaths may have been justified, may have saved their lives, but that didn’t make them any easier to bear.

“We’ve also confirmed that Kaplow and his men were behind the arson at Abercorn’s house,” Tinch added.

“Abercorn’s plea agreement revealed he’d sold the Tasers directly to Kaplow.

Forensics matched the accelerant used in the fire to some found at Chiron.

It was a direct attempt to eliminate a potential witness. ”

Tinch continued, outlining the official findings, but Corbin’s mind drifted.

To Summer, the daughter he’d held once in the hospital, only to never see again until their shocking reunion.

To Trinity, the girl who’d stumbled into their lives and found a place in their hearts.

To Luna, the woman who’d brought it all crashing down around him and somehow built something beautiful from the rubble.

If she hadn’t come home ...

A lump lodged in his throat. Where would he be if she hadn’t? Still chasing ghosts and trying to prove he wasn’t his father? Still trying to control everything and afraid to let anyone close?

“King? You with us?”

Blade’s voice snapped him back to the present. He sat in the chair beside Corbin with his brow furrowed. Corbin cleared his throat. “Yeah, sorry. Just ... processing.”

Tinch leaned back, his eyes narrowing as he measured Corbin from across the desk, but he pressed on.

“As I was saying, the scope of this thing is bigger than we initially thought. The Nexus Initiative has its tentacles in everything—politics, finance, research. It’s not going to be easy to take down. ”

“But we will,” Blade added, his jaw set. “The FBI’s given me clearance to join the task force. We’re going to follow every lead, no matter how high up the organ harvesting and illegal research goes.”

“I expect you to keep me informed every step of the way, St. James. I know you’ve got this under control, but don’t forget—this isn’t just another case for me. My daughter was one of their victims.” His voice cracked on the last word, and for a moment, the stoic commissioner looked painfully human.

Blade nodded. “You have my word.”

Corbin understood the tension Tinch carried.

He wanted to be out there too, chasing these monsters down and dragging them into the light.

But as a material witness, he didn’t have that option.

Not anymore. The US Marshals had made that clear when they’d turned his home into a safe house.

They’d been assigned to protect him, Luna, Trinity, and Summer—a safeguard against the powerful people who’d orchestrated this nightmare and were desperate to cover their tracks.

It grated, being forced to sit on the sidelines. But the flicker in Tinch’s eye as he said the word victims hit home. Corbin had other priorities now. Two girls who needed him and a woman he couldn’t lose again.

“What about Everett and Patricia Reeves?” Luna asked.

Tinch sighed, the lines around his eyes deepening. “The Reeves are singing like canaries, trying to save their own skin. But their information is limited. They were more concerned with the profit than the details.”

“And what about Dr. Forest?” Corbin wanted to know how he’d pay for his crimes.

“We’ve hit a wall with him. He’s not talking. Claims he was just following orders, trying to save lives,” Blade said.

“And his daughter?” Corbin asked, thinking of Elizabeth Forest and her failing heart.

“Also tight-lipped,” Blade said. “But the feds are impressed with her work. Might let her continue from prison. They’re thinking she can still help with research for other legitimate medical projects.”

Corbin’s mind flashed to Trinity, to the unnatural heart beating in her chest. A miracle of science, or a ticking time bomb? They still didn’t know. “She doesn’t deserve it after what they did.” To Trinity and to Stryker, who was still in a coma.

“Which brings me to the boat graveyard,” Tinch said. “We’ve identified more victims, going back years. This thing ... it’s been going on longer than we thought.”

Corbin’s stomach churned. How many lives had been lost? How many families torn apart? And they’d never even known.

“But we’re finding others,” Blade added. “Thanks to the data you pulled from the vault, we’re locating patients the police thought to be runaways. Some of them ... some of them are in the boat graveyard.”

“How many?”

“Dozens,” Blade said.

He felt Luna’s hand slip into his, a gentle squeeze of support. His heart swelled.

“We did manage to trace some of Chiron’s financial transactions.” Blade pulled out a series of documents, spreading them across the desk. Bank statements, property records, offshore account details. Corbin’s eyes widened as he took in the figures.

“This is ... a lot of money,” he said.

Blade nodded. “More than we initially thought. And it’s not just the Reeves. We’re seeing similar patterns with other high-level members of the Nexus Initiative. They’ve got accounts all over the world, shell companies, the works.”

Luna leaned in, her eyes scanning the documents. “This is organized crime on a massive scale.”

“Exactly,” Blade agreed. “We’re talking human trafficking, money laundering, probably weapons deals too. The Nexus Initiative? We’ve just hit the tip of the iceberg.”

They’d known it was big, but this ... this was beyond anything they’d imagined.

“What’s the news with the survivor?” Tinch glanced at the paper on his desk. “Trinity Brown.”

“Honestly? We’re not sure yet,” Corbin said. “The doctors want to run more tests, to understand why Trinity’s body hasn’t rejected the bioprinted heart when so many others did. But...”

“But that would mean more poking and prodding,” Luna said. “More time in hospitals. She’s having a hard time with that.”

“We’ll talk to the doctors, see what they recommend,” Corbin said. “But any decisions about further testing or treatment are hers to make. We’ll be there to support her.”

Commissioner Tinch released a long breath. “You know, I was tough on you, King, but I’m glad to know I put my trust in the right place. You did amazing work. Both of you. In fact, I was hoping ... Agent Rosati, how would you feel about joining our team? Officially?”

Luna stiffened beside him. Corbin held his breath, torn between hope and understanding. He knew how valuable she’d be to the department, how much good she could do. But he also knew the toll her work had taken on her.

“I appreciate the offer, Commissioner,” Luna said. “But my resignation from the CIA isn’t final. It’s a bureaucratic process, trying to leave the Agency. I’ll think about it though. Thank you.”

The rest of the meeting passed in a blur. More details, more plans, more promises to stay in touch. But his mind was already elsewhere. On the house that was slowly becoming a home. On the girls waiting for him there.

As they left the office, he turned to Blade. “Working with the FBI, huh? It’s an incredible opportunity. Great way to get your foot in the door.”

“Hey, don’t think you’re getting rid of me that easy. We’ve still got work to do.” Blade clapped him on the shoulder.

Corbin smiled. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, brother.”

Blade glanced down the hall where Luna paced with her phone to her ear. “You know, I heard those boys, Andre and Jordan, got picked up for possession. I was thinking of talking to the DA about inviting them down to the gym. Maybe Tori and I can get through to them. Show them another way.”

Luna had wanted him to talk to Jordan, but they hadn’t had time. Everything had unraveled too fast. “Definitely talk to Andre, but Jordan? He’s not gonna set foot in a gym full of LEOs. That kid’s still carrying a lifetime of hate for cops. Let me chat with him. See if I can soften him up first.”

“Good idea.” Blade folded his arms. “Kaplow’s gone, but there’s always another guy waiting to take his place.

Someone who’ll use those kids, chew them up, and spit them out.

Stryker didn’t let that happen to us.” Blade’s voice was quieter now.

“He saw something in us worth saving. He made sure we saw it too.”

“Stryker took a chance on us,” he said. “Someone has to do the same for them.”