Page 24

Orion

I stand at the head of the conference table in Dean’s high-tech security office, my hands planted on the polished surface. Monitors line the walls around us, showing a flurry of social media feeds, news broadcasts, and closed-circuit cameras—each display hammering home one brutal fact: Chester is missing, and so is Briar. Three days. Three agonizingly long days since she vanished.

The silence in the room is nothing compared to the chaos online. The disappearance of the zoo’s star parrot has set the internet ablaze, and theories are spinning out of control: some say Chester was stolen by animal traffickers, others blame an underground black market for exotic birds. Only a few fringe whisperings mention the Bratva, but even that’s enough to make me want to punch a hole through the nearest wall.

Dean stands at my right, arms folded across his chest. A heavy frown creases his brow. Around the table are Riggs, Gunner, and Maverick—three members of our elite brAVO team. They’re all similarly grim-faced. Each man radiates the same frustration I feel, but I can tell by the glances they shoot me that they’re worried. Worried that I’m inches away from coming unhinged.

“How the hell did it get to this?” I mutter, slamming my palm against the table. The wood groans in protest. “We’ve got the entire city’s security network at our fingertips, we’re scouring everything for leads, and still… nothing.”

Riggs, a broad man with thick arms folded on his chest, shifts his weight. He’s a sniper for the Marines, and is on a short leave. Of course he’d be here helping instead of anywhere else. Like the rest of us, this is a family. These men are like brothers. “We’ve got eyes on all major airports, train stations, and we’re scanning the roads in and out of the city. If she was moved, there must be a paper trail or camera footage somewhere.”

Dean runs a hand through his hair, frustration etched into every line on his face. “We asked our informants—everyone who’s ever sniffed around the Russian Bratva. Nothing. Yuri Chekov’s name keeps popping up, but no one can pin him down. We can’t even confirm if he’s in the country.”

“And the Russians themselves?” I press, trying to keep my voice steady. Inside, I’m a live wire of tension. “None of the guys who talk for us know a damn thing?”

Gunner, seated on the far side of the table, grimaces. “They’re all spooked. The Bratva isn’t known for open deals. If Chekov’s involved, he’s keeping a tight lid on it.”

I clench my fists so hard my knuckles crack. Every time I close my eyes, I see Briar’s face—pale with fear, or worse, imagining what they might be doing to her right now. Then there’s Chester, a damn bird who got swept into this nightmare. “We’ve got to find her,” I growl, pointing a finger at Dean. “We have to. I don’t care what it takes.”

Dean exhales slowly, stepping forward. “Orion, you know I’m doing everything I can. But we can’t step outside the lines too far without proof. The authorities are on this too, but they’re focusing on Chester’s disappearance as a high-profile theft. They don’t realize it’s more than that.”

Maverick, a burly man with sharp eyes, speaks up. He’s ex-military and as savage as they come. There’s even been talk that he’s taken on a few mercenary jobs in the past. Although nobody’d be dumb enough to ever ask him. “I called in a few favors from old contacts in the K9 units, trying to see if they can run any new angles. Dead end so far.”

Dead end. Everything’s a dead end . The phrase echoes in my mind like a death sentence. I press my fingertips to my temples, trying to keep the pounding headache at bay. Three days . Three days she’s been gone, three days I’ve been replaying every moment in my head—her last known location, the zoo, the note, the hunch that she’d found out about Heath. All of it swirling, fracturing into a thousand cursed puzzle pieces.

The overhead fluorescent buzz fills the silence for a moment. Then Dean’s phone vibrates on the table. He checks it, grimaces, and sets it aside. “Just more social media chatter about Chester. Nothing useful.”

Riggs looks at me, sympathy in his eyes. “It’s not your fault, man.”

I fix him with a glare that probably looks murderous. “The hell it isn’t. I’m the one who said I—” My throat tightens, and I can’t bring myself to say it out loud. That I didn’t have feelings for her. That she was just a job. She heard those words, and it drove her straight into the lion’s den.

I spin away, pacing toward the monitors, the tension coiled in my muscles begging for release. “I should never have lied. If I’d just told the truth… maybe she would’ve stayed safe.”

Gunner stands, his chair scraping the floor. “None of us thought this would escalate so fast. That zoo infiltration by Heath, the note—everyone assumed we had time to maneuver.”

“Yeah, well, we assumed wrong,” I snap, raking a hand over my face. A rush of guilt floods me. It’s not their fault, I think, forcing my voice to calm. “Sorry, Gunner. I’m just—”

He holds up a hand. “I get it, man. We all do.”

My phone buzzes in my jacket pocket. Quickly, I fish it out, hoping for a miracle. The screen reads Ranger . My chest loosens slightly at the sight of his name. Ranger’s part of the team, and always a good guy to have at your back in a crisis. I nod at Dean and walk a few steps away, pressing the phone to my ear. The men’s eyes follow me.

“Ranger?” I greet in a low voice.

“Hey, buddy,” he says, his tone cautious. “I got your message. You’re sure you want me to handle Jeb? I don’t know anything about birds except how to eat ‘em.”

A ghost of a smile crosses my face. “He’ll be fine. Just don’t let him out of your sight. He might try to snatch your playing cards or something.” For a moment, I remember Jeb’s antics, how Briar used to laugh whenever he showed off. My chest constricts. “I’m heading out of town, Ranger. We got a few leads from the Russian informants—nothing solid, but I can’t just sit around. I’ll be gone a few days, maybe more. I need someone I trust to look after Jeb until I get back. Your job just wrapped, right?”

“Yeah, Tory’s safe. So, I’m back to work and ready to help,” Ranger says, sincerity in his voice. “Anything you need.”

“Thanks, man. I’ll drop him off soon. I appreciate it.”

We hang up, and I slide the phone back into my pocket. When I turn, Dean is standing there, arms still folded. He nods at me to rejoin the group. I take a measured breath, crossing back to the table.

“You heading out?” Dean asks.

I nod. “I can’t sit here and wait for the Russians to slip up. We’ve got a few leads suggesting a possible safehouse outside the city, near the Magnolia Ridge area. Or maybe deeper into the industrial district near the port. Either way, I’m going.”

Riggs frowns. “You sure you don’t want backup?”

The corners of my mouth tighten. “Don’t worry, I’ll have a team if I need it. For now, it’s just recon. I need to keep a low profile—less chance of spooking them if I’m alone.”

Maverick taps a pen against the table. “Couldn’t you let the local authorities handle that?”

I send him a sharp look. “You know as well as I do that local cops can’t handle Bratva. By the time they get the green light, Jason and Heath might move Briar again. Or worse.”

Silence falls, each of us wrestling with the grim possibilities. Dean breaks it by clearing his throat. “All right. I’ll coordinate from here. I’ll keep the rest of the brAVO team on standby in case you need backup.”

Gunner’s expression is solemn. “Be careful, man.”

My heart pounds as I give them a terse nod. “Don’t worry, I’m not going in guns blazing.” Yet , I add silently. If I find even the faintest trace of Briar, I’m not letting anything stop me from getting her back.

Dean steps forward, catching my arm. “Orion,” he says, voice low. “I know you’re feeling guilty, but your head has to be clear. If you rush in half-cocked—”

“I won’t,” I lie. The truth is, my head’s a mess, and the only thing driving me forward is the image of Briar’s face, her laughter, the smell of her hair when she fell asleep against my chest. It’s all I can focus on. “I’ll keep you posted. If something turns up here, you call me.”

Dean’s gaze flicks over me, reading the turmoil I can’t hide. He nods. “Deal.”

I head for the door, the tension in my chest coiled so tight I can barely breathe. Three days. The phrase echoes in my mind, a reminder of how quickly life can change, how easily everything can slip away.

As I stride down the long hallway toward the exit, the overhead lights buzz with artificial life. The hush of the building around me is unnatural, considering the storm raging in my mind. Pushing through the front doors, I step into the crisp evening air, cold enough to sting my lungs. I inhale deeply, letting the chill sharpen my focus.

Sliding behind the wheel of my SUV, I close my eyes for a moment, imagining Briar’s voice, her smile. Anger simmers beneath the surface. I won’t lose you , I vow silently, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles ache.

Firing up the engine, I pull out of Dean’s security headquarters, my headlights slicing through the darkness. First stop: my place, to pick up Jeb and hand him off to Ranger. Then… I’m on the road, chasing any faint clue that might lead me to Briar. It’s not much, but it’s something, and if there’s even the smallest chance I can bring her back, I’ll travel to the ends of the earth.

The city’s skyline looms, dotted with neon signs and flickering windows. Street lamps blur by as I accelerate, my heart pounding to the same beat: Find her, find her, find her. If it takes everything I have, if I have to confront Yuri Chekov himself, or tear down every last warehouse in this damned state—I’ll do it.

Because three days is already too long. And I swear to God, if Briar endures one more minute of terror, I’ll never forgive myself.