Page 149 of These White Lies

Over the next two hours, I give them the information they want while the two agents take furious notes.

Keith. The necklace. Anna. The party.

My voice doesn’t waver, but I’m aware of how detached I sound, like I’m reciting someone else’s nightmare. I zone out a little, the throbbing in my eye growing as they discuss what will happen next.

“…anyone connected to the defense contracts. If we find criminal activity…” the Justice Department guy is musing.

James cuts in. “You meanwhen.Whenyou find it. Selling American-funded weapons to foreign terrorists isn’t just criminal—it’s treason.”

There’s a pause.

The agent nods. “It will be taken care of.”

My concentration is slipping. The room feels too bright, the air too thin. I try to sit still, but my splinted fingers ache.

Luke’s voice breaks through. “Seth and Anna are currently in the Atlanta Police Department’s custody for what happened last night.”

“I’m going to take Ms. Lindquist into FBI custody as soon as I leave here. She’s angling for witness protection.”

Declan scoffs under his breath. “They’ll find her.”

“Someone will,” Alex Kovalyov says with a slight smile.

Brady crosses his arms. “And the rest of the Lapidarists?”

The FBI agent shrugs. “If we can tie them to any actual crimes, we’ll press charges. But belonging to a secret club isn’t illegal.” He holds up the white velvet box, now in a labelled evidence bag. “However, I suspect this is going to prove to be the missing link to several open investigations.”

The DOJ guy gives a polite nod, saying something about keeping us in the loop, and then they are gone.

“What’s the plan?” James is looking at his older brother.

Declan stays silent for a moment and then stands, adjusting his cuffs. “Leave it with me. Their names will be publicly revealed… after that?”

He looks to Alex as he and Liev rise to their feet. Alex’s light eyes blaze with excitement. “A joint venture. We haven’t gone hunting in a while.”

“Already bored with changing diapers?”

“Never.” Alex scowls at Declan. “And you aren’t really one to talk.”

“Hunting is that what you call it?” Brady asks, sounding curious. “I’d like to be a part of it.”

Alex looks at him as if he'd forgotten Brady was in the room. “No. This is bestie stuff.”

“Did you just say,bestie?” Declan looks horrified. James and Luke are openly laughing.

“Dec has a bestie,” Luke wipes at his eyes.

It takes my sluggish brain a second to catch up with the banter being thrown around, but finally the pertinent information seems to fully puncture the fog.

“You’re going to… all of them?”

The man introduced as Liev speaks for the first time. He’d been smiling along with the others, but his expression sobers. “We really don’t like men who abuse women.” He cocks his head. “Or power-hungry assholes.”

“Um…” Luke stares pointedly at Declan and Alex.

Liev lifts his hands with a grin. “I stand corrected. Power-hungry assholes who use that power to hurt innocent people.”

The men continue to trade barbs, but I’m suddenly exhausted. I come to my feet. “If you don’t need anything else…”