Page 13 of Viking (Dixie Reapers MC #24)

Wire barked out a laugh. “What my son means is that these government types got sloppy, and he’s a fucking genius who made them pay for it.”

I’d never understand half of what Atlas could do with a computer, but I trusted his skills implicitly. “What’s Operation Ghostwalk?”

Atlas clicked through several documents, bringing up a mission brief. “Officially, a counter-intelligence operation targeting foreign agents operating on American soil. Unofficially…” He pulled up another document.

“A witch hunt,” Wire finished. “Someone high up suspected there was a leak, information getting to the wrong people. They assembled a small team to find it, your boy Kris included. At least, that’s how it presents itself as of right now.

This is the government we’re talking about, so there are layers upon layers.

Just because we’ve found this much so far doesn’t mean there won’t be more later. ”

I leaned in, reading the document headers. “And did they? Find the leak?”

Atlas nodded once. “They found it.” He opened another file, this one containing surveillance photos of men in expensive suits entering a private club. “But it wasn’t what they expected.”

Wire pushed his chair back, stretching his arms over his head.

“See, they thought they were looking for some low-level analyst selling secrets for cash. What they found was a whole network of officials -- some military, some civilian intelligence -- feeding information to private defense contractors for profit.”

My blood ran cold as I processed the implications. The way Kris had made things sound before, he was closing in on something. Now I wondered where things went wrong. Clearly, something had happened to make things drag out more. “How high up are we talking?”

Atlas clicked through more photos. “Assistant director level. Pentagon officials. A state senator.”

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, bracing my hands on the desk. “And Kris was part of the team that uncovered this?”

“Not just part of it,” Wire said, his excitement fading into something more somber. “According to these reports, he was the one who made the connection. Cryptography specialist, remember? He broke the code they were using to communicate.”

The pieces were falling into place, forming a picture darker than I’d imagined. “And that’s when he became a liability. Someone who knew too much.”

Wire nodded. “And these aren’t the kind of people who leave loose ends.”

Atlas pulled up another document, this one a mission report. “The operation was officially terminated three weeks ago. Listed as ‘inconclusive due to insufficient evidence.’ Or at least, that’s what the paper trail says. I’ll keep digging in case it’s a false lead.”

“What are you thinking?” Wire asked.

“Well, it’s possible they pulled the plug because they were close to being caught. Or maybe they wanted to call a halt before anyone became suspicious enough to dig deep into what had been going on. I mean, it’s the government, Dad. Who the hell knows why they do the shit they do?” Atlas asked.

“Yeah, keep looking. You know damn well they just buried it, or attempted to.”

“And started burying the team,” Wire agreed. “Three of the five original operatives involved in Ghostwalk have died in the past month. Officially, one suicide, one car accident, one heart attack.” He met my eyes. “Your boy Kris was number four.”

I straightened up, pacing the small room as the full weight of the situation settled on me. These weren’t street thugs or rival clubs we were dealing with. These were government-trained killers with resources, connections, and the perfect cover for eliminating threats.

“There’s more,” Atlas said quietly, drawing my attention back. “Kris didn’t just discover the corruption. He documented it.” He pulled up a financial record. “Before he died, he transferred a large sum to an offshore account. Then made a series of encrypted communications to a journalist.”

Wire let out a low whistle. “Insurance policy. Smart man.”

“But did they know about it? And why the hell did it take him so long?” I asked. “Is the contact with the journalist why they came after him?”

Atlas shook his head. “The transfers and communications were well-hidden. I only found them because I knew what to look for. As for why he waited, he didn’t exactly leave a diary behind with his reasoning. So short of raising the dead to ask him, we’ll never know.”

“Then why target his family?” I pressed. “Why would Karoline and Athena be in danger? And what about his parents?”

Wire leaned forward, all traces of excitement gone from his face.

“Because they’re thorough. Because they don’t know what Kris might have told them, what evidence he might have left with them.

And because they were sending a message to anyone else who might think about crossing them.

As for his parents, there’s clear documentation his mom can’t remember who she is most days, and neither of his parents have seen him in years.

From what I can tell, they’ll both be safe. ”

The thought of anyone using Karoline and Athena as a message made my hands curl into fists at my sides. A rage I hadn’t felt in years threatened to overwhelm me, hot and violent and consuming.

“These are government-trained operatives with resources. They know how to make people disappear and make it look like an accident,” Wire said.

“They haven’t met the Dixie Reapers,” I said, my voice rough with anger.

Wire exchanged a glance with Atlas. “This isn’t club business, Viking. This is next-level shit. We’d be taking on people who could wipe us all out with a phone call if they wanted to.”

“I don’t give a fuck who they are,” I said. “Karoline and Athena are under my protection now. Under the club’s protection.”

“You’re getting personal about this,” Wire observed, studying my face. “About the sister. And club business? Is Savior aware of that? Does he even realize she’s here?”

I looked away, unwilling to examine those feelings too closely, especially not in front of Wire and his too-perceptive son. “Kris was my brother,” I said instead. “That makes his family mine.”

Wire didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. “All right. So what’s the play?”

I took a deep breath, forcing the rage back into a manageable burn. “First, we need to increase security at the compound. More men on the gates, round-the-clock watches, cameras on all approaches.”

“Already on it,” Atlas said, pulling up security feeds on a secondary monitor. “I’ve upgraded the system. Added motion sensors in the woods surrounding the property.”

“Good,” I said, nodding at the kid with grudging respect. “Next, we need to figure out what exactly Kris documented and where he stored it. We found some stuff, but I bet there’s more. If these people think Karoline has it, we need to find it first.”

I needed to get my hands on the flash drive he’d left with me. It might contain the information we needed, but I couldn’t be sure. I’d hidden it away like he’d asked of me. But that had been a while ago, so there was a good chance Wire and Atlas would find more recent information.

“I’ll keep digging,” Wire promised. “There might be clues in his communications with the journalist.”

“And we need to prepare for the possibility that they’ll come here,” I continued. “Full combat readiness. I want everyone armed, everyone alert.”

Wire rubbed his beard, considering. “I’ll talk to Savior. This level of alert, we need the President’s sign-off. Which means I have to tell him about your girls.”

“He’ll give it,” I said with certainty. “Once he understands what we’re dealing with.”

There was a look in Wire’s eyes I wasn’t sure I liked. I had a bad feeling he was up to something.

Atlas had turned back to his computer, already working on the next layer of security. Wire stood, stretching his back with an audible crack .

“You should get some sleep,” he told me. “Can’t protect anyone if you’re dead on your feet.”

I nodded, though sleep was the furthest thing from my mind. “Keep me updated. Anything changes, anything new, I want to know immediately.”

As I turned to leave, Wire caught my arm.

“Viking,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically serious.

“Be careful with this. Not just the danger out there, but…” He glanced toward the door.

“That woman’s been through enough. Last thing she needs is to get tangled up with a biker who can’t separate duty from desire. ”

The words hit too close to home, striking at the conflict I’d been trying to ignore. “I know my responsibilities,” I said stiffly.

“Never doubted it,” Wire replied, releasing my arm. “Just making sure you know which responsibility comes first.”

I left without answering, making my way back through the quiet clubhouse and into the cool night air.

The compound was peaceful under the stars, belying the danger that lurked beyond our gates.

I scanned the perimeter as I walked, noting the positions of the guards, the angles of the security cameras, the potential vulnerabilities that needed to be addressed.

By the time I reached my house, I had a mental list of a dozen security enhancements to implement at first light. I unlocked the door as quietly as possible, checking each room before finally allowing myself to sink onto the couch, too wired to sleep.