Nydia: I should be home tomorrow. You better be there or else.
Siobhan: Your honeymoon?
Nydia: There’s an emergency. We have to go back.
Siobhan: Is Mr. Cantú okay?
Nydia: It’s Mane’s other job. The guys are going to be busy for the next few weeks.
Dread washes over me as I read those words. He’s some kind of CIA or FBI agent and has to go back to duty. What do I do when Anya needs to be here in Seattle?
Then, it occurs to me that Lang’s sense of urgency when he demanded Iskander’s presence in Luna Harbor was different. He wasn’t trying to goad him as usual, but he pleaded for him to go there because they needed him.
I touch my stomach. What really happened?
ChapterTwenty-Eight
Iskander
Since my parents’divorce, Manelik has had a lot of anger issues. My father had to find counselors who could help us with the separation. He wasn’t the only one having trouble adjusting to our new life, but Mane was the worst.
Dad found a school where we could thrive and also find friends who shared our interests. Mane happened to be paired with Grace Bradley. Her father owns a tech company that develops security systems, among other gadgets and software.
What not many know is that he also runs a subdivision called The Organization. It’s a high-intelligence security company that deals with notorious criminals. That’s about all Manelik will tell us. I don’t like that he’s involved in it, but I support his choices.
When Lang told me I had to be in Luna Harbor immediately for a quick briefing and that Manelik’s honeymoon had been postponed for a later day, I knew it had something to do with this gig. I pray during the entire flight that nothing has happened to the guys. I wish they had stayed on hiatus.
The meeting is held in the Wicked Luna Brewery conference room. Fisher, Sanford, and Beacon are there. I glance around, hoping to see Grace, but she’s not here.
“Is Manelik okay?”
Beacon nods only once. “He’s still on his honeymoon.” The tension in his face is a kick in the gut. What the fuck happened?
The screen mounted on the wall comes to life. I recognize Mason Bradley immediately. Lang is on another screen, and within minutes, at least thirty people are connected.
“Thank you for gathering together on such short notice,” Mason starts. “As some of you know, we have a very delicate situation.”
He clears his throat. “Coco LeBlanc shared some pictures she didn’t own, and a story she shouldn’t have told. Unfortunately, the news trended worldwide, putting one of our agent’s family and someone else in jeopardy. We’re taking enough precautions…”
As he continues debriefing everyone, I check social media and my heart thunders when I realize he’s talking about Seth, his son. He’s involved in the scandal with Coco LeBlanc.
Not only him, but also Teddy St. James. I’m friends with her older brother, Kingston. I stare at the pictures of Seth and Teddy who the media calls the other woman.
What the fuck is happening? I need to reach out to King and make sure he’s doing fine.
“Can we count on you, Iskander?” I lift my gaze, almost chiding myself because of course, I wasn’t paying attention.
I guess all these pictures, posts, and even articles absorbed all my focus.
“We just need to ensure that you’ll stay close to Luna Harbor for as long as we need to hide them.”
Who is them? Instead of asking, I just nod. “Of course, we’ve done it before and we’ll do it again.”
“Thank you, we appreciate your help.”
“I’ll call you later to coordinate,” Lang says, and I hope he means coordinate Anya’s treatment or… I don’t want to be away from Siobhan, but I also know that for her own safety, I’ll have to forget about my plans.
The videoconference continues, but all I can think about are all the people I know who might be in jeopardy, including my family. I sigh in relief as I remember how this place is far enough away, and the last time The Organization used it as a safe house, they set up surveillance cameras and security systems from Bainbridge Island all the way to Silverthorne Bay.