Rae doesn’t look up from her monitors but speaks into her mic. “Salem, I’m Rae. I’m pulling everything I can from the comms chain. If there’s a name, a location, a payment ledger—anything—I’ll find it.”
Salem’s attention snaps toward the glass. “You can do that?”
Rae’s fingers keep moving. “I already am.”
Dean shifts his stance, taking control of the room without raising his voice. “Here’s where we are. The ring moved Salem through a private channel. The holding location you were in is one of several. We don’t know yet who ordered her specifically or why.”
Salem’s fingers curl slightly at her sides. “Because I’m… valuable.”
Dean’s jaw tightens. “Because they’re predators. That’s the only reason.”
Salem swallows hard. I feel her body tense beside me, and my hand twitches like it wants to touch her shoulder. I don’t. I keep my distance. Because the last thing she needs is a man thinking he’s entitled to her space.
Dean continues. “We need you out of sight while we dig. And we need you safe.”
Sawyer’s gaze slides to me. “Ozzy.”
I straighten slightly. “Yeah.”
Dean’s eyes lock on mine. “You’re taking her to a safehouse.”
Salem’s head turns toward me. “What?”
Dean keeps it simple. “We don’t put you in a place we can’t control. The safehouse is stocked. Secure. Quiet. And you’ll have someone with you.”
Salem’s eyes narrow. “So… I’m being guarded.”
My stomach twists. I hate how familiar that word feels in her mouth.
I lean in slightly, voice low. “Not guarded,” I say. “Protected.”
“That sounds like the same thing with better branding.”
Okay. She’s funny. And stubborn. And… Christ, those eyes. Storm-grey. Like weather rolling in. Like the sky right before lightning. I force myself to focus on the mission, not the way my body reacts to her being within breathing distance.
Dean gestures toward a folder on the table. “Safehouse Rainmaker. High hills, a few towns over. Low traffic. No neighbors close enough to notice anything. You can move around town if you keep it lowkey. No social posts. No new contacts. No attention.”
Salem’s jaw tightens. “I’m not a prisoner.”
“No,” Dean agrees immediately. “You’re a priority.”
Salem’s gaze flicks to me again. “And Ozzy goes with me.”
My mouth opens.
Before I can speak, Arrow says dryly, “Ozzy’s a pain in the ass, but he’s loyal. He’ll keep you alive.”
Juno adds, “And he’ll make sure you eat.”
“Hey,” I protest. “I am not a walking meal plan.”
River snorts. “You literally carry protein bars like currency.”
“That’s called preparedness.”
Lark squints at me. “You also carry gum like a flirtation strategy.”
“That’s called charm.”