Covert Operations Read Free Page B

of the people who had flown over here with him.
    “Miles,” I called, regaining his attention. “Do you know who did this? I want to know who did this to our people.” I tried to force the scowl off my face to make him think I was more upset than angry. Ash Crest was dead. It should relieve me, but instead it angered me that someone else had gotten to him first. I had wanted revenge, and I’d do the next best thing to get it. Find the person who killed him, and kill them.
    “No,” he said sadly. “I just saw everyone being taken out around me. As I told Camden, everyone else is dead, even Ash and Theo. I have no idea if it’s connected to the base in Sandtown or not, but if it is then you’d better watch your back, because whoever they are, they’re ruthless.”
    “Understood,” I said, biting my tongue to prevent myself from saying a hired hit man and a cartel out for money were the ruthless ones. The people who had taken out members of the cartel were protecting the citizens from the dangers cartels, mobs, and mafia brought with them. I would much rather be around them than undercover here.
    We turned away from each other, and Miles left with some of the other guards as I walked into Camden’s office to figure out what to do next. I knew there would be a few traitors and deserters to track down. They would have to be taken care of when we had the time, and I knew I could be sent out to make sure they paid for their decision. Didn’t these people know the only way out of the cartel was to leave in a body bag? I learned a long time ago that once you’re in the cartel, you’re in it for life.
    When I stepped into Camden’s office, he was on the phone. I took the time to shut the door, knowing he would ask me to do it anyway; he always wanted the door shut for privacy. I looked around the office—immaculate as always. There were a few fake plants for looks, his desk, the seats for the clients, and a bookcase with a filing cabinet next to it. Somewhere in those drawers were files on the cartel, but they were buried under case files Camden and his father had used over the years to hide the true meaning of their business. They hid behind the masquerade of a private investigation service. It looked clean on the outside, meant to hide the drug running and weapons trade.
    After I took the seat in front of his desk and waited for him to finish, he seemed to be in a rush to hang up. It made me curious who was on the other line, because he wouldn’t have normally minded me listening in.
    “Something warm,” Camden stated easily, turning his attention back on me.
    I could see his fingers tapping on the desk with anxiety. Whoever he was talking to made him nervous. I smiled lightly, realizing he was embarrassed. I would have to make fun of him for that later. My smile quickly dissipated as I noticed a poster depicting a missing person laying on his desk. It looked torn at the edges, as if he had ripped it off a telephone pole himself, and it seemed weathered like it had been through a storm or months in the Georgia weather.
    I looked as closely as I could without being obvious, but it didn’t take long before I realized it was my photo on the poster. Fear and anxiety shot through me. Did he know I was a fake? Did he somehow figure out the real Marco Rykov was dead? He could have discovered my identity. He must know. Why else would he have my photo on his desk?
    I thought my disguise was well put together, but clearly someone had found out. They could have seen me dying my hair black to cover the blond, or noticed the colored contacts I kept hidden away. I was usually very careful, but someone must have seen me, and if Camden knew then I was as good as dead.
    How would I get out of this alive?
    “It’s supposed to be cold. Now, I really must go. Marco just came in and we have to finish up some business before I see you tomorrow. Goodbye.” Camden hung up the phone and looked at me expectantly.
    I waited for him to