Page 99 of Only the Hunter

“How?”

“Because if you're taking on Meridian—the people paying to keep Safe Passage buried—you’re taking on people who’ve already tried to kill you. And I’m not standing by while you do that.”

Oh my god. If he’s going to try and talk me out of this—or pull a Dad move. “I’m not asking you to stand by.”

“Understood. But I’m coming with you. For all of it. DOJ meetings, IG interviews, grand jury prep. You don’t do this alone.”

“Gabe, that’s not⁠—”

“It’s not negotiable, Evie. You want partnership? This is what it looks like.” He’s steadfast. There’s no hint of doubt. “You don’t get to protect me by shutting me out anymore than I get to protect you by making decisions without you.”

My nostrils flare with my deep inhale as I process.

A part of me doesn’t like it, but at the same time, he’s not being unreasonable. “Okay.”

For such a simple word, it feels big.

“Okay?”

My chest tightens as fear and relief collide in equal measure.

“Okay,” I confirm. “We do this together.”

“Good. Now, let me loop the team in.”

“Who are you calling?”

“Hudson. He’s the managing director.”

“What about Rhodes?”

“He’s a KOAN partner. Hudson will loop him in as needed.”

Hudson answers with, “You bring her up to speed?”

“Yes. We’ve got a plan.”

“Great. Hold a second, I’m going to loop in Rhodes. He just messaged me.”

There are a series of beeps, then Rhodes’ voice comes through the line. “Tell me you found something.”

Hudson answers with, “I’ve got Gabe and Evie on the line. Gabe, you want to give the update?”

“We found everything. Meridian Risk Solutions. Alpine Refuge Network. Payment chains. Authorization manipulation. It’s systemic.”

“Can you prove it?” Rhodes asks.

“Not without burning ARGUS.” Gabe answers honestly.

That’s the piece I hate—our information source.

“Then we’ll get the evidence the old-fashioned way,” Hudson pipes in.

“I’ll file an IG complaint when we land,” I say, bringing them both up to speed.

“She’s requesting a grand jury,” Gabe adds. “But she needs to know who at the FBI we can trust.”

“I’ll get you names,” Rhodes answers. “You’ll have them when you land.”