Page 67 of Dichotomy

“Agent Hayes, what is the meaning of this?” the director demanded, like we hadn’t just caught him in the act of trafficking eight girls.

“It’s over, Director Keller,” Dominic said, folding his arms. “Or should I say, Kingfisher?”

For a second, the director just stared at him.

Then he laughed.

It wasn’t hysterical or panicked. It was a soft, confident chuckle. “You have no idea what you’ve just done.”

Dominic wasn’t fazed. “You’re under arrest for human trafficking, conspiracy to commit, obstruction of justice, and a dozen federal violations I’m sure you’ve forgotten about.”

“I think you’re going to be very disappointed by what sticks,” the director said. “He won’t abandon me. And he’ll be pissed you cost him a key resource.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. This wasn’t the phrasing of a man in charge.

The SID agents moved in, taking hold of his arms. Agent Mercer started reading the director his Miranda rights. That’s when it seemed that reality sank in for the director. His laughter turned hysterical, and he twisted out of the agents’ hold, charging at Dominic before they caught him.

“You really believe this ends with me?” he asked hysterically, his gaze sliding past Dominic to Marcus and the others who had gathered. “This was a side project for him. A convenience.”

He leaned closer to Dominic as they started to pull him away. “But now you’ve interfered with Kingfisher’s business. And do you know what happens when you interfere with Kingfisher’s business?”

Dominic’s jaw tightened. “It’s over.”

The director smiled again. “No,” he said quietly, the calm a stark contrast from his hysteria just moments ago. “It’s just begun.”

The agents dragged him backwards to the transport vehicle. He twisted his head back just enough to look at Dominic one last time. His wild eyes seemed to stare directly into the body camera.

“You’ll learn tonight,” he shouted. “You’ll learn tonight!”

His words were cut off as the SID agents dragged him into the vehicle. Agent Hayes had the foresight to bring two female agents on his team, and the pair of them were directing the girlsinto a separate vehicle. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the female agents’ body language was soft and soothing.

Alexander stepped up next to Agent Mercer. “SDS would like to be kept in the loop about what happens to the girls,” he said, holding out a hand for the agent to shake. “Whatever they need to help them get through this, we would like to provide.”

Agent Mercer nodded. “I’ll be in touch. Thank you for your assistance tonight, but you all should head home. We’ll take care of everything else. Hayes.” He acknowledged Dominic tersely, likely still pissed Dominic had broken protocol and moved before Agent Mercer had said to.

When he was far enough away, Sebastian whistled. “Ooooo, someone got scolded,” he teased Dominic.

Dominic chuckled, but I could see him wince from Adrian’s body cam.

“Come on,” Adrian said gruffly. “Let’s get your arm looked at.”

“Dominic was shot?” I hissed. Was that the muffled grunt I’d heard? Why wasn’t he getting checked out?

“Just a graze,” Dominic said. “I can patch it up later.”

“We’ve got a first-aid kit here,” Liam said. “Meet us at the van.”

A few minutes later, a vehicle rolled to a stop outside the van, and I threw open the door, first-aid kit in hand. The guys poured out of the vehicle. Sebastian swept me up in his arms, bending me backwards and kissing me, leaving me breathless.

“We did it, my darling!” he said, smiling. I smiled back, but my worry made it feel hollow.

Adrian took the first-aid kit from my hand, and Dominic leaned against the passenger door.

“I thought Agent Mercer was going to murder you for going early,” Alexander said.

Dominic winced as Adrian wiped away the blood. A bit of tension left my body when I saw it was just a graze. “Yeah, I’ll likely be hearing about that later. I would say I’d be hearing from my superior, but with the director’s arrest, they’ll likely be shutting down FIA operations while they investigate.”

Now that the adrenaline was fading, the director’s words replayed in my head, and something wasn’t fitting.