Share
Chapter 390: Thursday. Mlilo Animal Reserve, South Africa.
Related chapters
Aegis Group Chapter 391: Thursday. Mlilo Animal Reserve, South Africa.
"Hey? Hey, it's okay." He closed the distance between them and saw the tears clinging to her lashes.Coco wrapped her arms around him, but leaned her head back. "It's a lot of make-up.""I don't care. Come here." He pulled her in closer and she squeezed him tight.They stood like that for several moments. He didn't like seeing her upset, but it did sooth a part of him to know that she'd hugged him first. She took deep, shuddering breaths as she regained her composure. When she'd caught her breath, she placed her hands on his chest and tipped her chin up."Apparently I suck at the morning after stuff.""It's okay-""No, it's not. Just shut up for one second." She took a breath, her gaze never leaving his. "I'm better with animals than I am with people. When we woke up, all I wanted was an hour or two by myself to...mentally prepare for today. And instead of telling you that like a reasonable, rational person, I freaked out. I'm sorry. It was me, not you."Everything fell into pla
Aegis Group Chapter 392: Friday. Soweto, South Africa.
COCO STARED OUT at the activity spread out in what was typically a parking lot. The Aegis Group guys had turned it into a command center with a huge tent, housing their planning areas and equipment storage. Today their teams were upgrading and installing cameras around the perimeter of Mlilo. It was astounding to see so much change happening.And all because Lacey had gone off and fallen in love with the right guy.Coco shook her head and smiled. Lacey was a force of nature. Nothing should surprise Coco anymore when it came to her friend.She pulled out her phone and checked the time.Just after lunch.Technically she was still on holiday, but she didn't trust many people with her pangolins, so she'd been up at first light to tend to their injured and Sushi Roll.She had enough time.Daluxolo had said she could use his car rather than take her bike into Soweto.If she was going at all, she needed to go now. Before too much time had past.She was doing it.Coco turned and head
Aegis Group Chapter 393: Friday. Soweto, South Africa.
By the time they reached Soweto she felt like she knew Silas to some degree. She wasn't entirely certain she liked him as much as Paxton did, but she understood their bond better."Where we going?" he asked.She pulled out her phone and gave him directions."How'd you find this kid?""Cameron had references. I called and asked around.""What are you going to do if you find him?""A lot of that depends on him." She glanced at Paxton. "I didn't have a good feeling about hiring Cameron on in the beginning because of how he was acting. That doesn't mean I didn't want it to work out. There are few enough opportunities as is. I get why he did what he did.""Is this it?" Paxton peered up at a four-story apartment building."Yeah." She popped her seatbelt. "Stay in the car. I'll be back. Do not get out, okay?""I'll be right here." He placed his hands on the steering wheel.She paused and glanced at his backpack. "Are you, I mean, do you carry...?""Do I have a gun with me?" He turn
Aegis Group Chapter 394: Monday. Mlilo Animal Reserve, South Africa.
COCO GRIPPED HER phone in both hands, eyes shut, and allowed the grief to wash over her.Four days since Utata died, and no one outside a small circle of people knew about it. They didn't talk about it and so far, no one had asked about the rhino. But now Coco knew who killed him and possibly where to find the remains.The ballistics weren't official. It was a preliminary report, but because the bullets they'd found matched other poaching cases, the identification process would be faster.The person who'd shot Utata was a repeat offender when it came to poaching. It wasn't the first time this crew had targeted the animals at Mlilo and it wouldn't be the last. But this time Coco needed to do something about it.She had to talk to Paxton.Her feet began walking before she'd finished the thought.The last few days were a whirlwind of action. Coco hadn't truly been prepared for what was going to happen. Sure, she'd known the Aegis Group was donating new equipment, but no one was prep
Aegis Group Chapter 395: Monday. Mlilo Animal Reserve, South Africa.
PAXTON STRETCHED HIS arm along the back of the padded bench seat, gripping the bars that protected the passengers in the safari truck. Silas and the two security guards sat facing Paxton and Coco. No one spoke, mostly because it would be too hard to be heard over the wind and engine.Back in the tent he'd turned around to say something to Silas, only to spot his best friend inches away from Coco talking at her. Paxton wanted to know what the hell had been going on, but there hadn't been a chance. The only thing that'd stopped him from demanding answers was that Coco didn't seem the least bit bothered by whatever Silas had said.There was no telling what Silas might have told her.Usually Paxton didn't mind Silas' sense of humor. Sure, they were sometimes over the line and Silas went too far with things, but he wasn't all bad. But this was Coco, and Silas didn't know her. Paxton was still very much a stranger, but he knew enough. Until she told him to back off, Coco was his girl. No,
Aegis Group Chapter 396: Monday. Cane De Jong Office, Johannesburg, South Africa.
MIA DIDN'T HAVE long. Cane's receptionist was an older woman who ran the office according to her master schedule. Any interruption, including Mia showing up unannounced, was a major infraction. As soon as the woman learned Mia had slipped in, she'd be detained and penciled in accordingly.She was desperate.For months she'd played this role, flirting with Cane, drawing his interest. When Luke had offered her this as a means to pay her debt to him it had sounded so easy. After all, politicians were one and the same. They were dirty, corrupt and using their power for personal gain.And then she'd met Cane.Part of her wanted this fantasy life with him where she was on the way to becoming his wife. But he didn't really know her. This life they had was a lie. He didn't even know she had children. Their lives were what kept her pushing forward and why she was here today.She pulled file folders out of drawers, flipping them open and snapping pictures. Luke was after something specific,
Aegis Group Chapter 397: Monday. Unknown, South Africa.
THE SWISH OF the grass as they moved forward had Paxton cringing. It was too much noise. This was all wrong. They had to go back.He was glad to have his rifle cradled in his arms. Talking Coco into pausing long enough for him and Silas to gear up properly had nearly been a fight. If it weren't for the other guys being on their side Paxton would be out here with nothing more than a pair of SIG Sauers in hand. The sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon. There were only a few hours of daylight left and so far they hadn't seen anything other than tire tracks.It had been a long day spent in the sun trekking over rough terrain. Paxton was impressed with Coco. She'd set the pace and kept it going even through the worst of the heat, only slowing down a little.Silas drifted closer until they were walking shoulder to shoulder following Coco.He glanced at Paxton, speaking softly. "We've walked at least ten miles in a straight line with tracks a blind person could follow."Paxton cou
Aegis Group Chapter 398: Monday. Unknown, South Africa.
COCO STARED AT the back of the den where she and Paxton had taken refuge. The tiny cave, if it could be called that, had a very narrow entrance that a human could barely squeeze through. It was the perfect hideaway for any number of animals to birth young. In fact she could smell fresh musk in the air. There weren't babies here, but it was clear to her a mother-their luck, a predator-was preparing this site."Pax? Paxton?""Sh," he whispered."We have to go.""It's not safe out there yet," he said over his shoulder."It's not safe in here." She didn't want to be squatting when the residents came back.Best-case scenario this was a serval den. The cats were predators but not much of a threat to humans. Worst-case scenario they were standing in a leopard's den. On a normal day Coco wouldn't be terribly concerned about a leopard, but a pregnant mother about to give birth? That was a creature Coco didn't want to run into.Coco pushed at Paxton's shoulders. "Now.""Fine." He glanced
Latest chapter
- Aegis Group Chapter 490: Epilogue.
- Aegis Group Chapter 489: Thursday. New York Hospital, New York.
- Aegis Group Chapter 488: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
- Aegis Group Chapter 487: Wednesday. New York City, New York.
- Aegis Group Chapter 486: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
- Aegis Group Chapter 485: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
- Aegis Group Chapter 484: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
- Aegis Group Chapter 483: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
- Aegis Group Chapter 482: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
