Hardcore Love

The Research

Victor POV

The next morning, I brought out my computer to do background research on the military council who the Shadows work with. Hopefully, I might be able to get some more information on the Shadows. So far, they all proven to us that they have hearts in the right place but can be very sneaky and hard to talk. Especially after the fact that Ghost said nothing about her being blind to either team. Nor did any of them did anything that is an indicator of someone being blind. That got me thinking, what if they didn't want us knowing that or was it a challenge to prove our worth to them. Something about them spoke volumes about the puzzles they seem to enjoy dishing out to others around them. So if they didn't want us knowing about Ghost being blind, what was the reason why? If it was a challenge, did we fail or succeed? What if it was a decision that was for Ghost to decide if we knew or not? At that moment, there was a knock at my door bringing me out of my thoughts. I opened my door to see Kota. "Breakfast is ready. What's on your mind today?" he asks me calmly. Sighing loudly raised his eyebrows as I replied, "The whole situation with Ghost and her being blind. What might be the reason why none of them didn't hint or tell us about it." Kota headed to the stairs as I followed him downstairs, ready to eat. Sean recognizes that I was trying to solve a puzzle as he directed the others to let me work after eating. Once I finished eating, I grabbed my computer and went back to work. There was plenty of information on the council that leads me to their crimes and abuses of power. They were more tied into the JH-14 drug what we thought. However, there was a sliver of doubt that this was all when I came across something that very suspicious. It looked like reports for watching someone 24/7. When I studied them closer, they were very targeted on everything this group did and their joy of seeing them do something normal. The punishments that were talked about were hard to even read as was watching the videos that were kept with the reports. I went to Blackbourne's office and entered to catch his glaze. I was ready to tell the family what I had found but I needed help to tell it. Mr. B asked me gently, "May I see, so I might be able to describe it at the family meeting with the Toma team?" Nodding my head yes, as I handing over my computer to him. He read a little bit before pushing it away to look at me. "We need to tell the Shadows about this. They need to know of this. Can you get their number from Corey? I will stay here to finish reading this. I will in here and get Dr. Green here too." Agreeing, I looked for Sean and saw that he was already heading towards the office. I texted Corey and got Echo's phone number. Then I texted Echo that we had info that they need to know. She replied with a question of the time and date.

Brandon POV

Axel bursts in while I was getting ready to head to my shop. I had a couple of projects that needed to be finished. Looking at me start in my eyes, I could see the panic and anger. "Family meeting in twenty." That was all but seeing Axel that way made me realized that this was more serious then we thought it was. That alone scared me, not for the safety part but also the Shadows. They have more training than us but have some serious shit that they are having field every day. What it is, we no idea but that is the very reason why we want to know more about them so that we can help them. Corey poked his head out of his room as Axel left the apartment. Both Corey and I were looking at each other, bewildered but complied by going to Axel's apartment for the family meeting. Axel started with a bomb of information that we didn't know. "Owen called me this with some news that impacts the Shadows and us too. The biggest thing that North found out last night that Ghost is blind. She lost her sight by fire but is unsure of the time frame. Victor found something sinister about the military council that is supposed to good leaders for the Shadows. And it goes further than  I think they are aware of. However, I could be wrong about that." Silence followed him, as I struggled to understand why none of them told us about Ghost's disability. If we have known, we could have helped her out more. Marc looked like he wanted to focus on it but he instead asks about what Victor had found. "What did Victor find out about the military council? Is there anything that we need to know as of right now?" Axel looks even madder about this then Ghost. "He found out that they are very well connected to the JH-14 drug. Also, they have done more outside of the military. The biggest thing he found were reports following a group of people every single thing they did. The reports also had videos connected to them that showed whoever they were doing everyday things. They also mention the glee that they had when this group was punished for simple actions. They were out for blood in every which way they could. Owen personally thinks that the council might be connected to the Shadows for every reason but good ones. He believes that they are trying to control them and get them to behave to their standards. Maybe to get them kicked out of the military and to where I have no idea." Holy shit, that was bad news for all of us and the Shadows. What little we do know of them is that they don't like to be controlled and ordered around like a dog. They are not going to be happy about this and we might have to restain them from doing something stupid enough that well get them killed. We need them in this crazy world.

Corey POV

What Axel said started to match with what I had found too. Victor help earlier by sending me a link to what he had found. I was completing if I should let the people above the council know of their crimes. Now, I was unsure whether it was a safe move to do if they already have their claws in the Shadows. Who knows what they will do if they become unstable. Also, they have to follow rules too, so if those rules are no longer there what damage will happen? Axel asks me, "What did you found out about the council or the Shadows?" "Starting with the same of what Victor found out. I did some digging into their families. The council is part of criminal families that have stayed hidden from the law. Families that the Academy has tried to go after more than once. Some attempts were minorly successful and others were not. We had a go with two of these families already." Axel stared at the wall trying to calm down. "Shit, we need to have that meeting as soon as possible now." Raven was who sitting right next to me asked, "Da, need a secure place to have a meeting." Marc piped in, "Agreed, how about tonight after dinner? We can leave the location to the Shadows since they are more knowledgable about those types of locations." Axel nodded in agreement and pulled out his phone to try to get a hold of one of the Shadows via call. He placed the call on speaker when the ringing stopped a rough hello was heard from the other end. All of us were silent as a fight broke out on the other end. The line went quiet until Giant spoke, "Hey Axel what's up and you all have shit timing." Laughter broke out at his words as his tone was playful. "Are you eight alone because we need to tell you all something. Also, who was that who answered?" In a calm collected turning into an angry tone as he spoke, "Hold up a minute. That was our commander who answered my phone. He shouldn't have even grabbed my phone in the first place." A couple of minutes later, the voices of Shadows came though. Apollo piped up calmly, "What did you need to talk to us about? We already know it's serious shit if you are calling us." Brandon spoke for us, "We need to have a meeting. We have found some info that you all need to know. Can you find a secure location near somewhere to eat dinner?" Lockheart fired back in a calm voice, "How secure are we talking here? No camera and bugs or disabled bugs with cameras running. Or bugs with no cameras? Or both running? Yeah, we can think of dinner.  Be ready for a text of the location and the name of the reservation."  I piped in, "It has to be with no bugs or cameras." Ghost with a lightly curious with a neutral calm tone added, "Can do and forewarning might be a bit of a drive. Safe travels gentlemen." Then the beep of the call being ended was heard leaving with questions of the fight we partially heard. The sound of a text message sounded out and Ghost was right. It was going to be a drive if we were meeting in Lexington. I grabbed what I need for the meeting before meeting up with everyone to get into our vehicles. Two hours later, we met up with the Blackbourne team at a Hudson's Smokehouse BQQ. The Shadows pulled up and we went in to eat. After eating a delicious meal, we followed the Shadows to a house. The house was a teal color but showed it's age beautifully. It was a huge place just from the driveway. With all the vehicles parked, we entered to follow Echo to a meeting room.  How were they going to handle the news? I hoped well but I won't know until we got into it.