Page 45 of Knotted

Colby nods and says, “Insangjeogine.” Impressive.

We grab towels and some bottled water from the sleek fridge, then collapse onto a bench at the side of the room. Colby takes a long swig, then waves the glass bottle in my face. “Fancy stuff for one of Manhattan’s Most Eligible Bachelors.”

I cringe. “You saw the headline?”

“Only because one of the guys posted it in the Facebook group. Got a ton of hearts from the ladies. And a few from the guys, too.”

“Nice,” I mutter. “Just what I need. More unwanted attention.”

“So, what’s going on with you, man? When did you trade in the dog tags for designer suits?”

“Not long after I realized I wasn’t going back. Had to do something with my time, right? And the monkey suit? Temporary.I usually run security. We’re always on the lookout for kickass talent.”

“Food for thought.” I wipe the sweat from my face, feeling the familiar burn in my muscles. “How long are you back for?”

Colby’s grin fades, his easygoing demeanor slipping. “Not sure.”

A knot forms in my gut. “Did something happen?”

He looks at me, his expression unreadable. “I’ll give you one guess.”

“Sounds like Hurricane Angi.” I catch the ball, my heart sinking. “How serious?”

“Hard to say. She stole my identity, ran up my government credit card,” Colby says, his voice low and tight. “I’ve got a few weeks to find her.”

Shit. This isn’t just a slap on the wrist. This is a full-blown military criminal offense—dishonorable discharge, a career in shambles, maybe even time in the brig. It could destroy everything Colby’s worked for.

My mind races, trying to process the gravity of what he’s just said. “If it’s just a matter of being paid back?—”

“It’s not,” he cuts in, his tone hardening. “Dad already tried. He was ready to refinance the house if it came to that. But the problem isn’t just the money. It’s what she did with the card. The charges are tied to illegal activity—not classified, but enough to raise red flags.”

Of course, they are.

“The thing is, if I don’t have that card physically back in my hand to give to my commanding officer, they’ll nail me for negligence and refer her to the DA for criminal prosecution.”He shakes his head, frustration simmering beneath the surface. “If I don’t find her, I’m screwed.”

“You realize the chances of finding her are slim to none, right?”

He shoots me a look like I’ve lost my mind. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Which is why I’m sayingwefind her. You’ve got me and my entire team backing you up. Seasoned recon men and women at your disposal.”

His eyebrows lift, surprised. “Really?”

“And if push comes to shove, I’ll pony up a reward.”

“No. No reward,” he insists, shaking his head. “Dad would have a cow.”

“Only as a last resort,” I say, giving him a reassuring pat on the chest as he snags the ball. We start up again, and, of course, he sinks the first hoop. Damn kid’s gonna kill me.

Ignoring the sharp pain in my knee, I grab the ball with a smirk. “Payment in exchange for some intel.”

Colby nods, dribbling before attempting a three-pointer. It bounces off the rim, frustration flickering in his eyes before curiosity takes over. “What kind of intel?”

I go for a layup, the ball swishing through the net with a satisfying thwack. “How’s Jules?”

He catches the ball. “And you’re asking because...?”

“Because I am,” I say, adding, “And this is the part of the conversation where yougiveintel. No questions. Just answers.”

---