Page 112 of Jenna's Protector

As we sit there, the three of us reunited, a sense of peace settles over me. Despite everything that’s happened, this moment feels perfect.

The vet returns, informing us that Max needs his rest. We say our goodbyes, promising to return every day until he can go home. As we walk out, hand in hand, I realize how lucky I am to have Jenna by my side and Max on the mend.

We’re halfway to the car when my phone buzzes. I pull it out, seeing Ethan’s name on the screen. My stomach tightens—this isn’t a social call.

“Everything okay?” Jenna asks, noticing my hesitation.

I nod, squeezing her hand reassuringly before answering. “Ethan, what’s up?”

“Carter, we need you back at HQ.”His voice is tense, urgent.“Mitzy and Jinx have cracked some of the encryption. It’s big.”

“Jinx?” I frown, the unfamiliar name catching me off guard. “Who’s that?”

“Right, sorry,”Ethan says quickly.“Jinx is a former DEA codebreaker. Forest brought her in to help with the decryption. She’s good. Really good.”

“How soon do you need me there?” I process this new information, my mind already racing with possibilities.

“Now, if possible. Sorry, I know you’re with Jenna and Max, but...”

“No, I get it. I’ll be there soon.” I hang up, turning to Jenna with an apologetic look.

“Duty calls?” She smiles sadly, understanding in her eyes.

“I’m sorry.” I pull her in tight, loving the feel of her in my arms.

“Don’t be,” she interrupts, her voice muffled against my chest. “Go. Do what you need to do. Max and I will be here when you get back.”

“I’m not leaving you alone.” I kiss her deeply, trying to convey everything I’m feeling—love, gratitude, determination. As I pull away, I rest my forehead against hers. “You’re coming with me, where I can protect you.”

“Carter—you don’t have to…”

“I love you, and I’m not leaving you alone.” I’ll repeat myself as many times as it takes. After almost losing her, there’s no way I’m leaving her without protection.

“I love you more.” She lifts on tiptoe for a kiss. “Now go save the world.”

We head back to Guardian HQ. I drop Jenna off at medical to visit Sophia.

The familiar hum of activity greets me as I stride into Guardian HRS headquarters. The command center is a hive of focused energy, screens flickering with data streams and analysts hunched over keyboards. I spot Ethan near the central console and make my way over.

“What’s up?” I ask, diving straight in.

“Mitzy and Jinx are about to brief us.” Ethan’s face is grim.

As if on cue, Mitzy approaches. Her rainbow hair contrasts sharply with the seriousness in her eyes. Beside her is a woman I don’t recognize—Jinx, I assume. She’s tall and lean, with sharp features and eyes that seem to take in everything at once.

“Glad you could make it, Carter,” Mitzy says. “We’ve got a lot to cover.”

We gather around the main display as Mitzy pulls up documents and diagrams. The encryption symbols I remember from earlier are there, but now they’re partially decoded, revealing a complex web of information.

“Alright, listen up,” Mitzy begins. “Thanks to Jinx here, we’ve managed to crack a significant portion of Sentinel’s encryption. What we’ve found is… Well, it’s not good.”

“The nine Sentinels aren’t just an organizational structure.” Jinxsteps forward, her voice crisp and professional. “They’re individuals, each with a specific role in Sentinel’s global operations.”

She taps a few keys, and nine silhouettes appear on the screen, each labeled with a number and a title. Only the ninth one has a name and a face.

“Sentinel One: Strategy and Leadership. Two: Finance and Money Laundering. Three: Weapons Development and Distribution. Four: Cyber Operations. Five: Intelligence and Counterintelligence. Six: Recruitment and Training. Seven: Logistics and Transportation. Eight: Research and Development. And Nine: Human Trafficking and Exploitation.”

My stomach churns as I stare at Jonathan Greave’s face, the Ninth Sentinel. The man who took Jenna and hurt so many others. He’s just one part of this monstrous organization.

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