Page 24 of Rescuing Ember

“Charlie asked to pair with Brett.”

“You got concerns?”

“No. Whatever’s going on between the three of them, it won’t spill over into this mission. Charlie, Brett, and Jon are solid to a fault.”

“Good.” Jenny leaves me to it.

One of the things I love about her leadership style is that she doesn’t micromanage. I’m leading the assault team, and she trusts my judgment.

Mitzy’s voice cuts through our comm links.

“New intel. It’s big.” We pause, turning back. Mitzy’s eyes are wide, focused on her tablet.“I’ve ID’d the Night Pack’s leader. There’s a connection to Holbrook. A personal one.”

The team stills, attention razor-sharp.

“What kind of connection?” I ask, voice level.

“Brothers. Half brothers. Marcus Holbrook and the Night Pack’s leader share a father.”

This changes the entire scope of the operation. Aria’s kidnapping could be personal.

I glance at Jenny. Her expression is neutral, but her mind is at work, recalculating.

“Possible setup?” I ask quietly.

Jenny’s eyes narrow. “Or Holbrook’s been compromised. Either way, we proceed with caution. Team, adjust your threat assessments. Holbrook is now a person of interest.”

The team nods, shifting gears without missing a beat. This is why we’re the best. Adapt and overcome.

“Doesn’t change the mission. Mitzy, keep digging. Feed us any updates. Move out,” Jenny orders. “We’ll reassess en route.”

As we head to the vehicles, I run through various scenarios. We’re ready for whatever we’re walking into—just another day at the office. Engines roar to life, and we’re mission go.

The city blurs past, a neon-streaked smear. In my mind, I see the faces of our targets. Aria Holbrook, our primary objective. Privileged background, but now thrust into a nightmare she never could have imagined, and Ember Winters, an unexpected variable. She’s a street-smart survivor with eyes that speak of a hard life.

Two women.

Two very different stories.

Both counting on us.

I review the intel we’ve been given. Aria’s the priority—daughter of our client and a high-profile target. But Ember… There’s something about her. The way she threw herself into danger to help a stranger.

She could be an asset or a complication.

Either way—she’s fierce.

Focus sharpens my thoughts. The mission is clear: extract both hostages and neutralize the threat. Personal interests don’t factor in.

Can’t factor in.

We’re coming for you, Aria, and Ember. That’s a promise. The SUV hurtles through the night, and I check my watch. T-minus thirty minutes to zero hour.

I close my eyes and let the vehicle’s motion soothe me. I see flashes of what’s to come in the darkness behind my eyelids. Blood and fire. Screams and silence. Victory or defeat.

It all hangs in the balance.

When I open my eyes, the warehouse looms before us. A hulking shadow against the night sky.

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