Page 16 of Lost Hope

“They’re literally perfect for this. Top tier private security, all former special ops?—”

“And Bible-thumping true believers,” Ronan cut in, jaw tight. “Everything’s God’s plan with them. Even the wetwork.”

“They get results,” Axel countered. “And they have resources we need.”

“They have an agenda,” Ronan said. “Just like everyone else who claims to be fighting for something bigger than themselves. They’re not an option.”

“Your brother?—”

“Half-brother,” Ronan cut in. “Who I’ve never even met.”

Maya looked between them, momentarily distracted from her own spiraling thoughts. “Someone want to explain?”

“Christian Murphy,” Axel said. “Founded Knight Tactical. Also happens to be?—”

“Nothing to me,” Ronan finished.

“They haven’t actually met,” Axel told her, rolling his eyes. “About time you two got acquainted, don’t you think?”

“We need a plan,” Maya interrupted. “A real one. I have contacts in the LAPD?—”

“Who’ll arrest us on sight,” Ronan said.

“Better than whatever you’re suggesting.”

Axel’s phone buzzed again. “Friend of a friend keeps me in the loop on any intel about me or my team,” he explained and turned the screen toward her.

She didn’t have to look to realize it was bad. His stony expression made that clear. She looked anyway. New images filled the screen—surveillance photos of her with Marcus, timestamps altered to put them together at classified sites she’d never visited. The evidence trail was already being laid.

“We need pros on this, dude,” Axel said quietly.

Maya stared at his phone, at the fabricated evidence of her betrayal appearing in real time. Her world had shifted in the space of a few hours, leaving her with nothing but instinct to guide her. And right now, instinct was screaming that whatever was coming, she wasn’t going to survive it alone.

She recognized the tactical precision in Ronan’s movements, the way he positioned himself between the windows and her without seeming to think about it. Everything in her trainingsaid not to trust him. Everything in her instincts said he was the only thing standing between her and whoever had killed Tom.

Her father’s voice again:Trust your gut, little dragon. It’s the only thing they can’t take from you.

She watched Ronan check sight lines for the third time in as many minutes, his shoulders tense with the need to move, to act. To protect, her mind supplied unhelpfully. She pushed the thoughts away. She couldn’t afford to see him as anything but a potential threat.

No matter what her instincts were trying to tell her.

8

ESCAPE VELOCITY

They did not need help.Well, okay. Yeah, they did. But not from some lame boutique personal protection company run by a stranger who happened to share fifty-percent of Ronan’s DNA.

They could call up the rest of the old squad. Zara, Deke, Kenji, and the rest of the team would be there in an instant. In the meantime, they’d hide out. Gather whatever intel they could get their hands on without risking detection.

Ronan leaned against the wall, watching Maya process what was happening. His body ached from the night’s exertions, but his mind was sharp, cataloging details, mapping scenarios.

She was even smaller without her tactical gear, but he wasn’t fooled. Those chocolate-colored eyes missed nothing, and her hand never strayed far from her weapon. Smart. Stunning. And ready to bolt at any second.

He shifted slightly, ensuring he had a clear path to the door. She wasn’t getting past him. Not when running meant certain death.

“Let’s walk through this again,” he said, keeping his voice neutral. “According to your supervisor, Tank supposedly accessed classified systems at 2300 hours Tuesday. Then nothing until almost twenty-four hours later when someonecatches his little breaking and entering act on security footage and sends you and Benson after him. Only he’s already been dead since right after he broke in.”

“How’d the call come in?” he asked her.

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