Page 50 of Lost Hope

Maya watched understanding dawn in Ronan’s eyes. She might not like it, but the man was sharp.

“A job posting,” they said together.

This time, the heat in her cheeks had nothing to do with embarrassment.

“A help wanted ad,” her dad suggested, warming to his topic. “For a security consultant position. With extremely specific requirements.”

Maya caught on. “Requirements only your friend would recognize as significant.”

“I hear you.” Deke grinned. “Like the dates of certain ops.”

“Or locations that mean something to the team,” Kenji added.

Ronan nodded slowly. “Posted from an IP address he’d recognize.”

“I can make it look like it came from Marcus’s old terminal,” Zara offered. “He’ll be monitoring that.”

Maya felt her frustration building. They were all so in sync, finishing each other’s thoughts while she stood on the outside.And Ronan ... he’d shifted seamlessly into team mode, that wall going up between them again.

“And what if someone on the other team recognizes those codes?” she challenged.

Ronan turned those intense eyes on her. “That’s why we need to be precise. Choose markers only Griffin would know.”

“Mission protocols from the Copenhagen op,” Axel said quietly.

The team went still. Maya watched emotions flash across their faces—pain, guilt, something darker.

“He’d recognize those,” Izzy whispered.

“Care to share with the class?” Maya asked, unable to keep the edge from her voice.

“No,” Ronan said flatly, and for a moment the tension between them crackled like lightning. He turned to his computer guru. “Let’s do it. Zara, can you?—”

“Already coding. Give me a sec.”

Maya moved closer to Ronan, lowering her voice. “You can’t shut me out of parts of this investigation just because they’re classified.”

He turned, bringing them face to face. “Some secrets aren’t mine to share.”

“But they’re Griffin’s secrets too, aren’t they?” She held his gaze. “The man we’re trying to save?”

Something shifted in his expression—surprise, maybe even admiration. But before he could respond, Zara spoke up.

“What do you think?” She threw up an announcement on the big monitors mounted to the walls.

SECURITY CONSULTANT NEEDED

Boutique risk management firm seeks experienced security specialist

Location: Santa Monica, CA

Requirements:

- 8-10 years military/security experience

- Advanced training in Nordic emergency protocols

- Familiarity with Ghost surveillance systems

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