Page 75 of Lost Hope

“After a breach,” Ronan finished, then immediately regretted it. Their tactical synchronization was still perfect.

But instead of the smile that would have earned him a day ago, this time, hurt flashed across her face before she masked it.

Keep things professional,he reminded himself silently.Mission focus only.

Across the table, Christian’s eyebrows lifted slightly. Axel shot him a look that said he wasn’t fooling anyone. Ronan ignored them both, just like he ignored the hollow ache in his chest every time Maya spoke. Just like he ignored the way everyone in the room was pretending not to notice the growing tension between them.

Professional. Distant. Safe.

“What about the medical records?” Kenji asked, his usual calm voice carrying an edge. The team medic had taken the VA deaths personally—they all had, but for him it was different. These were people he might have treated, might have saved.

“Working on decryption,” Zara replied, sharing a screen with Ethan. The two tech experts had been trading coding duties for hours, their usual competitive banter replaced by grim focus. “But the preliminary analysis shows they’re running a network.”

Deke leaned forward, his quiet presence drawing attention. “The question is why. What’s the endgame?” The former chaplain’s eyes held that penetrating look Ronan had learned torespect—and sometimes fear. Like he could see straight through people’s defenses to their core.

“Whatever it is,” Griff said from his position by the wall, “it’s big enough to spook Richardson into hiding.”

Christian straightened, his tactical mind visibly engaging. “That man doesn’t spook easily. I’ve known him for years through the admiral. This isn’t like him.”

“Unless he knew we were coming,” Star added. “The timing of the systems shutdown?—”

“They knew exactly what we’d found,” Maya finished.

He’d been about to make the same observation. Again, with the perfect tactical synchronization. Ronan forced himself not to look at her, but he could feel her presence across the room like a physical thing.

The admiral’s voice cut through their speculation. “Which is why I’m heading back. Minerva’s meeting the kids in Capri—that’ll keep her occupied while I help you all handle this mess.”

“Sir,” Christian started, leaning forward, “given the security implications?—”

“This isn’t up for debate, Murphy.” The admiral’s tone brooked no argument, but there was something else in his expression. Pain, maybe. Betrayal. “Buck Richardson’s been my friend for thirty years. No way I’m accusing a good man of treason. Not until we’ve got ironclad evidence. If he’s involved in this, I want to look him in the eye when we take him down.”

Ronan understood that kind of loyalty. That need to face betrayal head-on. It was part of what made walking away from Maya so hard ...

The admiral eyed an expensive dive watch. “Minerva’s going to have a fit, but I can make it back to port in under three hours. That puts me in the air by zero five hundred local time at the worst. Then fifteen hours flight time, give or take. I’ll be wheels down around twelve hundred local time.” He eyed hisdrooping crew. “Let’s call a meeting for thirteen hundred. In the meantime, get me as much intel as you can. And people? Go get some sleep. That’s an order.”

He ended the call, leaving them with action items and a growing sense of urgency.

Christian rose, clapping his hands together. “You heard the man. R and R, including serious rack time, is officially mandatory.”

Before the group could disperse, the hangar door below burst open, admitting his mother in full force. Lawrence Chen trailed her up the stairs with an apologetic expression. “There you all are! I brought sustenance. Nobody thinks clearly on an empty stomach.”

She brandished several bags from the DreamBurger outlet in the tiny airport terminal. Ronan’s stomach betrayed him with a growl, even as his mother’s presence made him tense further.

“Victoria,” Christian started, “we’re kind of in the middle of?—”

“Of starving yourselves while overthinking everything?” She began distributing containers with military precision.

Axel pressed a hand to his flat belly. “Mrs. Quinn, you are the best.”

Her smile dazzled. “Of course, I am. But I’m pleased to no end that you know it, dear.”

Maya’s dad caught Ronan’s eye and shrugged helplessly. Clearly, he’d tried and failed to prevent this invasion.

Before Ronan could process the complicated emotions of his mother feeding his brother’s team—his team—like they were all one big happy family, Maya approached his end of the table. “We should discuss the entry protocols.”

“Send them to Kenji,” Ronan cut her off, standing abruptly. “He’ll coordinate with tactical.”

He saw the flash of anger in her eyes, the slight straightening of her spine. “Right. Keep it professional. Got it.”

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