Page 54 of Bound By Valor

After a brief silence, I jumped in. “I think we should stay. Moving is what they’d expect from us, and Crazon is equipped to track us. They might intercept.”

Zarek looked at me, his expression a mix of pride and curiosity. Logan grinned. “Look at you, chiming in with expertise. I agree with her.”

“We don’t move,” Zarek decided. “I have a call with Callahan soon. I’ll bring all this up.”

Kabir added, “We should also chip Leora with the cookie.”

“I like the name, ‘cookie’,” I chuckled.

“Okay,” Zarek agreed.

“She’ll be sore for a day, Zarek. Can you handle that?” Logan teased, earning a slap on the arm from me.

Zarek winked at Logan and kissed my cheek before starting on his omelet.

???

“There you are,” Kabir smiled at his tablet after implanting the chip in me. It was small, about half the size of a grain of rice, but the area stung and was starting to swell.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“It’s fine. This hurts more than getting blown up, though.”

Logan snorted from the other end of the table.

“You’ll be okay. Look,” he showed me his tablet where a new blinking dot had appeared, “Now I cantrack you if you get kidnapped again.”

“I think twice was enough drama for a lifetime,” I joked, fanning the sore spot and taking a painkiller with some water.

Zarek was pacing back and forth in the warehouse, talking to Alpha One on his tablet. He stopped and looked at me, continuing the conversation without breaking eye contact, “She’s a psychologist, sir, experienced with criminals. She could be an asset to the Alpha Program. Bridgewood will need to approve, but—,” he glanced at his tablet and frowned, “Adding to my team is my choice, sir. You never objected to Gill.”

Oh lord, he is asking about me joining the squad!

He then walked off to our bedroom and closed the door. I could hear his muffled arguments for ten minutes followed by silence for twenty.

I asked Kabir about Bridgewood and learned it was a discreet name for the United States’ new experimental paramilitary operations wing. The Alpha Program was created by Bridgewood and led by Alpha One.

The door finally opened and Zarek emerged with a slight smile, “Mateez 41556, welcome to the Alpha training program. Squad Six is your active-duty location. Carlton 35543 is your training officer.”

I just stared at him. I wasn’t sure if my jaw survived the fall to the floor. He did it. He finally heard me.

Logan wrapped his arms around my shoulders from behind. Kabir ruffled my hair, smiling, while Dylan nodded at me with his piercing gray eyes.

Zarek looked at me, clearly proud.

“Welcome to the squad, Leora,” Amelia huggedme tightly.

“Training starts at 0700 hours, day after tomorrow, Leo,” Logan teased.

Zarek parted the group, wrapped his arms around my waist, and kissed me passionately. When he finally let me catch my breath, he flashed a devilishly handsome smile. “Congratulations,Mi Corazón.”

The squad dispersed, laughing and joking, and I realized I was exactly where I belonged. I decided I would get rid of my downtown Toronto apartment tomorrow. Today, I’d just make love to my bunkmate all day and night.

TWENTY-SIX

Zarek

The next day, we all gathered to discuss our next steps.

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