Page 55 of Bound By Valor

“I think these shipments are just distractions now. We need to figure out who’s handling the exports from China. It can’t just be Garret Tyson,” Amelia said, looking concerned at her laptop.

“I agree. But since we can’t trace the Chinese connections or their motives, we need to keep intercepting shipments to North America. I heard that Squad Two is being honorably dissolved. Brewer and Pedro are the only ones left so…” I glanced briefly at Dylan.

Dylan’s close friend, Riley Hayden from Squad Two, along with her teammates Kaylan Bennett and Kyle Deniese, had died in a botched operation in Florida a month ago. This tragedy had reduced their team from five to just two, who weren’t combat-ready.

“We should consider getting help from Sebastian’ssecurity firm. They have an intelligence unit that could be useful. I know the CIA worked with them last quarter,” Dylan suggested.

“He’s a jerk. He wouldn’t help us even if it were for saving kids with cancer,” Logan muttered.

I frowned at Logan and supported Dylan, “That’s a great idea, Dyl.”

Logan looked even more annoyed. I didn’t fully understand his longstanding grudge against Sebastian Blackthorn.

Kabir had been unusually quiet.

“Kabir? What do you think?” I prompted.

He finally looked up from his laptop. “I’m okay with it. I actually like the guy,” he said, staring pointedly at Logan.

“Should Leora and I even bother giving our opinions?” Amelia joked.

Leora cleared her throat. “I’ve worked with Blackthorn before.”

All eyes snapped to her direction.

What? How come she didn’t mention it yesterday?

She continued, “God! I don’t personally know Sebastian. But I was called to assess an inmate interrogation once. I knew the name, Blackthorn, sounded familiar. The security firm was investigating a case and needed a psychologist to support their interrogation. I worked with someone named Delara Booth. Do you guys know her?”

Lord, she worked with Sebastian’s second in command.

The team nodded in unison, their expressions filled with surprise.

Amelia let out a snort, “Leora, Delara Booth is ex-MI6 and basically Sebastian’s right hand.”

Leora’s jaw dropped, and her face flushed a deepred. “Oh shit!” she exclaimed, her breathing quickening.

“Baby, what’s going on?” I asked, noticing her distress.

“I…” she sighed deeply, “I might have called her a bitch right to her face.”

Laughter erupted around the table. I joined in, unable to hold back.

“Leo’s got balls,” Logan commented between laughs.

Leora flicked him on the forehead and then covered her face with her hands in embarrassment.

My laughter was cut short by a faint noise from outside. I turned sharply towards the main door of our warehouse. “There’s movement outside. Kabir?” I asked, my voice dropping to a whisper.

Kabir’s fingers flew over his keyboard, his brow furrowed in concentration. “There’s nothing unusual on the monitors. Wait—” He paused, his eyes darting between the security camera and his screen. “What the hell?”

“Everyone, weapons ready,” I commanded quietly as I saw Kabir’s alarmed look.

“Our security system just went down,” Kabir announced, his voice steady but tense.

I saw Logan pass a Luger to Leora. The rest of us already had our SIG Sauers drawn, aiming at both the front and back doors.

The click of the front door lock echoed through the tense silence. I positioned myself protectively in front of Leora, bracing for what might come through that door.

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