Page 46 of Ranger's Justice

I scrub a hand down my face, my body still buzzing with the aftermath of taking her, of having her under me, wrapped around me, giving me every damn thing I ever wanted. Everything I didn’t even realize I needed. And now?

Now, I don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to let this go.

I shove the thought down, forcing my mind back to the mission. I have to move. I have to keep my focus where it belongs—on the hunt, on the bastards who thought they could takewomen like they were nothing but a product to be bought and sold.

I ease out of bed, careful not to wake her. She wriggles slightly, her brow furrowing, but doesn’t stir. My gut tightens. I don’t like leaving her. My wolf doesn’t like it either. But I don’t have a choice.

I dress quickly, pulling on my jeans and a fresh shirt before grabbing my gun from the nightstand. One last look. One last second of letting myself drink her in. And then I slip out of the room, closing the door behind me.

The house is quiet. Most of the men are in the war room—a repurposed back den—awaits me; maps, weapons, computers, and files cover every surface.

Dalton and Gideon are already there. Deacon leans against the far wall, arms crossed, his sharp gaze flicking up when I enter. Gage is at the table, flipping through a stack of papers, and Gage is at the window, watching the perimeter.

The second I enter, the air changes.

Dalton leans back in his chair, one eyebrow raised. “So… you good?”

I don’t answer. I don’t have to. He grins like he already knows exactly what happened. Hell, he probably does.

I ignore him, focusing on Gideon. “What do we have?”

Gideon doesn’t waste time with small talk. He slides a tablet across the table. “The trafficker’s intel checked out. There’s a meeting tomorrow night at an abandoned airstrip, thirty miles south of the border. Del Toro’s men are running security, but the buyer is unknown.”

I take the tablet, scanning the satellite images. One road provides sole access, the location remote, the desert stretching out for miles. A nightmare for escape, but a perfect kill zone.

Deacon steps forward. “We also got confirmation that this isn’t just a normal transfer. Whatever Hollister and Del Toro are working on, it’s big. Bigger than we thought.”

I glance up. “How big?”

Deacon’s jaw tightens. “Big enough that they’re bringing in people we haven’t seen before. The buyer is high-level—government or private sector, we’re not sure yet.”

I don’t like that. I don’t like any of this.

If someone with power is involved, this isn’t just about money. It’s about control. Influence. A bigger game than we were prepared for.

Dalton blows out a breath, shaking his head. “This isn’t just another cartel deal. This is something else. And if we go in blind, we’re screwed.”

I set the tablet down, my mind already working through the logistics. We need eyes on the airstrip. Entry, exit, and contingency plans are necessary.

Gage speaks up from the window, his voice quiet but firm. “We’re not letting this happen.”

I nod once. “Damn right we’re not.”

Gideon watches me carefully, his blue eyes assessing. “And Cassidy?”

My wolf growls at the sound of her name.

I keep my voice even. “She stays out of this.”

Dalton snorts. “Good luck with that.”

I shoot him a look. “She stays out of this.”

Dalton shakes his head, grinning. “Yeah. Good luck with that. Can we watch when you tell her?”

I don’t have time for his bullshit. “We move at first light. I want recon on the airstrip. The cartel is running security, but we need to know what kind of weapons they’re carrying, and how many bodies we’re dealing with.”

Gideon nods. “I’ll take the lead on that.”

---