Page 34 of Her Remarkable Protector

Ethan shakes his head, his whole frame taut with frustration. “I screwed up big time, Chase. And I’m going to fix this.”

I step in front of him, meeting his glare head-on. He’s only twenty-three—barely out of training—and this is his first assignment. He hasn’t learned yet that guilt is a liability.

“No, you didn’t screw up,” I stress. “If a protectee doesn’t want to be protected, they make it damn hard to give. We don’t dwell. We adapt. Solution. Solution. Solution.”

His fists clench at his sides, but his eyes burn with determination. “Chase, there are two people who need you here. Let me get Oakley.”

I hesitate. My instincts scream at me to take control, to lead from the front, but Honor and Laramie’s safety isn’t negotiable—especially after Stone’s attempt to grab the baby just days ago. Ethan’s gaze doesn’t waver.

“Fine,” I say at last. “But camera on. Open comms with me and Cora-Lee. Every move you make, I want eyes on it.”

“Understood,” he says, already strapping on his gear.

Before he can move, I grab his arm. “Stick to your training. Stay focused. No heroics. Understood?”

“Understood,” Ethan replies, the weight of my words grounding him.

I release him, watching as he disappears down the hall. Without delay, I rush back to Honor.

“Did you find him?” she asks, her face pale but holding steady.

“Not yet. Ethan’s on the ground tracking him,” I reply.

Her hand trembles as she cradles Laramie closer. “Chase, he can’t go back to Damon.”

“We’ll get Oakley back. Today,” I meet her gaze with conviction.

She nods, but the worry in her eyes doesn’t fade.

“I need to set up here,” I say. “I can’t risk anyone overhearing my comms or catching a glimpse of the video feeds.”

“It’s fine,” she says, her voice dropping as she glances at Laramie. “Just keep it quiet.”

“Got it.”

I set up my laptop on a small table by the window, letting Cora-Lee join in from Helena.

“Cee, talk to me. What do you have?” I ask as I plug into the feed.

Her voice crackles through the comms. “I’ve been combing through the street cameras near the hospital. Oakley stopped at a convenience store a block away to buy cigarettes.”

A video feed pops up on my screen. I watch Oakley approach the counter, his hoodie still pulled low.

“Then this guy shows up,” Cora-Lee continues. “They seem familiar—fist bumps, bro hug, the whole deal.”

My gut tightens as the man’s face comes into view. I can’t believe that guy still has a job at the Circle after I sent him packing—literally packed him up myself. “The son of a bitch came back.”

“What do you mean?” Honor asks.

“He tried to snatch Laramie not long after you gave birth,” I reply, then switch to the comms. “Ethan, are you hearing this?”

“Yeah,” he replies. “How recent is this convenient store footage?”

“Twelve minutes ago,” Cora-Lee confirms.

“I’m heading to the store now,” Ethan says, focused.

Honor’s eyes lock on the screen as the convenience store footage rewinds. “That’s Rollo! One of the Circle. Oakley used to hang around him—thought he was cool. Impressionable kid stuff,” she adds with a sigh. “But why would he?—”

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