Page 36 of Fired at the Heart

I pull a change of clothes from the duffel at my feet. The black turtleneck slides over my skin, cool against leftover heat. I unbuckle the thigh holsters, and Raphael takes them without a word while I drag on tactical pants, pockets ready for ammo and steel. Heavy boots replace the heels I had worn at the club, each layer of gear another barrier between me and the mess of anger and want still buzzing under my skin.

As I finish lacing up my boots, Raphael murmurs, “Thanks for the update.” He taps on his earpiece before turning to me. “There were three Omegas, but none of them were Jade. They’re on their way to the hospital for medical attention.”

Disappointment shoots through me. “I’m sorry.”

Raphael returns my weapons. “It would have been nice to end it there.”

End it there? With a whole warehouse filled with victims within our sights? Would he have called off the operation if they’d found Jade?

I shake off the unpleasant thoughts. “Ready?”

“Wait.” Raphael catches my arm and runs his fingers through my hair before holding out the comb with the secret microphone that was still tucked behind my ear. “Here, you don’t need this for the next mission.”

I stare at it, the realization hitting hard. Everyone on our team knows what happened, not just the guys up front.The whole team. It was one thing when I went down on Raphael to maintain our cover. But fucking him in the back seat was personal. And now it’s public.

I lift my head to glare at Raphael. “You couldn’t have pulled that out earlier?”

He smirks. “Why would I when you looked so pretty with it in your hair?”

“Fucking asshole.” I pop open my door and slide out. “Let’s go.”

We step out to face the line of waiting vehicles. The nearest door swings open, and Cassian emerges first, angry as his eyes scan me and miss nothing.

Rico follows, flipping a knife between his fingers like he just needs an excuse to bury it in Raphael’s heart. Jace steps out next, arms crossed over his chest. Then Lena appears, her braid coiled over one shoulder, flicking an icy glare at Raphael beside me.

Great. Sebastian couldn’t have diverted people for this last-minute mission who had a less-invested interest in my relationship, or lack of relationship, with Raphael?

From the other vehicle, Caleb steps out, his red-brown hair catching the dim light from the distant streetlamp. Next to him stands his cousin Ezra, who wears the gun at his side with too much confidence for his age.

He exudes the same unnerving calm as the older Rockfords, and I suddenly realize why he was brought in on this mission. His eyes flick to me, sharp and unreadable, as if already cataloguing every fault line in our fractured alliance. The division is clear. My people on one side, the Rockfords on the other, with me standing in the no-man’s-land between them.

Cassian moves first, crossing the distance to me in three long strides. His hand finds the small of my back, a gesture of possession that has Raphael bristling.

“You’re late.” Cassian’s words are for me, but his glare fixes on Raphael. “We were about to send out a search party.”

I step away from his touch, not liking how bold he’s getting. “Got held up.”

Rico snorts, flipping his knife and catching it by the handle. “Yeah, I remember how often you used to get held up when Rockford was part of the team.”

“Enough,” I snap. “We’ve got work to do.”

Lena steps forward, her face half-hidden in shadows. “Not sure why we need them for this final push. Warehouse isn’t that big.”

Raphael squares his shoulders. “I understand you disagree with how things were left?—”

“Disagree?” Jace’s posture shifts, his muscles stiffening in a rare show of fury. “Is that what you call it when you abandon your partner and leave your entire crew to burn?”

“That’s not—” Caleb begins, but Rico cuts him off.

“Save it, Red.” Rico’s knife stops spinning, the point aimed in their direction. “We’re only here to wrap up some family business, and then you’d better lose our number.”

The tension crackles between us like electricity before a storm. It burrows into my chest, hot and uncomfortable. These people are my family now, the ones who stayed when Raphael left. The ones who helped me rebuild from the ashes. And their hurt is justified.

Confusion furrows Ezra’s brow. He was too young to be involved in the old business, but he still chooses a side by moving closer to his cousins.

Raphael steps forward, and Cassian moves closer to me, a wolf guarding what he considers his territory.

The movement doesn’t go unnoticed by Raphael, whose face darkens with jealousy. “This isn’t about the past. It’s about Jade and stopping whatever operation is kidnapping and selling Omegas.”

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