Page 34 of Hidden Attraction

The knowledge didn’t make him feel better. Setting his mouth in a grim line, he waited for Dante to find that evidence.

Seconds later, Dante made a low noise.

“Hold up. I said there was a test portal opened first. There’s an IP address in the logs pointing to that. But it’s routed through a VPN.”

“Can we track it?”

“It was so long ago. Things like this go through multiple VPNs. Layered as hell.” More silence. Then, “Fuck. Just as I thought. Dead end on the actual location of the IP address.”

“But we’ve got proof someone tampered with the chopper’s systems.” His voice was a low rasp, hot with anger.

“Yes. I can take it from here. Leave the portal open. I’ll keep scanning the system.”

There weren’t words to express how grateful he was that Dante’s skills had uncovered exactly what they needed. In minutes he’d found what others claimed they couldn’t find in years.

“Don’t you have to head off the commander?” Dante asked.

“Copy that.”

“And Cobra—Con asked me to pass something on.”

He stilled, muscles drawing tight.

“He wants you to remember your deal to question the ambassador. Make damn sure she’s not behind the leak.”

Fuck.

A hot coal of dread crashed into his chest.

“Her calendar was somehow accessed or leaked. That became the enemy’s playbook for predicting her movements and somehow tied her to you too,” Dante went on.

Chase’s gut told him she wasn’t involved. His instincts were never wrong. If he’d believed she was dirty, he never would have allowed things to go so far between them. Hell, he shouldn’t have anyway, but it was far too late to take back the moments they shared.

That didn’t change the fact Blackout still had reason to suspect her involvement. And he had orders.

“Copy.” The mutter was gravel and fire searing through his throat.

“Before you go, Cobra. Any chance you can get into the commander’s office?”

Chase may not know what the hell was happening in his personal life or whether or not to suspect Alyssa, but blending into the walls, he knew.

He opened the door, scanned the hallway, then slipped out. Blanking his mind to anything but the mission, he retraced his steps.

The commander’s wing was in the secure part of the compound. Offices with glass windows, personnel shuffling between desks. Chase walked like he belonged—fast enough not to raise suspicion, casual enough not to draw attention.

He spotted the office. The door was ajar.

A woman stepped out—civilian, admin staff. Blonde, with bright blue eyes and a pretty, unassuming smile. He caught her gaze and winked.

She blushed. Smiled. Walked away.

The junior officer was nowhere to be seen.

Chase slipped inside.

“Okay, I’m in,” he whispered.

“You need access to his terminal,” Dante said. “I’ll walk you through the hack. Same entry code, different authentication layer.”

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