Page 40 of When You're Lost

Amelia gave a short laugh.“Honestly?We rarely see each other except for fleeting moments.Different cases, different schedules.I just wish we could have a normal day.But that’ll come once we catch Wendell Reed, I guess.”

Rob’s eyes flicked to the warehouse.“It’s tough, balancing personal and professional like that.But hey, I’m sure you’ll get time eventually.”

She turned to him with a faint smile.“So, how are things with you, Sir?Areyouseeing anyone?”

He gave a mischievous grin.“Might have something in the works.Too early to say, but let’s just say not all my nights are spent alone.”

Amelia teased, “I’ll take that as a ‘yes, but hush hush’?”

Rob laughed.“Precisely.Let’s leave it at that.”

Suddenly, Amelia tensed.Through her binoculars, she saw a black sedan pull up to the warehouse’s main entrance.Two men got out—one was thickset with a shaved head, the other tall and wiry.They walked inside without hesitation, a quick nod from the supervisor at the gate.“Rob, look at that,” she said, handing him the binoculars.“I recognize the tall one—Frankie Govan.A known enforcer in London’s underworld.”

Rob frowned, focusing the lenses.“You’re sure?”

She nodded grimly.“I’ve run across his name in intel briefs.Rumor is, he’s more than just muscle.He’s an assassin for certain syndicates.If he’s here, that can’t be good.”

Rob cursed under his breath, grabbing the radio."Let me see if he's got warrants."Moments later, a voice crackled back, confirming that Frankie Govan was wanted on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court.

Amelia flashed Rob a fierce look.“That’s reason enough to go in there.Legally, I mean.”

Rob nodded.“We’ll call for backup, get the team to—”

Before he could finish, a loudbangcracked through the air, echoing across the industrial lot.Amelia’s heart lurched.A secondbangfollowed.

Rob reached for the door handle.“Gunshots?”

But Amelia was already leaping out of the car, adrenaline surging.“I’m not waiting,” she shouted, racing toward the warehouse.“Finn and Eleanor could be in there!”

“Wait, Amelia!”Rob yelled, but she ignored him.

Heart pounding, she sprinted across the asphalt, straight to the supervisor who moved to block her path again.With a swift motion, she grabbed his outstretched arm, pivoted, and hurled him over her shoulder.He crashed to the ground with a grunt.

“Stay down,” she snapped.She spotted a metal door and barreled through it, heading into the warehouse’s dim interior.Rob was just behind her.

Inside, crates and racks loomed.Overhead lights buzzed.More startled staff tried to bar her way—henchmen, no doubt.Rob slid in beside her, intercepting one man who lunged with a crowbar.A brief scuffle ended with Rob disarming him, while Amelia ducked a punch from another.She landed a sharp elbow to the gut, sending the attacker sprawling.

Amelia heard Finn’s voice from somewhere deeper inside.

“No!”he shouted, desperation in his tone.

She and Rob exchanged looks, then darted forward, weaving around crates.Another henchman rushed at them, but Rob tackled him, pinning him with a swift maneuver.They reached a large storage room at the end, where flickering fluorescent lights revealed a chaotic scene.

Finn stood in the center, grappling with a tall, broad-shouldered man—Frankie Govan.A smoking gun lay partly in Frankie’s hand as the two struggled, fists tangling in each other’s shirts.Off to the side, Eleanor was crouched, apparently just freed from some ropes.She was flanking them, looking for an opening to help.

Amelia stepped forward.“You're under arrest!”she shouted.But Frankie twisted, shoving Finn sideways and then grabbed the gun on the floor.In a blur, Amelia lunged, slamming her shoulder into Frankie’s arm.The shot went wild, ricocheting off a metal crate.Rob dived forward, locking Frankie’s arm in place, and together they pried the gun away, it falling back to the ground.

Eleanor scrambled up, snatching the weapon from the floor.Her eyes flicked to Amelia, relief warring with fury.“Thank God you’re here.”

Finn clutched his side, wincing, but clearly still in the fight.He kicked the gun further away.Then another figure stormed in—Gerard, the stocky man from earlier.He froze upon seeing Frankie subdued and stared at Amelia, Finn, and Rob in fury.

Finn now picked up the gun and pointed it directly at Gerard.“I'm American through and through and was the crack shot in my FBI class.Don't make me prove it.”

Gerard’s eyes narrowed, but he realized he was outnumbered.He slowly raised his hands, scowling.

Finn moved in, chest heaving.“This is over.”He turned to Amelia, meeting her gaze.“Took you long enough,” he joked, a half-grin on his bruised face.

Eleanor stood behind him, gun pointed at Frankie as he lay pinned on the floor.She glanced at Amelia, breath uneven.“We owe you.”

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