Page 93 of BounBound By Scars

Not the dreaded ping. Just a system notification.

I let my eyes fall shut for a brief second. Tried to force oxygen into my lungs.

But the relief didn’t last.

Because I had finally cracked the White House Crazon.

Fucking hell.

???

“You’re saying we need at least two people for the Situation Room take down?”

I nodded at Sebastian, watching the lines of tension already tightening across his forehead.

We were in the Command Center—everyone present, except for Ronan and Zane.

The air was heavy. The mission was laid out: a high-security charity gala at the White House, a perfect cover for infiltration. Zane and Delara had built the strategy weeks ago. Only, now… Zane wasn’t here.

So it fell on me.

I kept my tone even, steady as I continued the briefing, “The gala’s on the East side—about as far from the West Wing as we’re going to get. But it’s enough of a distraction.”

“Can we risk one more Alpha Team member?” Zarek asked.

“Wait…” Amelia’s voice broke through, sharp and sudden. “One more?”

I froze. Her eyes locked onto mine. Wide. Realization blooming.

Shit. She’d figured it out.

That I was going in.

I stepped toward her, gently placing my hand on her shoulder.

“Hey,” I said softly. “We don’t have a choice. Zane’s not here.”

She was already shaking her head.

“Sweetheart—”

“Amelia,” she snapped at Seb, sharp and immediate.

The edge in her voice made me bite back a smirk. I wanted to enjoy it a little longer, but the look on Sebastian’s face stopped me. He didn’t look smug anymore—just tired.

He raised his hands, nodding in quiet surrender.

“Amelia,” he corrected himself, gentler now. “There’s no other way. We need Zane for this, and he’s… gone. We don’t even know if he’s—”

He cut himself off.

But her gaze was still on me. Unwavering. Unrelenting.

And then… her face changed. I saw the fire light up behind her eyes.

Shit. No. Don’t.

“No,” I snapped, already knowing what was coming.

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