Page 62 of Hunter's Game
“And you.” He met her eyes steadily. “Full reinstatement. Promotion. Your choice of assignments. And...” He glanced at Hunter. “Certain arrangements can be made regarding your personal associations.”
Eden absorbed this, reading between the lines. “You’re offering to look the other way about my relationship with an outlaw MC member?”
“I’m offering to officially sanction a task force that operates outside normal parameters.” Wilson’s smile turned shrewd. “One that might occasionally need to work with motorcycle clubs who have certain...useful skill sets.”
“Like the ones who helped take down Romano’s operation?” Katherine’s voice held amusement.
“Exactly.” Wilson pulled out a folder. “The paperwork’s already drawn up. All it needs is your signature.”
Eden started to reach for it, but Hunter’s hand on her arm stopped her.
“Rest first.” His voice was firm. “Decisions later.”
“Hunter—”
“He’s right,” Katherine intervened. “Besides, there are some things you need to know before you decide anything.”
Something in her tone made Eden’s instincts sharpen. “What things?”
“Remember what your mother wrote about looking closer at the artifacts?” Katherine pulled out her phone, showing Eden a series of images. “We found something interesting in Romano’s private collection. Something that explains why certain people are suddenly very interested in making deals.”
Eden studied the images—ancient tablets, seemingly unremarkable except for their age. But as she looked closer, she saw what Katherine meant.
“These aren’t just artifacts.” Her voice hardened. “They’re ledgers. Records of transactions, payments, blackmail material...”
“Dating back decades.” Katherine nodded. “Romano wasn’t just using artifacts to launder money. He was using them to store information—evidence of corruption and crimes going back generations. Insurance against anyone who might try to move against him.”
“And now that evidence is in federal custody,” Wilson added. “Along with a very interesting set of encryption keys we found in your mother’s safety deposit box.”
Eden’s head spun as pieces clicked into place. “She knew. She hid the proof in the very things they were using to build their empire.”
“Like she said, hiding things in plain sight.” Katherine’s smile was fierce. “Romano’s people have been searching for this evidence for fifteen years. Never realizing they were literally holding it in their hands.”
“Which is why certain parties are very motivated to make deals,” Wilson added. “Before we finish decrypting everything.”
Before Eden could respond, alarms began blaring throughout the facility. Hunter was movingbefore the first echo faded, weapon appearing in his hand.
“Multiple breaches!” someone shouted in the hallway. “Armed hostiles entering through—”
Gunfire cut them off.
“Time to go.” Hunter was already disconnecting Eden’s monitors, helping her sit up. “Wilson?”
The FBI director had his own weapon out. “Secure transport’s three minutes out. If we can—”
The window exploded inward as rappelling lines appeared. Hunter’s gun barked twice, taking out the first attacker, but more were coming.
“Well.” Eden managed to get to her feet, ignoring the pain screaming through her side. “This seems familiar.”
“Less commentary, more moving.” But Hunter was smiling that dangerous smile she’d come to recognize as his combat expression—the one that combined fierce protection with genuine appreciation for her capabilities. Unlike other men she’d worked with who’d tried to shelter her regardless of her training, Hunter had always respected her skills while remaining vigilantly protective.
“Think you can shoot?” he asked, pressing a spare weapon into her hand while positioning himself to compensate for her weakened state—not taking over, but complementing her reduced capabilities with his strengths.
“Better than you.” She proved it by putting two rounds through the next attacker’s chest, the familiar weight of the weapon grounding her despite the pain radiating through her side. “Even half-dead.”
“That’s my girl.” The simple phrase carried layers of meaning—professional respect, personal pride, and something deeper neither had fully articulated. The possessiveness wasn’t about control but recognition—acknowledgment of the connection they’d forged through combat and crisis, understanding that transcended conventional relationships.
They moved as a unit—Hunter and Wilson on point while Katherine covered their rear. Eden forced herself to focus past the pain, letting training and instinct take over.
