Page 140 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost
"Enough games," I growl, forcing his head back. "What's your endgame here?"
Steele's eyes lock onto mine, a hint of madness lurking in their depths. "Endgame? This is just the beginning."
The team exchanges uneasy glances. Frost's voice comes through the comm, tense and urgent. "Ghost, we've got incoming. Multiple vehicles, heavily armed."
"Fuck," I growl under my breath. My eyes find Alina immediately, calculating the fastest way to get her to safety if this goes south. "Nitro, get ready for a fast exit. Chaos, give me some ideas."
Sweat trickles down my back as I scan the area. My heart pounds, but I keep my voice steady. I won't show fear in front of my team. In front of her.
The bitter stench of burning fills my nose while we restrain Steele. His taunting chuckles piss me off, but I push down the anger and stay locked in.
"Nitro, Chaos—knock him out and strip him. We're taking this bastard back to base."
As they carry out my orders, I make my way to Alina. My hands cradle her face, thumbs brushing over her cheekbones as I check her for injuries. The need to touch her, to confirm she's whole, overrides protocol.
"You okay?" I ask quietly, my voice rough with the aftermath of adrenaline and the relief of seeing her unharmed.
She nods, leaning slightly into my touch. "I will be. Let's just get out of here."
I pull her against me for a brief moment, my lips brushing her temple. "You did good out there, little hellcat," I whisper.
Only she gets to see this side of me—the man beneath the tactical call sign. "When we get back, I'm showing you exactly how proud I am."
The promise in my voice makes her pupils dilate, and a flush creeps up her neck.
The ride back to headquarters is tense. Steele's unconscious form lies at our feet, a reminder of how close we came to disaster. I can feel the team's eyes on me, waiting for direction, but my focus keeps drifting to Alina. Her hand rests on my thigh, a point of warmth in the cold aftermath of combat.
"Good work out there," I say, breaking the silence. "But this isn't over. We needanswers."
Under cover of the engine noise, I lean closer to Alina's ear. "And you, sweetheart, need to remember who you belong to. I don't share."
forty-one
Alina
The sterile white walls of the interrogation suite feel oppressive as Damian and Cole drag Steele's inert body into the room. My stomach churns, anticipation and dread coursing through me.
Kade's voice is low, almost gentle. "You don't have to be here for this part, Alina."
I turn to look at him, searching his face. His jaw is set, eyes hard. This is Ghost now, not the Kade I've come to know.
"I'm staying." I lift my chin slightly. "We need answers, and I need to see this through."
His eyes narrow at my defiance, but he nods once. "It won't be pretty."
Through the glass, Damian secures Steele to the chair with practiced efficiency while Cole positions himself by the door. The principled reporter inside me protests thatwe're venturing into unethical territory. Yet the part of me that's witnessed Steele's atrocities firsthand craves retribution, regardless of what it takes.
My breath catches as Damian pulls out a small case, laying out an array of tools that would violate every Geneva Convention rule.
"Wait," I blurt out, pressing my hand against the glass. "Is this really necessary?"
Kade's gaze shifts to mine, his expression hardening into something that silently demands compliance. "Sometimes, Alina, there isn't another way."
Through the intercom, Steele's voice filters in as he regains consciousness. His eyes flicker open, darting around the room before settling on Damian.
"Where are the children?" Damian's voice is cold, detached.
Steele's lips curl into a smirk. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
