Page 121 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost
Alina shifts her weight, a slight wince crossing her features as she tries to find a comfortable position. I catch the movement, and a possessive pride surges through me. Her eyes narrow when she notices my smile, but she can't quite hide her own smile.
"Alright, enough," I say, trying to sound stern. "We have work to do."
But Damian isn't done. His eyes narrow slightly. "Unrecognized expression. Identity verification required."
I roll my eyes, but I can't quite wipe the smile off my face. "Focus on the mission, Damian. That's an order."
As we settle into our usual positions, I catch Alina's eye across the room. She winks at me, and a warmth spreads through my chest. When she sits down at her workstation, another wince flashes across her face.
I reach over and give her rear a light pat, just enough to remind her of last night. The look she gives me is pure fire, a promise for later.
I clear my throat, pushing aside the lingering warmth from this morning. "What have we got on Steele's location?"
The team snaps to attention, their playful expressions fading. Cole steps forward, his tablet in hand, movements precise and measured.
"I've been analyzing Steele's encrypted communications network." He taps the screen once, efficiently bringingup a complex web of data points on the main display. "The pattern is concerning, Ghost."
I lean in, studying the intricate network. "Talk to me."
Cole zooms in on a cluster of nodes with methodical precision. "Steele implemented comprehensive surveillance on Alina's entire social network. Family, colleagues, informants—all mapped and monitored."
He glances at Alina, his expression remaining analytical even as he delivers the troubling news. "The informant interception was deliberate and calculated based on established patterns."
Steele's been watching her this whole time. We played right into his hands.
The warmth in my chest turns to ice. Images flash through my mind—Steele's broken body, his blood staining concrete, his empire crumbling. He touched what's mine. Death would be too merciful.
"Kade?" Alina's voice is soft, concerned.
I don't answer. Instead, I pull out my phone and dial a number from memory. The team watches in silence as I wait for the call to connect.
"Brodie," I say when the line connects, my voice quiet but firm. "I need your CIA contact to give me all the information you have on Markus J. Steele. I don't give a fuck about clearance levels. Just make it happen."
"Jesus, Ghost. What's going on?" Brodie's voice cuts through my phone speaker.
I lock eyes with Damian, our team's cleaner, as I continue speaking to Brodie. "I've got my cleaners ready. This ends only one way—with Steele dead."
"Shit. What did Steele do?" Brodie asks, tension clear in his voice.
"Steele is responsible for Roman's death," I say, the words burning in my throat.
The line goes silent for a long moment. When Brodie finally speaks, his tone is razor-sharp. "Consider it done."
I end the call and look up. The team is staring at me. Alina's eyes are wide, searching my face. I can see the questions forming on her lips, but I turn away before she can ask them.
"Cole, I want every scrap of data from those communications. Jax, start mapping potential safe houses based on Steele's movement patterns. Damian, reach out to your contacts in the underground. I want to know where he sleeps, where he eats, and who he talks to. Anyone helping him is fair game."
"What about me?" Alina asks, her voice steady despite the tension in her shoulders.
I meet her gaze, seeing the determination there. For a moment, I'm tempted to tell her to stay out of it, to keep her safe. But I know better.
"Work with Cole," I say. "Your investigative skills might spot something we've missed."
She nods, moving to join Cole at his workstation. As she passes me, her hand brushes mine—a silent gesture of support. I give her rear another light pat as she walks by, a subtle reminder of both my protection and possession.
The team settles into their tasks, a familiar rhythm taking hold. Damian catches my eye, giving a subtle nod of approval. It's a small gesture, but it speaks volumes. He understands the necessity of my methods, even if they're not always pretty.
Jax leans over to Damian, his voice low but not quite low enough, words tumbling out quickly. "Classic Ghost. Zero to a hundred in two seconds flat."
