Page 81 of Girl Lost
When they finally parted, Corbin rested his forehead againstLuna’s. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, basking in the light of a new day and the promise of a fresh start.
Even after all these years, even with all the pain and unanswered questions between them, she still had this effect on him. “I’ve missed you,” Corbin whispered.
Luna’s fingers traced the line of his jaw. “I’ve missed you too,” she murmured. “More than I realized.”
As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms with the sunrise painting the sky in vibrant hues, a sense of peace washed over him. For the first time in years, hope bloomed in his chest. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for redemption after all. For both of them.
28
LUNA PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOTat the KingdomGym and cut the engine. Now that she was here, she wished she hadn’t eaten breakfast. What lay ahead wasn’t sitting well with her.
This wasn’t her first undercover operation. Far from it. But it was the first time she’d be going in with Corbin. With someone who knew her.
Or at least, had known her once upon a time.
She forced a deep exhale, willing her heartbeat to slow. “You’ve got this, Luna. Just another mission. Just another cover.”
But it wasn’t just another cover, was it? This time, it was personal. This time, it was about finding Trinity. About uncovering the truth behind Stryker’s disappearance. About facing a past she’d spent years running from.
Jett’s sleek Tesla pulled up beside her, and he lifted four fingers off the steering wheel in a wave.
She stepped out of her car at the same time Jett did. “Morning. You’re here early.”
Jett’s smile was wan, the exhaustion evident in the lines etched around his warm, brown eyes. Dark circles underscored a sleepless night. “Lots to do. You ready for this?”
Ready? Was she ever truly ready? She squared her shoulders. “As I’ll ever be.”
They went inside. The gym, usually alive with the sounds of exertion and the sharp tang of sweat, was subdued this early. Still, a few people pounded away at the heavy bags and others ran an endless path on the treadmills. The thud-thud-thud and whirring had a rhythmic comfort.
Blade emerged from the office, a stack of folders tucked under one arm. “Conference room, five minutes.” A taut professionalism replaced his usual easygoing demeanor.
Luna nodded, making her way to the small kitchenette. She needed coffee. Lots of it. Black and strong, just the way she liked it. Just the way she liked everything in her life. Controlled. Predictable. No fuss.
As she waited for the pot to brew, her mind wandered to Corbin. How would he handle this? He was a good agent, no doubt. But undercover work ... it was a different beast entirely. One slip, one tell, and the whole operation could come crashing down around them. And he had a weakness. Her.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
Luna jumped, sloshing her freshly poured coffee on the counter. Tori stood in the doorway, thumbs tucked in the back pockets of her jeans, her gaze assessing.
“Just ... preparing.” She forced a smile, hoping it didn’t look as strained as it felt.
Tori’s gaze softened. “Ay, mija, it’s okay to be nervous, you know. This ain’t no ordinary day at the office.”
“I know. It’s just...” She wasn’t nervous. Not really. Fictional characters, inventing a life, faking her appearance—that’s who she was. It wasn’t Corbin. But she couldn’t say that. “There’s so much riding on this, Tor. If we mess this up...”
“Hey, we’ve got you.” Tori’s hand on her arm was warm. Firm. “All of us. We’re in this together, a’right?”
That was the problem. Luna was taking a huge risk relying onher friends for this covert operation. She used to have an entire network of analysts, tech specialists, and field operatives at her disposal. Even so, she’d been responsible for people dying. And that was the true source of her unease.
Rather than insult her friends with those forebodings, she patted Tori’s shoulder and said, “Thanks, girl.”
They filed into the conference room, a small, windowless space that reeked of stale coffee. The others were already there, seated at the oval table. Harlee sat in a high-back leather chair and swiveled herself an inch to the right, then an inch to the left. Blade paced back and forth, his hands tucked in his pockets, jingling coins or maybe keys.
She sat beside Corbin at the far end of the table. A few hairs curled slightly at his forehead. He wore a crisp white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing the familiar lines of muscle, the strength that had always drawn her to him. Even after all these years, all the pain, all the distance ... he still had that effect on her.
Jett cleared his throat. “All right, let’s get started. We’ve got a lot to cover and not much time.” He tapped a few keys on his laptop, the screen illuminating his face with a colorful glow.
A series of images flashed on the TV mounted behind him. “I’ve created comprehensive cover identities for both of you,” he said, nodding to Luna and Corbin. “Meet Alexander and Lorelai Sinclair, power couple extraordinaire.”
