Page 31 of Rescuing Rebel

The first thought in my mind is Mitzy’s team finally located Rebel.

With a bitter sigh, I think back on how my emotions and physical desire for Rebel led me to abandon my discipline and leave my self-respect on that rocky beach.

She lied to me.

CJ and Sam assure me the things I told Rebel are nothing to worry about. They’re all things easily discovered by a determined hacker; they’re not worried about my ability to command Charlie team.

But me? I’m fucking pissed.

My cell phone rings, and I answer CJ’s call.

“What’s up?”

“New mission. Time-sensitive.”CJ, as always, is brisk, business-like, and to the point.“Meet in the admin offices ASAP.”

“Copy that.” I place my phone down on the table with an odd look. Whenever my phone rings, I expect news about Rebel. Don’t know why. In the weeks since her disappearance, there’s been nothing.

Stone-cold nothingness.

I wish I could forget her, but thoughts of her continue to intrude on my daily life.

A new mission is exactly what I need—a reminder of why I’m here—something to take my mind off the woman who used sex to pump me for information about the Guardians. Every step I take, every decision I make, is stained by the bitter aftertaste of that failure. It would be great if I could wallow, but there’s no room for such indulgences.

Not in this line of work.

Life moves on, and I have a new mission to focus on. What I need is to get my head screwed on straight about Rebel. She’s nothing to me.

Nothing but a ghost, a mistake I need to let go of.

When I reach the briefing room, a hollow shell of a man sits across the table from CJ, Sam, and Mitzy. The client wrings his hands raw, eyes hollow from countless sleepless nights. The stinging stench of his despair—a raw, primal fear—permeates the room.

“Please…” His voice cracks. The man’s shattered, and his word is a desperate plea for help.

I’m intrigued.

“Mr. Collins, this is Ethan Blackwood, head of Charlie team. His men will recover your daughter.” CJ makes introductions and a promise.

“Please, you have to find Ally.” Collins’s voice cracks. “She’s out there somewhere, terrified and alone...” His words turn into a choked sob that rattles in the back of his throat.

My chest tightens, thoughts flickering to another fiery woman who survived abduction, captivity, and worse, who also vanished. With a shake of my head, I jump into this mission to get rid of thoughts about Rebel.

“What can you tell us about when she vanished?” I pull back a chair and take a seat.

Across the table, I catch Sam’s attention. He knows about my insecurities leading Charlie team after I allowed Rebel to compromise my values. His solid nod is a reminder of why we’re here. Why we push through the punishing training, the endless nightmares, and the insurmountable odds.

Collins’s shoulders slump. “Just bring my baby girl back to me.” Raw with emotion, desperation punctuates his voice. He’s living a parent’s worst nightmare.

“The Guardians will find your daughter,” I try to minimize his fears, but there’s no easing this kind of terror. His daughter is missing, and he’s lost all control.

“Mr. Collins,” Sam’s voice cuts through the oppressive air, his tone assertive yet comforting. “If you could tell us everything about the day your daughter disappeared.” It’s a delicate dance, extracting every detail while offering an empathetic ear, and Sam executes that task flawlessly.

“She was excited about a visiting lecturer. Someone speaking about cold fusion. She went to the lecture, then…” He looks up and chokes on another sob. “That was the last we saw of her.”

“We? You mean her security detail?” It’s hard to fathom a billionaire’s offspring roaming free and unprotected.

“Yes.”

“Why wait this long to contact us?”

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