Page 54 of Rescuing Rebel

I mute Hank’s mic, cutting off his squawk of surprise. This confrontation with my personal ghost will happen on my terms.

I march into the room, pulse thundering in my ears, and approach Rebel.

She doesn’t notice me or glance up when my fingers close around her elbow. Her muscles flex instinctively, then go still. It’s almost as if she expects such rough treatment.

When she does look up, her eyes flare with surprise. Her mouth gapes when I steer her away from the other women. I usher her into the empty hall and close the door to the room behind us.

“What the hell?” She snarls and snaps at me, wrenching her arm from my grasp. “Who do you think you—”

“Cut the act. Surprised to see me?” I can’t keep the bitterness from my voice.

She recovers quickly, eyes flashing dangerously. “I don’t know who you think I am, but—”

I slam my hand against the wall beside her head, causing her to flinch. “I’ve been balls deep inside your worthless cunt. Youknowme.”

Her eyelids widen in shock, but a tiny flicker of relief is there as well. But it’s gone so fast that I’m not sure it was ever there to begin with.

Her entire face turns into a hardened, stone-cold mask.

Up close, her floral perfume competes with the stench of alcohol and cigars infusing the air of the room. The rapid flutter of her pulse in her neck belies the icy glare she levels at me.

And fuck me.

Despite everything, my body responds.

To her.

“Tell me this is a lie,” I demand through gritted teeth. “That you aren’t one ofthem.” I can’t keep the disgust and derision out of my tone.

“I don’t know who the hell you are, but get the hell out of my face.” Her jaw clenches and she vocalizes without moving her lips. “There are cameras everywhere.”

It’s a message, but not one I’m ready to process. When it’s clear I won’t let her go, she tries to shoulder past me, but I drive her back against the cold concrete wall. Leaning in, my face is inches from hers.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

“That’s none of your business.” Her voice suddenly lowers to a whisper I barely hear, and that catch in her throat is one of fear. Not anger. “Are you on a mission? Is your team…” What she was about to say is lost when her eyes flick down the hall.

I turn to look, but we’re alone. There’s no one around.

“What the fuck is going on?”

“There are cameras everywhere. You can’t be here.” Rebel places her hands on my biceps. “You’ll ruin everything.” Her eyes flash dangerously. “You have to leave.”

“You said that already, but why would I leave?”

“It’s not safe for you to be here.”

“Because you’re going to run to Kaufman?”

“No.” She shakes her head frantically. “I’d never do that, but you can’t be here.”

The cloying scent of alcohol and stale cigarettes seeps from her pores, mingling with the floral perfume I once gifted her. I shove her roughly against the concrete wall, forearm pressed against her delicate throat.

This woman is a threat to my team. With one word, she could blow our cover. That’s not going to happen. I’ll kill her if I have to.

She gasps, more in shock than pain. The pulse in her neck flutters like a trapped bird desperately trying to fly away. Up close, telltale dark circles ring her bloodshot eyes. She’s just as on edge as I am, this nightmare taking its toll on us both.

This feels all kinds of wrong.

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