Page 38 of Rescuing Rebel
“And the girl? Was she a random grab?”
“Ain’t no random grab.” The guy leans back.
Now that he’s talking, he’s getting comfortable. Like we’re old buddies sitting down for a beer and bragging about what we did that day. Yeah, his time on this earth is limited.
And as he talks, slow, icy dread coils in my stomach. His words chip at the veneer of what we initially thought was a simple case of abduction. The forethought. The intimate knowledge. Was Ally’s personal protection detail compromised? A Judas in her midst.
“And where were you taking her?”
“There’s an auction. Well, it’s not an auction, seeing as money’s already changed hands, but they put the girls on stage. Make them think they’re being sold off, but it’s just to fuck with their heads, make them malleable.”
I’m ready to shove my knife into his chest and end him. What a fucking tool. Instead, I keep a smile on my face and the questions coming.
The edges of my vision tinge red. This is no mere job. It’s a sickening ‘boutique kidnapping,’ designed like an obscene piece of art.
After hours of talking to the asshole, he clearly lacks one significant detail. He has no idea who wants Ally or who ordered her kidnapping.
My gaze hardens, locked onto the man across the table. No matter how deep we have to dig or the cost, we will unearth this entire operation, leaving no stone unturned.
FOURTEEN
Ethan
The momentmy boots hit the tarmac, my mind churns through the information I extracted. It feels good to be immersed in a mission rather than wallowing over my regrets surrounding Rebel. The world is reduced to white noise in the background, every ounce of my focus already reassessing our situation and revising strategies.
At the edge of the landing strip, Forest Summers himself is there to greet us. His silhouette is a monument of pure, raw power. Towering nearly seven feet, he’s one of the few men on the planet who makes me feel small.
Recuperating after months of battling cancer, he’s slowly recovering the muscle mass he lost. Still, he’s a figure of strength. An imposing presence that makes me want to do my best.
The walk to him is a series of snapshots—flashes of his tall, imposing figure stark against the fading hues of the sunset, the ripple of muscle under his fitted shirt, the quiet intensity of his ice-blue gaze. The shock of white-blond hair crowning his head. This man is a force of nature, steady as a mountain and unyielding as the sea.
As I approach, he pushes off from where he leans against the hangar wall, broad shoulders squaring off.
“Ally?” His concern fills in the air between us. I can’t say I blame him. The sweet, vibrant young woman was cast into a world she was not equipped to understand.
“Minor cuts and bruising. She’s shaken but coping.”
“That’s good. You got to her in time. Great job.”
“That may be, but this is far from over.” There’s too much to debrief on the tarmac.
“How’s that?”
“Until we put a lid on this, Ally’s father can’t whisk her away. He can’t protect her. This is no simple kidnapping.”
“Explain.”
“It’s a boutique kidnapping camouflaged as a human-trafficking ring complete with auction.”
Forest’s lids pull back in surprise, making his ice-blue eyes appear nearly as pale as the white of his eyes. He’s silent, not because he’s contemplating, but because he accepts what I say. I knew he would. Forest’s the kind of man who would walk through fire for those who’ve been abducted and enslaved.
What follows next is the machine that is Guardian HRS springing into action. Ally is whisked off the plane to safety. She’ll be reunited with her father and taken back under our care. Until Guardian HRS neutralizes the threat against her, her life remains at risk, and we will protect her.
I escort our guest to a holding cell where the real interrogation begins. Sam and CJ bring in Griff, a Guardian from Alpha team adept at advanced interrogation techniques.
With him on the job, I take my team for a debrief in our bullpen. The space is filled with lockers, cages, and bins, a utilitarian space of concrete and steel where the men of Charlie team gear up for missions.
Hank, Walt, Blake, Jeb, and Gabe are already there, moving through their post-mission actions with the steady rhythm of professionals. The hum of conversation falls silent as I stride into the room. I glance at each man as I pass.