Page 42 of Mysterious Mate

“You’re such a pain in the ass,” she said.

“I am, but only in the best way possible.”

She launched herself at him, throwing her arms around him, and tipping him onto the bed. She began tearing at his clothes.

“I thought you wanted to clean up the mess.:

“I do, but later. Much, much later,” she purred.

The corners of his mouth curled up as he pushed her sundress out of the way and shoved up inside her. “Much, much later,” he repeated as his mouth claimed hers and he began to show her just how much later it would be.

CHAPTER 21

CAGE

Cage sat on the edge of the bed, the cool night air brushing against his bare skin. He glanced over at Willow, who was peacefully asleep beside him, her breathing even and calm. The events of the day had been exhausting for both of them—both physically and emotionally—but there was still work to be done. He quietly reached for his phone, careful not to disturb her, and stepped into the adjoining room.

The phone rang twice before Colby picked up. "Cage," Colby’s voice was tense, a reflection of the urgency that had gripped their lives recently. "What’s your status?"

"We’re stable for now," Cage replied, keeping his voice low. "Willow’s safe. Carlyle is dead, and we dealt a pretty good blow to the Shadow League—for now. But we need to strike while the iron is hot and deal with them in a more final way. I’ve got a lead on the Shadow League’s main headquarters."

There was a pause on the other end. "Go on."

Cage took a deep breath. "Intel suggests they’re operating out of a Schloss in Switzerland. We’ve pinpointed the location. If we hit them now, we might be able to cripple their operations for decades if not for good."

"That’s risky," Colby said, the concern evident in his tone.

“I don’t believe we’re ever going to have a better shot at them.”

“How soon can you move?" asked Colby.

"We’re ready. I’ll take a small unit and go in tonight. We can’t afford to wait. They’ve already made it personal."

Colby sighed, the weight of the decision palpable even over the phone. "Alright. Be careful. We can’t afford to lose you."

"I will. I’ll update you once we’re in position."

Cage ended the call and stood for a moment, gathering his thoughts. The mission was dangerous, but it was necessary. They needed to end this, once and for all.

He reentered the bedroom quietly, pulling on his clothes with practiced efficiency. Willow stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "Cage?" she murmured sleepily.

"Go back to sleep," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I’ll be back soon."

"Be careful," she said softly, her eyes closing again.

"I will," he promised, feeling a pang of guilt for leaving her.

He knew she hadn’t really understood what he was doing, but that was probably best. He had to do this. For her. For all of them.

Cage met with his team up at the landing strip. The long-range stealth helicopter was waiting for them. The air was thick with tension, the men and women around him steeled for the upcoming mission. They were a small, elite unit, each member chosen for their skill and loyalty. He briefed them quickly, outlining the plan and emphasizing the importance of precision and stealth.

"We move fast and quiet," Cage instructed. "Kill as many as you can and any room that has electronics or any kind of paper—files, maps, et cetera—take what information you can and destroy the rest. Scorched earth on the interior.”

“What about the bodies?” asked Davis.

“Colby’s got a clean-up crew. In and out. No mistakes."

His team nodded, their expressions grim and focused. They boarded the blacked-out helicopter, and within minutes, they were airborne, slicing through the night sky towards Switzerland.

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