Page 20 of His Brazen Mate

Megan nodded, her arms wrapping around him. Amidst the chaos and danger, they found a brief moment of peace. And for now, that would have to be enough.

CHAPTER 10

MEGAN

Megan sat alone in the dimly lit room, her mind racing. The recent events at the bourbon auction had left her reeling. The discovery of the counterfeit bourbon, the dangerous encounter with Michael O’Brien, and the intense moments shared with Drake all swirled in her head. The bond between her and Drake was undeniable, but committing to him would mean the end of her career as an ATF undercover agent. She had to focus on the successful completion of her last op, no matter how her heart felt.

She picked up her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed her supervisor’s number. Marcus Turner had always been a voice of reason and support, and she needed his guidance now more than ever.

“Agent Megan,” Turner answered, his voice gruff but warm. “What do you have for me?”

“Sir, I’ve made significant progress,” Megan began, forcing her voice to remain steady. “I’ve identified key players in the smuggling operation, and I believe we’re close to shutting it down.”

“That’s good to hear,” Turner replied, his tone encouraging. “How do you want to proceed?”

Megan took a deep breath. “I want to set up a sting operation. We need to catch the smugglers red-handed. I’ve gathered enough intel to know where and when the next big transaction will take place.”

Turner was silent for a moment, then spoke cautiously. “This is risky, Megan. Are you sure you can handle it?”

“Yes, sir,” she said firmly. “I’m confident we can pull this off. But I need your approval and the necessary resources.”

There was a pause, then Turner sighed. “Alright. You have my approval. But be careful, Megan. The success of this sting has a lot riding on it—not to mention your life and future with the ATF. If it gets away from you, it could cost you everything.”

“Understood, sir,” she replied, relief washing over her. “Thank you.”

As she hung up the phone, Megan felt a renewed sense of determination. She had to see this through, not just for her career, but for herself. She couldn’t let her feelings for Drake cloud her judgment.

Over the next few days, Megan threw herself into the final stages of her investigation. She meticulously gathered evidence, put together a hand-picked team, including Jasmine Chen, and set the trap for the smugglers. The more she dug, the clearer it became that Magnus McAllister had never been involved. It had been Victoria McAllister, Drake’s aunt, who was the key player in the smuggling ring.

The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. Victoria had always been a powerful and influential figure, but Megan hadn’t expected her to be involved in something so illicit. Sure, the woman didn’t like her, but Megan had to question why Victoria had been working against her family's best interests. However, the evidence had become irrefutable, but it put Megan in an impossible position. Revealing the truth would not only bring down the smuggling operation but also have the potential to destroy the distillery, Drake’s family, and his clan.

One evening, as she reviewed the final details of the sting operation, Drake entered the room. His presence drew her gaze like a magnet. Looking concerned, he searched her eyes for answers.

“Megan, what’s going on?” he asked. “I’ve tried to be patient, but patience isn’t my strong suit. I thought you were coming to accept your role as my mate—certainly, you seemed to revel in my arms, but there’s a part of you that is still distant. I was talking to Jasmine, and she hinted that I should look at what’s going on all around me. I did. You found my father had a hand in the smuggling and creation of counterfeit booze, didn’t you?”

She looked away from him for a moment but then looked back, locking eyes with his. “Drake, there’s something you need to know… there is a direct link, but it isn’t your father.”

He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to touch her arm. “Tell me, Megan. I need to know the truth, but more than that, I need you. I love you.”

The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down her spine. She wanted to fling herself into his arms and confess she felt the same, but she steeled herself. “Drake, it’s your Aunt Victoria. She is deeply involved in the smuggling ring and the counterfeit bourbon as well. I have evidence that points directly to her.”

Drake nodded, but turned away, his shoulders tense. “While I don’t want to believe it, it does make sense. Whoever is behind this would need an isolated place where they could run their operation, and they’d need to be deeply embedded—beyond reproach, as it were.”

“I’m sorry, Drake,” Megan said, her voice breaking as she got up and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her cheek to his back. “I have to bring her and her whole operation down.”

He stepped away, keeping his back to her. “I understand, Megan, but what about us? What does this mean for the distillery and the clan?”

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back. “I don’t know, Drake, but I can’t ignore my duty. I took an oath. I hoped that your background as a SEAL might make a difference to you.”

Drake’s entire body was rigid. “You’re right, you more than anyone should understand. The difference between you and me is that I resigned my commission, chose duty to my family and clan over duty to my country.

“It’s not that simple,” Megan pleaded. “I love you, Drake. But if I don’t do this, everything I’ve worked for will be for nothing. And the people whose lives have been ruined—or worse, taken away—by this operation will never have justice.”

He didn’t respond, his silence a painful echo in the room. Megan felt her heart breaking, but she knew she had to stay strong. The sting operation was set for the next night, and she had to be ready.

The next evening, Megan gathered her team; the final plans for the sting operation were laid out in front of them. Each member knew their role and the risks involved. She felt a surge of determination. This was the culmination of months of work, and she couldn’t let personal feelings cloud her judgment.

“Everyone ready?” she asked, her voice steady.

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