Page 21 of His Brazen Mate

Her team nodded; their expressions serious. They trusted her, and she couldn’t afford to let them down.

Megan couldn’t help but think of Drake as they moved into position. She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. The sting operation had to go flawlessly. Lives depended on it.

The location was a warehouse on the shoreline of a river that ran out to the sea. The spot had been selected for its seclusion and accessibility—land, water, and air. Megan and her team blended into the shadows; their equipment ready to capture every detail. Jasmine was running point on all of the surveillance and recording equipment,- so Megan was sure they would get the information they needed for the sting to be successful.

The warehouse was dimly lit, the air thick with tension. Megan could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she and her team moved into position. They had the element of surprise, and every second counted. Her eyes scanned the room, picking out the smugglers among the stacks of bourbon barrels and crates.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a shout. "It's a raid!" one of the smugglers yelled, and chaos erupted. Gunfire rang out, and the warehouse turned into a battleground. Megan ducked behind a stack of crates, her heart pounding.

"Take cover!" she ordered through the comm system, her calm voice cutting through the noise. She peeked around the crate, her sharp eyes catching a glimpse of Victoria McAllister slipping away in the confusion. Her heart clenched at the sight. Victoria was a crucial piece of the puzzle, and Megan couldn't let her escape.

"Megan, we've got this," one of her teammates shouted over the din. "Go after her!"

Megan nodded, ensuring her team could handle the situation before taking off after Victoria. She moved quickly and silently, her training kicking in as she navigated the chaotic scene. Victoria slipped through a side door, and Megan followed, her determination burning like a flame inside her.

The night air was cool against her skin as she emerged from the warehouse. She saw Victoria ahead, disappearing into the surrounding forest. Megan sprinted after her, her senses heightened. The forest was dense, the underbrush grabbing at her legs, but she pushed on, her mind focused.

Victoria was fast, but Megan was relentless. She watched as Victoria glanced back, her eyes wide with fear and anger. Then, in a flash of light, Victoria shifted smoothly into her dragon form, unfurling her great wings. The transformation was seamless, her body elongating, scales shimmering in the moonlight.

Megan skidded to a halt, her breath catching. She had seen Drake shift before, but it was always a sight to behold. Victoria's dragon form was magnificent and terrifying. With a powerful beat of her wings, Victoria launched into the air, heading back, Megan was sure, towards the distillery.

"Dammit," Megan muttered, but she wasn't giving up. She turned and ran back to her SUV, her mind racing. She had to get to the distillery before Victoria could cover her tracks.

The drive was a blur, and her thoughts were a whirlwind of plans and possibilities. When she arrived at the distillery, she could see the dragon form of Victoria landing behind the building. Megan parked her SUV a safe distance away and approached on foot, her heart pounding.

She slipped into the distillery through a side door, moving cautiously through the dark corridors. The smell of smoke and charred wood from the previous fire still lingered in the air. Her footsteps were silent as she made her way toward the main room, where she could hear voices.

"Michael, we need to move the goods now," Victoria, still in her dragon form, said in a sharp and commanding voice. The raid won't stop them from coming after us."

"We don't have time," Michael O'Brien replied, his tone filled with frustration. "We're exposed."

Megan stepped into the room; her gun drawn. "It's over, Victoria. Michael. There's nowhere left to run."

They both turned to face her, shock and anger flashing across their faces. Victoria's eyes narrowed; her dragon instincts clear in her gaze.

"You," Victoria hissed. "You don't know what you're getting into, girl."

Michael stepped forward, his hand reaching for something behind his back. "You're making a big mistake."

"Don't," Megan warned, her voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through her. "It's over. The ATF has this place surrounded." She was bluffing, but they had no way of knowing that.

Victoria's eyes flicked to Michael, then back to Megan. "You think you can stop us? You have no idea what's at stake."

Megan took a deep breath, her focus unwavering. "I know enough. Enough to bring you both down."

The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken threats. Megan's grip on her gun tightened, her resolve solid. She had come this far, and she wasn't backing down now.

"This is your last chance," she said, her voice firm. "Surrender, and no one else has to get hurt."

Victoria's lips curled into a snarl, but she didn't move. Michael's hand stopped, hovering over whatever he had been reaching for and the moment stretched, each second feeling like an eternity.

Megan held her ground, her eyes locked on the two of them. This was it—the final showdown. And she was ready.

CHAPTER 11

DRAKE

Drake's heart pounded as he raced through the forest, his mind a whirlwind of memories and revelations. His investigation into his father’s murder had led him to this moment, the final threads unraveling before him. The McAllister distillery loomed ahead, a grim monument to the secrets and lies that had plagued his family and his clan.

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