Page 113 of Secret Mission

“Oh, my god, that’s brilliant!” I spin on my heel and start pulling on the borrowed clothing. “I know exactly where to look for evidence. And we have to see where Rosalie is too.”

Truck catches me, whipping me around, his massive hands on my shoulders. “Christ, woman. You’re not supposed to be excited about this. Here I am, scared as fuck about taking you, too worried to leave you, and you’re acting like this?”

I lunge up on my toes and kiss his frown. “Yes, don’t you see? It’s perfect. We won’t have to wonder anymore.”

“Fucking hell,Allison. Are you out of your mind?”

“I’ve got you to protect me, what could go wrong?”

For a beat, I wonder if his head might explode.

But all he does is curse before he latches his hand around my wrist, jerks the bag off the table, and storms out the door.

“Plenty, that’s what could go fucking wrong.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

I’m going to need serious therapy by the time this is all done.

Bright-eyed for so little sleep, Allison leans her elbows on the expensive teak table in the decked-out cabin of the Agile Security & Rescue jet. The look would be adorable if I wasn’t so freaked out.

She and Justice are talking over top of each other.

Me? I’m fighting a headache the size of Alaska. Nothing about taking Allison to her father’s estate makes me happy. But leaving her behind is a serious NO-GO. Especially, after that dream.

Covering my face with my hands, I sit hunched over.

“He keeps his business files in this bunker thing,” Allison says. “I always thought it was overkill, but now I have some serious suspicions about him.”

Justice makes a sound of agreement. “What are you thinking?”

“The only reason he would be after my sample and suddenly hyper-focused on finding me?—”

“Obsessed, not hyper-focused,” I toss out through gritted teeth.

“As I was saying, precious metal minerals are used for all kinds of things. Technology parts, chemical processes, and even in experimental drugs or medical practices.”

Allison crosses her arms and leans back. “I specialize in archeometallurgy—the study of how ancient civilizations used and manipulated metals. Not just for tools or jewelry, but for medicine. Ritual. Power.”

The hairs on my nape stand up. “Go on.”

“I was studying a site that had strange readings—electromagnetic anomalies. What I found was an underground chamber lined with something I couldn't identify. Possibly a blend of metals that shouldn’t have existed with their level of technology. But it did.”

Justice and I share a glance as Allison focuses on something in the distance, her thoughts running.

After a few moments, she exhales. “This could be it. This! I didn’t think of it until now.”

“What, sweetheart?”

Looking over at me, she hesitates.

That stings. But she doesn’t have a lot of reason to trust anyone right now. Even if I thought I’d broken down that barrier last night.

“Controlling something like this would be powerful, am I right?” I ask.

She nods, her movements tight as she shifts in her seat.

The brush of her arm against mine makes my skin tingle.

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