Page 28 of Rebel

“They armed?”

“Concealed.Vince caught a glimpse when one leaned over the bar.”A pause.“That’s not all.I ran their names through my system.And I mean a deeper dive than before.When it involves the military, it always takes more time.Lots of layers to peel back.”

My jaw tightened.“And?”

“Three similar reports filed against them in the past.Sexual assault.All military women, different bases.”Shade’s voice held controlled rage.“All cases dropped due to ‘insufficient evidence.’Last victim before Rio was hospitalized for two weeks.They have to be backed by someone high up to keep getting by with this shit.”

Something cold settled in my chest.Not fear -- rage.The kind that sits like ice until it’s time to act.

“Where are they now?”I kept my voice low, steady.

“LeftThe Nailtwenty minutes ago.Heading toward the edge of town.I’ve got eyes on the traffic cams.They’re in a black Dodge Ram, Georgia plates.”

I glanced at Rio.Her body was coiled tight, ready to spring.She’d picked up on my tension even without hearing Shade’s words.

“Keep tracking them.We’re heading back now.”I paused.“And, Shade?Get Java and Ripper on standby.We might need backup.”

“Already done.”The line went dead.

I lowered the phone slowly, my mind racing through options, scenarios, consequences.Rio didn’t give me time to finish.

“What’s wrong?”Her voice was sharp, all traces of relaxation gone.Her eyes had hardened into blue ice.

I met her gaze directly.“We’ve got a problem.”

She didn’t flinch, didn’t blink.“What kind of problem?”

The words sat heavy on my tongue.I could lie, try to shield her.But one look at her face told me that would be both useless and insulting.

“The men from your unit.They’re in town.”I watched her reaction carefully.“Looking for you.”

The color drained from her face, but her expression didn’t change.Her knuckles went white where she gripped the edge of the table.

“How?”

I could tell there was something more she wanted to ask, or maybe something she knew.Was this more of a test to see how much we’d found out?“Don’t know yet.They showed up atThe Rusty Nailasking about a woman matching your description.”

Rio’s breathing changed, becoming deliberate and controlled.A technique to manage fear or anger -- maybe both.Her gaze never left mine, searching for any hint that I might be softening the truth.

“Names?”she demanded.“Are you sure it’s them?”

I hesitated.“Shade confirmed it’s them.The same ones you told me about.He hacked into the military files on them.”

She stood abruptly, chair scraping against the wooden floor.“We need to go.Now.”

I rose more slowly, dropping cash on the table to cover our meal.“We will.But first we need a plan.”

“Plan is simple.I leave town.”Her words were clipped, mechanical.“They’re not your problem.”

“They became my problem when they walked into my territory hunting one of mine.”The words came out before I could consider them.

Rio’s eyes flashed.“I’m not yours.”

“You’re under my club’s protection,” I clarified, though part of me wanted to challenge her statement.Not the time.“That makes them my problem.”

She shook her head, already moving toward the door.I caught her arm, gentle but firm.She stiffened but didn’t pull away.

“Rio.Stop.”I kept my voice low.“Running blindly is exactly what they want.We need to be smart about this.”

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