Page 13 of Axel Martin

“Whoever this guy is,” I said, pointing to the freeze-frame, “he’s trained. Efficient. And escalating.”

Turner nodded. “He’s making this personal. We flip that. Make it his mistake.”

Rush grinned. “So we set bait.”

“No.” The word snapped out before I even thought.

“Yes,” Lark said, raising her hand.

Every head turned to her.

“I’m the reason he’s here,” she said calmly. “I know how he thinks. He used to message me all the time. I thought it was a stalker, and maybe he is. I can draw him out.”

My eyes locked on hers. “You are not going in as bait.”

“You’ll be watching, right?” she asked, voice softer. “Bravo can go with me.”

“You don’t understand what he’s capable of.”

“No,” she said, “but I know whatI’mcapable of. And I trustyouto back me up.”

Silence stretched. Frasier finally cleared his throat. “She’s got guts.”

Turner added, “And she’s not wrong.”

I looked from them… back to her.

Her chin lifted. Daring me to shut her down again.

I exhaled, tension crawling up my spine. “We do this my way. Controlled location. Emergency override. Full surveillance.”

“And a safe word,” Rush added with a wink.

Lark smirked. “How aboutEggs?”

I groaned. “This is going to kill me.”

She bumped her shoulder into mine. “Just don’t miss your shot, soldier.”

We picked an abandoned fire watchcabin on the far ridge. Perfect location. Remote. Open lines of sight. Minimal exits.

I watched her through the scope as she walked up the cabin steps. Hair tied up. A camera clipped visibly to her belt. Just a curious storm chaser logging footage.

She wasn’t alone.

We had her wired.

I was in a sniper nest two hundred yards out.

Turner and Fraiser were at the perimeter.

monitored the access trail.

Sunset crawled in.

The wind stirred the trees.

And then—

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