Page 101 of Rogue Mission
“We’re en route to location seven,” Justice replies.
“Good.” A pause, then Marshall’s tone shifts. “We’ve got eyes on the island. Thermal imaging shows at least a dozen heat signatures in the main structure. Beast’s location is still unknown.”
My stomach drops. Justice goes rigid beside me, every muscle locking down.
He was praying for good news. I could see it in his faraway gaze.
“Still unknown?” Justice asks in a tone that could cut glass.
“The building’s got some kind of interference. Mako’s working on it, but right now we’re running blind on specifics.”
Justice’s hand tightens around mine, grip hard enough that I feel the tremor running through him. He’s fighting a demon that no one can fight for him.
“Timeline for your operations?” he asks Marshall.
“We breach in ten hours. Gives us time to map their patrol patterns, identify weak points.” Marshall exhales, static punctuating the sound.
“I’ll give a SITREP from here soon,” Justice says quietly.
The call ends. The van fills with the sound of rain and road noise and the rhythmic thump of windshield wipers.
Gray dawn bleeds into the sky ahead, the world washed out and colorless. The highway stretches empty in both directions, and for a moment it feels like we’re the only two people left alive.
“Tell me about this contact we’re going to talk to,” I say, needing to fill the silence that’s becoming too heavy.
Justice’s expression doesn’t change, but his grip tightens. “Met him in Afghanistan. He was attached to our unit for a joint op—intelligence gathering, we were hunting a high-value target.”
He goes silent for a few moments. His throat works as he glances at the mirror.
“He saved some men in our unit, but his injury ended his career as an operator.”
I can’t even imagine what that means.
“You’ve had to see so much in your time.”
“Yeah.” He exhales slowly. “Sometimes you forget how much. Anyway, this guy went private. Built up his network, sells information to the highest bidder. Walks a gray line, but he’s got a code. And he owes me.”
It’s obvious Justice doesn’t want to talk about all the complexities of his tie to this man. I won’t push.
But I do ask, “Will he help us?”
“He will.” Justice shifts, hand tightening on the wheel. “But it’ll cost.”
“If it’s money I have some savings?—”
His eyes flick to mine. “You don’t have to worry about money or what this arrangement will be. I’ll handle everything.”
When I stare at him, he looks back at the road.
“I’m well invested, sweetheart. I work because I like the team and feel called to continue to serve, but if you don’t ever want to step foot back in a lab again, you won’t need to.”
If I wasn’t buckled in, I might melt out of the seat.
He loves me, and he wants to provide for me.
“I’m not used to the idea of having someone who would… look out for me.”
“That’s the one thing I know how to do—the money, the home.” His tone fills with emotion.
