LOGIN"I'm not Troy?" the man sneered, his eyes glinting with pure amusement above his face mask. "Who says so, Sergeant?"Jared’s jaw clenched hard, hot and volatile anger bubbling in his veins as he stared at the man standing ten feet away.He had known Troy Strauss for years. Even fucked him a couple of times.He knew the man’s physical profile like the back of his hand.Yes, a man could drastically buff up, but he could not magically add inches to his skeletal frame.The man standing before him was slightly taller, carried broader shoulders, and held an entirely different posture.And though he sounded hauntingly like the Troy he had known, the na
“Mr Oakley is safe, sir,” Marcus said, relief thick in his voice. “They were able to get the traitors before they caused any harm.”“Oh thank goodness," Jared muttered, wiping the sweat off his brow. “How about Myla?”Marcus winced. “I… I’m sorry, sir,” he stammered out. “They got to her first.”“Fuck!” he snarled. “How?!”“They said she left the estate, and unfortunately, the people she left with were three of Troy’s men.” Marcus swallowed nervously before continuing, his voice heavy with dread. “And… I have lost her signal, too.”“It just keeps getting better and bette
Ambrose turned in his seat again, looking at Hayden. "Sir,” he said, eyeing his boss’s stiff countenance. “Is everything alright?"“What kind of stupid question is that?” Hayden snarled, maintaining his angry, frazzled expression even as his heart hammered against his ribs like a sledgehammer. “My wife is in danger from God knows what, and you are asking me that?”Ambrose flinched, his eyes guilty. “I’m so sorry, sir,” he apologized again. “I shouldn’t have let her—”“Save it,” Hayden cut in, moving the phone to his second ear because his palm was getting too sweaty from nervousness. “Wait, have you tried reaching Colette?”Ambrose nodded, sweat beading on his fore
“Mr. Oakley, there is something you need to understand. The people sitting on this case are not mere people, and Mr Lotto is the key to unraveling this mess.”Hayden could still hear Colonel Harrow’s voice in his head as his driver drove into his estate.For the first time in days, he felt hope.The Department of Defense had actually been digging into Operation Nightfall. And because the people involved held immense political leverage, they hadn't been able to intervene until they had all the facts straight.Now that they did, Jared was paramount to closing the whole thing.While that reality meant Jared was in heightened danger, it also meant something far greater to Hayden: Ja
Jared pressed his foot flat against the gas pedal, pushing the beat-up truck he had bought off a man in the parking lot of the dive bar past its limits.The sniper had not known the exact location of Troy’s base, but he had given enough specific landmarks for Jared to narrow the radius down to an industrial sector just across the state border.He wasn’t proud of the measures he had to use to make the young man spill the truth. But when it came to choosing between protecting his family or holding back against strangers who meant them harm, he did not give a damn.For the first time in weeks, he had a tangible destination.Yet, despite the faint triumph, a persistent itch remained at the back of his mind.His mind k
Heading back downstairs, she met Ambrose, their deputy head of security, waiting for them in the main foyer.“Ma’am, is everything alright?” he asked, his voice cautious.“I need to leave the estate for a few hours,” Myla informed him. “Colette’s niece is having some problems, and we need to check on her.”His expression immediately became serious. “Respectfully, orders were clear—"“I’ve already sent Hayden a message, and Beck is asleep, so I don’t want anyone waking him." Myla cut him off with calm authority. "I’m not asking for permission. We are taking the helicopter. And I want a full detail ready at the landing zone."Ambrose hesitated, conflicted."Very well, ma







