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“I’m okay.”

He pulled me into his chest, holding me so tight I could barely breathe — and I didn’t care.

I needed it.

Needed him.

“What happened?” he demanded, not letting go.

I told him everything again, my voice steadier this time, feeding off his strength.

When I finished, Cyclone turned to River.

We will call in the Golden Team. They’ve been through this and know who we’re dealing with. We won’t call the police; we can handle this alone.

River’s face was hard as stone.

“We need to start digging.

We’ll check the cameras near the pier.

We’ll keep an eye on her.

And if anyone even looks at her wrong...

He didn’t finish the sentence.

He didn’t have to.

Cyclone pressed a kiss to my hair, his voice so low only I could hear it.

“I’m not losing you, Jude. Not now. Not ever.”

And for the first time since I spotted that man on the pier, I believed it.

I wasn’t running anymore.

I wasn’t alone anymore.

And if my past thought it could come for me again...It was about to find out just how wrong it was.

36

Cyclone

Ididn’t let go of her hand.

Up three flights of stairs to the office. One hand steady on her lower back, the other ready to catch her if she so much as stumbled.

Jude didn’t stumble.

She didn’t say a word either.

She was composed—too composed—that terrifying stillness that comes from training, not peace. I could feel the tension rolling off her in waves, vibrating through her skin.

We walked into the surveillance room. Sean already had footage pulled up from the pier. Oliver was working another screen, tapping keys like it was just another Thursday.

But this wasn’t just another day.