Page 22 of Code Name: Tank (K19 Sentinel Cyber #4)

DRAGON

I woke wrapped in Tank’s arms, his chest solid against my back, his breathing deep and even. The intimacy we’d shared last night was everything I imagined and more—reverent yet passionate, gentle yet demanding, making me understand the difference between being conquered and being cherished.

Now, in the quiet aftermath, vulnerability felt different than it ever had before. Less frightening, more natural.

The morning light through the windows was soft and peaceful, a stark contrast to what the day would bring.

“Morning, beautiful,” he murmured against my neck, his words rough with sleep.

I turned in his arms, studying the stubble shadowing his jaw and the tenderness in his eyes that made my heart race. “Good morning,” I said, suddenly feeling shy. “I could get used to waking up like this.”

Tank’s smile was soft and genuine. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He traced his thumb along my cheekbone.

“Any regrets?” I asked.

“Only that we waited this long.” He captured my hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my palm. “You?”

“None.” The honesty in my tone surprised me. “Though I should probably get back to Whisper Point before?—”

My cell buzzed on the nightstand, breaking the quiet. The emergency tone made my stomach drop.

Tank reached for it and handed it to me. “It’s the boss.”

I accepted the call, hyperaware of my naked state beneath Tank’s sheets. “Admiral?”

“Pierce never returned to his quarters last night. His bed wasn’t slept in. Meeting at the command center now.” His words carried an urgency that made me sit up straighter.

“What?” Tank mouthed.

“Are you certain Flint is missing?” I asked, holding the phone so Tank could hear whatever else Admiral had to say.

His eyes opened wide.

“Security sweep confirmed it. Get here as soon as you can. Tank too.”

The line went dead, leaving me staring at the screen with growing dread. The last time I’d seen Flint, he’d been watching Tank and me from the shore. Now, he was gone.

“I guess there’s no hiding that I spent the night here,” I muttered.

“Couldn’t even if we tried with the compound’s security.”

I dropped my phone on the bed and put my head in my hands.

“Hey.” His fingers touched my shoulder, steadying me. “What’s going on? Are you really that upset that anyone knows we were together?”

I looked at him with wide eyes. “Not at all,” I said, cupping his cheek. “It’s just Admiral said Flint never came back to his camp last night.” I met his stare, processing the information.

“Right, I heard him. You think he just left?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.” I swung my legs out of bed, my mind already racing with possibilities.

We dressed quickly, sharing glances and soft touches that seemed stolen in the face of the crisis. When Tank helped me into my jacket, his fingers lingered on my shoulders.

“Whatever happens,” he said quietly, “remember that you don’t owe Flint anything. Not your guilt, not your protection, nothing.”

I nodded, though the knot in my stomach remained tight. “I know. It’s just…”

“Complicated. I get it.” He kissed my forehead. “But, Piper? You’re not the same woman who was abandoned after Prague. You’re stronger now. You know that.”

I nodded again. “I do know.”

Tank’s smile was warm. “Good.”

We walked toward the main path hand in hand, reluctant to separate. The gesture seemed natural, right, but the situation demanded discretion we couldn’t afford to abandon.

“I need to stop at Whisper Point first,” I said. “Shower, change clothes. Meet you up there?”

Tank nodded, kissing the top of my head. “Can’t wait,” he said with a wink.

Twenty minutes later, feeling more put together in fresh clothes, I arrived at the boathouse. Admiral stood near the main display screens, his bearing grim, while Alice sat nearby, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea that I recognized as her ginger blend.

“Morning,” Atticus said, looking up from his tablet when I came in.

“Here’s what we know,” Admiral began once I was seated. “Pierce was last seen yesterday evening near the shoreline. He never returned to his quarters.”

“Any signs of struggle?” Tank asked.

“Not a struggle as much as maybe someone was looking for something. Before you ask, the security cameras malfunctioned .”

His emphasis on the word told me they’d been tampered with.

“Dragon, I know the two of you have history. Did you see any signs of this coming?”

“Not really.” I thought back to yesterday when Flint stood on the shoreline, watching Tank and me kiss.

“He seemed off last night,” said Atticus. “Missed dinner.”

Tank’s hand found mine under the table, steadying me.

“Alice, what do the security systems show?”

I turned when I heard footsteps in the corridor, hoping it was Flint and this was all a misunderstanding. Instead, James walked in.

“Status report?” he asked, glancing at me with obvious concern before turning toward Admiral, who quickly briefed him.

“This troubles me,” Hartwell said when Admiral finished. His jaw was tight, and I caught him glancing toward the windows as if checking for threats. His features softened as he looked at me. “This must be unsettling.”

Admiral stepped forward. “Regardless of the motivation, we need to find him. He could be in danger. There was a reason he was in protective custody before arriving here.”

“Agreed,” Hartwell said.

“I’m already working with local authorities,” Atticus reported.

“Tank, you check with the NRO and see what they might have in the way of overheads,” said Admiral.

When James’ brow furrowed, I wondered what he was thinking.

“Roger that,” Tank responded. “Also, we should engage K19 Shadow Ops. They know this territory better than we do. Well, better than I do,” Tank added when Admiral raised a brow. The man had grown up here, so there probably wasn’t anyone on the other team who would know it better than he did.

“We’ll start with his quarters,” Admiral said. “Then expand the search from there.”

“I can head over there,” I offered.

Tank stood. “I’ll go with you. I can call the guys at the NRO on the way.”

Atticus looked up from his tablet. “Want me to check the lake access points? Maybe he left some indication of where he was going.”

“Good idea,” Admiral said. “I’ll get in touch with Kodiak about engaging the shadow unit.”

“What can I do?” Alice asked, leaning back in her chair and stretching her arms over her head.

“Scour what footage we do have.”

“Be careful out there,” Hartwell said as we walked out.

“You ready for this?” Tank asked as we took the path to Hemlock Grove that wound through pine trees toward Flint’s temporary quarters.

I nodded, though I felt the tightness in my shoulders. “I’d say this isn’t like him, but it is.”

Tank unlocked the front door with the key Admiral had handed him. The interior was silent when we entered, looking lived-in but hastily abandoned, as if Flint had packed quickly.

“Let me clear the rooms before we go any farther.”

I hadn’t even thought to grab my weapon, and that was unlike me.

I checked the kitchen while Tank went toward the rooms down the hallway. The refrigerator held basic provisions and nothing personal. Coffee mugs sat clean in the sink. A half-empty bottle of bourbon occupied the counter, but no glasses nearby suggested recent use.

“We’re clear. Should we check the bedroom?” Tank asked, waiting for me to finish in the front of the camp.

The contrast was immediate. Dresser drawers hung partially open, their contents disturbed.

The closet showed gaps where clothes had been removed, but there were a few personal items scattered around.

It was as though Flint had packed the essentials, but left behind anything that wasn’t immediately necessary.

I knelt by the nightstand, examining the surface, which was clear except for dust outlines where items had been removed.

Tank opened the top dresser drawer completely. I watched as he felt around with his fingers.

“Dragon,” he said. “Fake bottom.”

I joined him as he lifted out a laptop and two phones from the hidden space. The devices looked like standard communication equipment.

“We should get these to Alice,” Tank said, gathering the items.

I stood, brushing dust from my knees. “Agreed. But Tank, this feels…”

“Staged?”

“Exactly. If he was planning to disappear, why not take everything?”

We went through the remaining spaces, but didn’t find anything else.

We were on our way to the command center when James appeared on the path, heading toward us.

“Tank, Dragon,” he said, approaching with purposeful strides. “Perfect timing. I was just coming to find you both.” His attention shifted to the devices in Tank’s hands. “Are those from Pierce’s quarters?”

“They are,” Tank replied. “We were bringing them to the team for analysis.”

Hartwell nodded, but his brow furrowed like it had earlier. “Treasury needs to process any electronic devices,” he explained.

I felt my tension increase. “Our clearances should be sufficient?—”

“I understand your concern, Piper,” Hartwell interrupted gently. “But rules are rules. K19 will receive copies of anything relevant,” he assured us. “I’ll coordinate directly.”

The explanation made sense, though I wished Alice could take a look at Flint’s devices first.

My jaw tightened, but I nodded. “How long before we get the results?”

“Soon.”

Tank handed over the laptop and phones, noting how Hartwell secured them in a briefcase he’d brought with him. Seconds later, we heard a helicopter approaching.

“I appreciate your cooperation,” James said, his smile warm as it focused on me. “I know this is frustrating, but we’ll have answers as quickly as we can. I promise.”

After Hartwell left, heading toward the helipad, Tank and I stood in silence for several moments.

“We should brief the team,” I finally said.

“Agreed. Admiral needs to know about the evidence transfer.”

“Yes,” I said, nodding slowly. When I stopped walking, Tank did too.

“What are you thinking?”