Page 104 of Rescued By the Alpha SEAL

Something sparks in my chest—defiance, maybe anger. I force myself up on shaking legs.

Asa gives a slight nod that feels like victory. "Every second counts. Don't waste them."

I steady myself, resolve building. "Alright," I whisper, then stronger: "Alright. Let's get Lucia back."

He turns to the screen, running scans and tracking data. "Logan, it's all on you now."

Time stretches. My mind spins with the video files, with Dad's sacrifice. I want to dive deeper, understand it all, but I can't—not now.

Logan's voice comes steady through comms: "Hostage secured. ETA in ten minutes."

My shoulders drop with relief, and I catch Asa's subtle exhale behind his wire-rimmed glasses. The tech genius rarely shows emotion, but even he seems to feel the weight lifting from the room.

His eyes meet mine, intense but steady. "They're bringing her home, Sloane. Whatever comes next, we're ready."

But Dad's words flash on screen:

I buried it to protect the one thing worth more.

My daughter.

My legs give out and I sink into the chair.

She's safe.

The thought twists in my gut.

Who else might pay the price?

Dad traded his life for mine. Max's blood stains my hands. Logan and his brothers risk everything just by standing near me. Lucia barely escaped with her life.

All because I clung to some stupid principle about truth being worth any cost.

I was wrong.

33

LOGAN

The trees blur past as we speed down the empty road toward The Forge, my knuckles white against the steering wheel.

Behind us, Knox cradles Lucia in the backseat, her small frame curled against his tactical vest.

She hasn't spoken since we found her. Hasn't cried. Just stares ahead with eyes that have seen too much.

Too fucking young for this.

Rage burns low and steady in my gut. Not the explosive kind that makes you reckless. The kind that settles into your bones and waits. The kind that remembers.

Granger crossed a line. Using a child as bait? That's not military strategy. That's not even revenge.

That's just cruelty.

And for what? To prove a point? To show me what happens when civilians get caught in the crossfire?

Message received, you bastard.

But this time, there won't be any mercy. No spared shots. No second chances.