Page 41 of Rescuing Ally: Part 2

The truth burns like acid. Because everything I’ve accomplished, every mission I’ve survived—it’s all been built on the foundation of Hank’s steady presence.

“Learn some fucking patience.” CJ stands, moving toward the door. “Because right now, you’re more dangerous to your team than Malfor is.”

He pauses at the threshold. “One week. One week to remember who you are and why your team trusts you with their lives. Fuck this up, and I’ll transfer you to a desk where your emotional compromises can’t get good people killed.”

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My teammates wait in the hallway. Not dispersed. Not gone. Standing there like they’ve been holding a vigil for my sanity.

The silence stretches between us, heavy with three days of accumulated tension and the fresh wound of our suspension.

“Meeting room,” Ethan says quietly. “Now.”

We file back into the conference room we just vacated. The air still carries the weight of CJ’s disappointment, but something else has shifted. Something darker.

Blake settles into his chair, jaw tight. “Getting emotional won’t fix this, Gabe.”

The words hit like a slap.

“Emotional?” Like I’m some fucking rookie who can’t keep his shit together. I’m in his face before I realize I’ve moved, chest bumping against his. “Six women are gone, Blake. Our women. And you want me to stay calm like some fucking robot?”

My hands ball into fists, knuckles cracking. Every muscle coiled for violence. “Easy for you to say, isn’t it? Sophia’s safe. Luke’s safe. You don’t have skin in this game.”

The words are out before I can stop them, before I can think about what I’m saying.

“What the hell did you just say to me?” Blake’s chair hits the floor as he surges to his feet.

The room goes electric. Everyone else freezes.

“Whoa, hold up, Gabe—” Ethan starts, hands raised.

“Not cool, man,” Rigel says sharply. “That’s way out of line.”

Carter steps forward. “Gabe, you need to apologize right now.”

It’s all a buzz of static.

“Not taking it back. You heard me.” But even as the words come out, I know I’ve crossed a line. “Your family’s tucked away nice and safe while?—”

“How dare you?” Blake’s voice drops to something dangerous, deadly quiet. His hands slam into my chest, shoving me back a step. “How fucking dare you talk to me like I don’t bleed with you.” Another shove, harder this time, making me stumble. “Like I don’t breathe with you. Like, I don’t fight with you. Like, I wouldn’t die for you.”

But I surge forward again, shoving him back just as hard. “Yeah? Then where the fuck were you when they needed you? Where were you when Harrison walked through our front door?”

“Those women are like sisters to me, you piece of shit. Ally’s my little sister. Jenna’s my little sister. Rebel, Mia, Malia, Stitch—every single one of them. And if you think for one goddamnsecond that I don’t feel every moment they’re gone like a knife in my chest, then you don’t know me at all.”

The raw pain in his voice hits like a physical blow, but rage has its hooks in me now, driving me forward past reason, past brotherhood.

“Then why aren’t you doing something about it?”

“Whoa, you’re totally out of line.” Carter springs to his feet, defending his twin. “Take that back.”

I round on Carter, heat blazing through my chest like napalm. “You’re just a freaking stand-in. You’re not even really part of this team.” I’m in his face now, jabbing my finger into his chest with each word. “You got fast-tracked because your girlfriend got taken. That doesn’t make you one of us.”

Carter’s jaw tightens, cop instincts warring with the urge to hit back. “That woman out there is my world, and I’ll be damned if I let you or anyone else tell me I don’t belong in the fight to get her back.”

“And what’s your brilliant plan, Carter?” The words come out like venom. “More cop psychology? You think you can talk Malfor into giving them back?”

“And what would you have us do?” Blake’s control starts to fray. “Storm off half-cocked without a plan?”