Page 21 of Rogue Hope (Hope Landing: New Recruits #4)

Night had settled over Knight Tactical’s compound by the time Zara hauled her tired body upstairs to the guest quarters, each step awakening fresh aches from the day’s exertions at the lake.

The headquarters was quiet, with only Axel monitoring security feeds, Ronan patrolling the perimeter, and Maya handling communications.

And Finn, lodged in quarters directly across from hers—a constant reminder of complications she’d rather avoid.

She would have preferred her own home, but with Vanguard hunter teams searching and Cipher’s intentions unclear, Ronan had insisted she remain on-site. “Home advantage,” he’d called it before departing for a rare family commitment.

She locked the door and performed her habitual security sweep before lowering herself carefully onto the bed.

Finn’s reappearance had destabilized everything—including her own judgment.

The way her team accepted him so readily only heightened her concern.

Were they seeing something she was missing, or was she the only one seeing clearly through emotional smoke?

Her phone felt heavy as she stared at the shadowed ceiling.

The stakes were too high for unchecked instinct or wounded pride.

She needed someone who had navigated these waters before—someone who understood both the Agency’s labyrinthine politics and her own complicated history.

Someone who could see the entire chessboard when she could only see the pieces directly threatening her.

She needed Harrison.

Her old mentor might be the only person alive who could tell her if she was being paranoid—or not paranoid enough.

Before she could rethink her decision ten more times, she punched in his number.

“Mockingbird,” Harrison’s voice came through, using her old Agency code name. The familiar designation sent a wave of comfort through her. “Late night call. Must be serious.”

“Sir,” she responded, formality slipping in automatically despite her fatigue. “I’ve missed our debriefs.”

“As have I. What’s troubling my most promising operative?”

She had been that, hadn’t she? Before Finn. A wave of loss swamped her. She fought her way out of it.

“I have concerns about our current operational trajectory,” she said. “And I needed someone who remembers Paris as it actually happened.”

“I’m listening.”

She outlined the situation—Finn’s unexpected reappearance, their trace on Cipher, and Vanguard now hunting them both.

Briefing complete, she waited, letting him digest the info.

Finally, he grunted softly. “So Novak resurfaces after seven years with precisely the intelligence needed to take down Cipher. And now you’re both being hunted.

That’s quite a situation. Not that you and your team aren’t up to the challenge.

I’ve been keeping tabs on you. Your team, too.

I have every faith the lot of you will come out on top. Whether Novak’s on the level or not.”

“My team doesn’t have the full context. They weren’t there for Paris. They don’t know what Finn—” She caught herself. “They don’t have your perspective.”

“And you’re concerned about Novak’s convenient intelligence,” Harrison completed her thought.

Among other things. But those thoughts she didn’t dare voice. Not even to her mentor. Not yet.

“Your instincts have always been exceptional,” he continued. “If something feels wrong about his involvement, you’re probably right. What do the others think?”

“The team sees his technical contributions. I see patterns that concern me.”

“Understood, and expected. Novak always was an excellent con.” Her mentor sighed, a deep, tired sound. “Have you considered that Cipher could have engineered this reunion? Novak’s been hunting him for years, and all of a sudden he thinks Cipher’s after you? Why now?”

Exactly her concern. “You think it’s a trap?”

“I think caution is warranted. I’ve seen parallel intelligence coming out of the Agency—intel on a private data hub outside Portland, and financial movements through Vancouver. Both showing concerning activity within the past seventy-two hours.”

“Misdirection?” Zara murmured.

“Possibly. My colleagues seem to think so. They’re monitoring the leads for now. And regarding Novak—I can’t tell you what to believe about his motivations. Just remember your first loyalty must be to the mission. If personal history is clouding your judgment, recognize that vulnerability.”

“Of course, sir. Always. That’s why I reached out.”

“Smart thinking. Like usual.” He sighed deeply.

“I wish I could offer more help, but the work on Cipher’s being done in another department.

If I poke around too much, someone will notice.

All I can say for now is watch your back.

Don’t discount the possibility that Novak is trying to play you again.

You and I both know it won’t work, but make sure he doesn’t. ”

“Thank you for the pep talk, sir.”

“I’m glad you called. I’ll poke around on my end, see if I can scare up some actionable intel on Cipher, or Novak. In the meantime, keep your head on straight. You’re far smarter than he is. Remember that.”

A sharp knock interrupted them. “Zara? I know you’re in there.”

“I need to go,” she said quickly.

“Be careful,” Harrison replied before disconnecting.

No kidding.

She composed herself and opened the door, deliberately blocking entry.

“What?” she asked flatly.

Finn stood tensely in the hallway. “You didn’t respond to my text.”

“I was in the shower. Is there an emergency, or is this just harassment?”

“Who were you talking to?” he asked directly.

“Excuse me?”

“I heard your voice.”

“If you say so. You’re not on my team. I don’t report to you.”

“Back up the train, Khoury. We’re on the same side.”

“Are we?”

Finn squeezed the back of his neck and scrunched up his face. “We’re hunting Cipher while Vanguard hunts us. Isolation and unauthorized contacts are dangerous.”

“So is manic nosiness. I needed five minutes of peace after being social all day.”

“This isn’t a game. Your team doesn’t fully understand the danger.”

“Yeah, we do. Cipher needs us,” she continued. “He won’t risk eliminating us until he gets what he wants.”

“That’s a dangerous assumption. Cipher doesn’t follow predictable patterns.”

“Neither do I,” she countered. “I’ve acquired new intel. Possible leads.”

“What intelligence? From whom?”

“My own research,” she lied. “Two locations showing Cipher’s signature—Portland, and Vancouver.”

“And you discovered this through ... research,” Finn said skeptically.

“You should try it sometime,” she suggested coolly. “Oh no. Wait. I forgot. Your idea of research is lying to get what you want.”

He shook his head. “How about we table the discussion of my faults until after we take Cipher down. Back to the present. If you’re receiving intelligence from outside sources?—”

“My sources are my concern. The intelligence is solid.”

Ronan’s voice interrupted from down the corridor. “Everything all right up there?”

Finn nodded. “Just reviewing security plans. We’re fine.”

“It’s late,” Ronan observed meaningfully.

“I’ll coordinate with Deke about these locations tomorrow,” Finn said. “Get some rest.”

“Always the concerned partner,” she replied with unexpected bite.

He flinched slightly. “Whatever happened in Paris doesn’t change the fact that Cipher is dangerous beyond imagination. Be careful who you trust.”

The irony wasn’t lost on her. “Always,” she assured him before closing the door.

Alone again, Zara processed the conflicting warnings from both men—each speaking with conviction, each claiming to have her best interests at heart.

Luckily, Harrison was as good as his word. He’d already sent an encrypted email. Just two lines:

Possible infiltration into mothballed CIA safe house.

Phoenix.

She moved to the desk and began digging. Her body demanded rest, but her mind refused to settle. Whatever game was being played, she refused to be merely a piece on the board.

This time, she’d write her own rules of engagement.