Page 40 of Rogue Hope (Hope Landing: New Recruits #4)

Finn paced his cell, each turn precise and measured. Fourteen steps from wall to wall. Three days since Malaysia. Seven years hunting Cipher, seeking redemption.

Everything was connected. Teaming him with Zara on the Paris mission. The evidence against him now. The bombing in Phoenix that had drawn Knight Tactical into the web.

All pointing to a single architect.

He had to make Zara see reason.

He’d gone over every piece in his mind—his photographic memory cataloging each server log, each financial transaction, each communication pattern. The inconsistencies were subtle but unmistakable to someone who knew what to look for.

But Zara hadn’t looked. She’d simply seen what she expected to see. What her trusted mentor wanted her to see.

The detention center door slid open as Kenji entered with a food tray. “Breakfast.”

Finn barely glanced at it. “Is Zara still refusing to see me?”

“She’s busy.” Kenji set the tray down on a desk outside the cell. “Running point on comms. The team just deployed on emergency extraction.”

Finn’s attention sharpened. “What extraction?”

“Reynolds found something big. Cipher’s server farm, apparently.” Kenji shrugged. “It’s outside town in some old mining complex. Once they bring him in, I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom of all this.”

The pieces clicked into place with terrifying clarity. The timestamps. The manipulated evidence. The convenient emergence of proof pointing to him.

Finn moved closer to the bars. “The whole team went?”

“Except me and Zara. She’s having a bad flare-up.” Kenji eyed him curiously. “Why? What’s Reynolds to you?”

He gripped the steel. “Kenji, listen to me. The guy is Cipher. He’s the one who’s been setting me up from the beginning. The team is walking into a trap, and he’s coming here to eliminate both me and Zara.”

Kenji’s expression shifted from surprise to skepticism. “That’s crazy. He has been Zara’s mentor for years.”

“Which is why it works. Think about it. Who else has the clearance to fabricate that level of evidence? Who knows Zara’s analytical methods better than anyone? Who’s been conveniently available every time she needs guidance?”

He could see doubt flickering in Kenji’s eyes.

“I need to get out of here. Not to escape—to protect Zara. His Vanguard thugs will be here any minute.”

When Kenji hesitated, Finn knew he had to act.

He winced and pressed a hand to his ribs. “Oh, man.” He sucked in air through clenched teeth. “That explosion—I think something’s wrong.” He took a deliberately shallow breath, grimacing. “Sharp pain ... possible pneumothorax symptoms.”

“When did this difficulty breathing start?” Kenji moved closer to the bars, professional concern overriding caution.

“Just now,” Finn managed, leaning against the wall for support. “Getting worse.” He slid down to a seated position, making a convincing show of labored breathing.

Kenji frowned, professional concern overriding security protocols. “I need to check this.” He pulled out his access card and approached the cell door. “Don’t try anything. I’m armed and the facility’s on lockdown.”

“Just ... hurry,” Finn gasped, curling slightly forward to sell the performance.

The cell door slid open with a soft hiss. Kenji entered cautiously, medical bag in one hand, the other hovering near his sidearm. He knelt beside Finn.

“Let me check your?—”

Finn snaked out a hand, executing a perfect carotid restraint—applying just enough pressure to cut off blood flow without causing permanent damage. Kenji struggled briefly before slumping sideways.

“I’m sorry about this,” Finn murmured as he carefully lowered Kenji’s unconscious form to the floor. “You’ll understand when you wake up.”

He quickly relieved Kenji of his security card and weapon, then checked his pulse to ensure it remained strong and steady before exiting.

Reynolds would be coming for Zara.

The man had orchestrated this entire scenario—the false intelligence, the team deployment, the isolation of his primary targets.

Seven years hunting Cipher had led to this moment. Reynolds had manipulated them both, playing on their history, their distrust, their mutual pain.

It ended today.

Finn moved through the facility’s corridors with practiced stealth, staying in the blind spots of security cameras. He knew Knight Tactical’s security systems intimately—had studied them during his initial alliance with the team.

His first priority, find Zara before Reynolds or his hired help did.

The facility’s emergency lights blazed red. Security systems were failing systematically—doors opening that should remain locked, cameras going dark in sequence.

The hostiles were inside.

He quickened his pace. Zara would be in the command center, monitoring the team’s extraction. That’s where the enemy would head first.

A distant sound reached his ears—the unmistakable soft thud of a suppressed weapon.

He was out of time.