Page 74 of Rogue Mission

They both laugh as they continue to pull out an arsenal and then some.

How can they be so calm?

It’s like they both flipped into some super-tactical mode when Marshall announced there was an intruder.

I’ve got whiplash. Although I admit, I’m feeling much better about everything now. But Justice’s emotional moment hit me hard.

This team loves him.I love him.

I. Love. Him.

How is that possible?

A few days ago I was a lab hermit with a list of documentaries saved on my YouTube.

Now? I’m in love with a dangerous man and I’m in a bunker, getting weaponed up. I had a near death experience, and I’m going to help rescue a man and solve a mysterious crime.

“With this crew you never know what’s going to happen,” Allison says, as she slips on some kind of serious-looking vest. She points at my can. “That’s good for humans too, and unless a bear can drive a car, it’s probably safe to say it’s got two legs.”

“And a dick,” Camile adds. “Although I guess bears have dicks. But they have four legs, right? They aren’t considered arms, are they?”

“Front legs, but they can be upright for long periods of time,” I supply, feeling like I don’t have much else to contribute. “That’s all I can add to this scenario. If you need to know about their DNA, bear or human, let me know. Otherwise, I’ll stick with the point-the-can-and-shoot at anything moving technique.”

“That mostly works,” Allison says.

“This feels very surreal,” I announce, shaking the can to make sure the contents are ready for squirting some baddie bear in the face. “I feel like I should have a code name.”

“Beaker?” Allison asks, grinning sharply as she ruffles my hair.

Beaker. I try it on. “You know that’s good. It’s a lot better than Petri dish. But I have a lot to learn.”

“Welcome to the Agile S&R family,” Allison bumps my shoulder. “It’s a wild ride, but worth every minute of it when you get the kind of men we have.”

I know exactly what she means.

But this is bigger than that.

Family.

A found family.

With Justice.

I blink back warm, happy tears, even though I feel like I’m swimming in a pool of adrenaline, and the safe room is starting to feel a little claustrophobic.

“We need to get Beast back for you, Camile,” I say, lifting my chin. “Let’s deal with whoever this is, and get on with the mission!”

I feel very empowered as I strap on my own vest, but first I get my arm in the wrong hole.

Darn it.Okay, so I’ve got a lot to learn.

“Oh my god! What is this?” Camile exclaims, snapping me out of my swirling thoughts and a wrestling match with the Velcro on the vest, which my hair is now caught in.

She’s leaning close to a monitor on the wall.

A grainy, green and black image fills the screen, and she looks both worried and confused as her mouth falls open.

“That’s Ryker,” Allison gasps, moving to the screen, her expression just as wide-eyed. “And he’s carrying a woman in his arms.”