Page 50 of Secret Mission

“And you shot him through the heart, didn’t you?’

“The croc?”

He chuckles more. “The SEAL.”

“Oh no?—”

“You’re wrong on that one, ma’am.”

I’m about to argue when a shrill whistle pierces the air.

Justice picks up the pace and jogs on the slippery ground like he’s got four-wheel-drive, until we’re next to Axle.

There are tracks on the ground. Men’s boot treads.

Big and bold, and so clear that my heart wobbles around.

“Well, well…” Justice says. “This looks promising.”

He sets me on the ground, my feet touch first, but when I sag, he lowers me all the way.

I’m weak with relief.

“You sit here and let us do the rest.”

“Wait!” I grab his arm. “Don’t leave me, I’m sorry, but I don’t have a gun and there are crocodiles?—”

“For the love of god.” Axle spotlights me with the red beam. “We should have left you on the boat.”

My middle finger flips up of its own accord, and Justice chuckles. “Dude, your brother hears you talking to Allison like that, there’s gonna be blows.”

“Not the first fucking time. Not the last.” Axle’s hand wraps around my arm. Before I realize what he’s doing he’s dragged me into his arms. And for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. If he hates me, then why is he carrying me?

Without another word, the men move into the jungle, following the trail of marks. Justice stops to kneel down and inspect the prints here and there.

“Right size.”

“Right brand,” mutters Axle, glaring at the ground. “I never knew why he loved those fucking boots so much. I can’t stand them.”

These facts make me so giddy, I have to bite my knuckle to contain my sheer joy. “Thank god. I mean, it will be a miracle if he’s alive.”

“You’re the miracle, surviving in the open ocean is no joke,” Justice says over his shoulder as he resumes the trek, pushing the thick tropical foliage aside as he moves forward, careful not to walk on the print.

A phone rings on one of the men.

“We’ve got a trail,” Justice announces instead of hello. “Looks to be Truck’s.”

A loud whoop on the other end confirms it’s someone on his team. Which causes Axle to grunt something under his breath.

I’m out of patience with the man. If I could walk on my own, I’d demand he put me down.

“Why are you so angry?”

“Because I wouldn’t have to be out here tracking my brother’s ass down if he hadn’t gone cowboy and pulled some fucking stunt dragging you off the cliff.”

My claws come out.

I don’t care what beef they have. I’m not putting up with his attacks on Truck anymore.