Page 76 of Secret Mission

If the way his gaze softens doesn’t break me, I don’t know what will. Weak knees and all butterfly-belly, I lean back against him.

That stormy gaze turns even more edgy. “Let’s head out. We’ve got work to do. Gonna get to the bottom of whatever your father’s doing.”

Am I the luckiest girl alive? Because I’m feeling pretty good about this man right now.

A thought pops into my head like a firework. “Wait…”

Not even seeing my reflection, I stare at the mirror. “Thomas said that my father has my sample.”

“What kind of sample is that?”

“Rock. This really unusual deposit I found. I know it’s got something to do with the way my father started acting. It has to. That’s the only explanation.”

I push past him, ducking under his arm.

Oh my god. Why didn’t I think of this hours ago?

My brain spins like an out-of-control top.

“I need to get to my computer. I need a satellite phone. Oh, my god, if he got to Rosalie?—”

Chapter Twenty-Four

The fog in my brain from a few moments ago vanishes when Allison hits freakout mode.

“Easy now.” I block her exit, wanting to have a handle on this before she goes blasting off into the hallway. “What’s a Rosalie?”

She tries to push me aside. Pointless.

“I might as well be trying to move a pyramid in Egypt. Ugh, move. I have to hurry.”

“Slowdown, Trigger. You need to bring me up to speed. We’re a team now. What is Rosalie?”

She frowns at me.

“A team? Remember?” Tilting my head, I feel myself scowling and try to relax. “Babe. I don’t want to see you upset. Start talking, let me help.”

She gives herself a little shake. “Right, we are a team. I think. I mean, this idea is so novel.”

Nodding, I take her hands in mine. “Tell me.”

“Rosalie is a woman, not a thing. A scientist, a totally badass one. We’re tight. She analyzes rock samples for me. And the only way he could have my sample is if my father got to her. Now it makes sense—why he started acting like a monster—he knows what that rock is and what it’s worth.”

A dawning awareness takes over her expression.

“Oh, my god. It all makes sense now. He knows. That bastard. Now I understand why he’s after me.”

Anger works its way up my spine. “So, this is about some kind of rock?”

“I don’t know exactly why yet, but this has to be why he started acting like he is. Now I just need to figure out what’s behind this. But first, we have to find out if Rosalie is safe and if not, we have to go get her.”

Her magnetic force is impossible to ignore.

Leaning in, I plant a kiss on her temple. “Love your brain, Ally. I copy all that. This is really fucking good news. Let’s go talk to my brother, he’s probably in a room by now. Then we’ll go catch your father at whatever nefarious shit he’s up to. Don’t worry, we’ll find this Rosalie and make sure she’s safe.”

“Okay. Okay, I like it.” Before I can move, Allison grabs me in a hug. Those slender arms are strong for their size. Nose buried against my chest, she murmurs, “You’re going to make peace with your brother?”

“Yeah, sweetheart. Things need to be said. I don’t know if we’ll make peace, but we should talk. He might not be up for it now, but while you were sleeping I realized I had to let go of things. When he’s ready to talk, I’ll be there to make it happen.”