Page 50 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost (Nightfall Syndicate #1)

thirty-nine

Kade

" G host, we've got movement on the Naomi situation," Cole announces, bursting into my office. "Her access codes just pinged on Steele's network. She's downloading files."

"Who's Naomi?" Alina demands, looking up from the stack of reports she's been analyzing.

The sound of her voice triggers an immediate response in my body—a heightened awareness I can't control. My eyes slide to her, taking in the determined set of her jaw, the loose tendril of hair framing her face.

"No time." I tear my attention back to Cole. "What kind of files?"

"Shipping manifests, personnel records..." Cole's fingers fly over his tablet, his expression focused. "Wait—there's something else. Looks like detailed logs of payments, dates, locations, ones we haven' been able to access."

"Evidence," I mutter, standing. My hand automatically reaches for Alina, drawing her to my side. "Call the team in. Now."

Minutes later, the command center fills with controlled tension as the core team assembles. I study their faces—Damian's cautious skepticism, Cole's analytical focus, Jax's barely contained energy.

"What we're looking at," I begin, gesturing to the data Cole's projecting, "could be our best shot at finding those kids. But meeting this source in person..." I let the implications hang in the air.

Damian's eyes narrow. "You sure about this, Ghost? Meeting an unknown source in person is risky."

"No, I'm not sure. But right now, it's our only shot at getting those children out safely." My hand finds the small of Alina's back, a possessive gesture I don't bother hiding from the team anymore.

Cole pulls up additional data on the main screen. "Naomi's the informant. Her digital footprint checks out. She has access to Steele's shipping manifests, personnel files, everything we need."

I nod. "Exactly. Set up a secure location. Warehouse district, multiple exit points. Asher, you're on overwatch."

As the team disperses to their tasks, Alina and I huddle over the blueprints. Her proximity sends heat pulsing through my veins—the sweet torture of her scent filling my senses while we discuss potential matters of life and death.

"We need to be careful how we communicate with this informant," she says. "Too aggressive, and they might clam up. Too soft, and they'll try to play us. "

"Agreed. You take point on the conversation." I lean closer than necessary, my chest brushing her back. "Your investigative skills will pick up on things I might miss. I'll be the muscle if things go sideways."

Alina raises an eyebrow, her body subtly arching into mine. "Just the muscle?"

I smirk, dropping my voice to a whisper only she can hear. "The devastatingly handsome muscle who made you scream my name three times last night."

Her cheeks flush, but her eyes flash with challenge. "Focus, Ghost. Lives are at stake."

My expression sobers, but I don't step back from her space. "You're right. Let's run through our approach one more time."

Hours later, we're set up in an abandoned warehouse. The air is thick with tension as we wait for our contact. Alina stands beside me, her posture alert but calm. I fight the urge to keep her behind me, to shield her body with mine. She's earned her place at my side, not at my back.

The door creaks open, and a figure steps inside. It's a woman, mid-thirties, with haunted eyes that have seen too much.

"You're Ghost?" Her voice is barely above a whisper.

I give a nearly imperceptible nod, feeling Alina tense beside me as she takes a step forward.

"We got your message through our network," Alina says, her tone gentle but firm. "You said you have information about the children? "

The woman—Naomi, according to Cole's intel—begins to speak. Her words paint a picture of a vast, intricate web of corruption.

"It's not just about moving people." Her hands shake. "It's about creating leverage. The shipping logs I found show fourteen containers that came through Pier 80 last quarter. Manifest listed 'electronic components' but dock supervisor Peterson found children's clothing inside when he checked."

My fists clench at my sides. "What happened to Peterson?"

"Car accident a week later." Naomi's eyes dart to mine, then back to Alina. "The same 'accident' pattern happened in Vancouver and Singapore. Each time, Steele arrives to 'clean' afterward. He's creating a network—blackmailing officials with evidence they approved the shipments."

She pauses to take a steadying breath." I found a ledger with payments to Judge Harmon, Councilman Lewis, even Lieutenant Garcia at SFPD. It's a meticulous operation designed to gain control of port authorities across the Pacific Rim."

Alina leans in, her investigative instincts kicking into high gear. "What kind of leverage?"

Before Naomi can answer, a phone buzzes. It's not ours. Naomi's face goes pale as she reaches for her pocket. "I... I have to take this."

My instincts scream danger. I reach for Alina, my fingers closing around her wrist. "Wait—"

But it's too late. Naomi answers the call, her expression morphing from fear to resolve.

"I'm sorry," she whispers. "I have to go." She turns and runs .

Suddenly, the warehouse erupts in chaos. Windows shatter as smoke grenades pour in. I pull Alina against me, one hand cradling her head as I drop us behind cover. Gunfire erupts around us, the sound deafening in the enclosed space.

"A fucking setup," I growl, drawing my weapon.

Alina's body is pressed flush against mine behind the metal shelving unit, her heartbeat hammering against my chest. Her breath comes in quick, short bursts against my neck, and despite the immediate danger, my body responds to her proximity with inappropriate heat.

"Frost, status report!" I bark into my comm, using my free hand to check Alina for injuries, fingers skimming over her with possessive urgency.

Asher's voice comes through, tense but controlled. "Multiple hostiles converging on your position. I count at least eight, heavily armed. They've got the exits covered."

"Shit." I glance down at Alina, struck by the fierce determination in her eyes. No fear—just resolve. "You okay?"

She nods, her jaw set. "What's the play?"

Good girl. Warmth spreads through my chest, seeing how composed she remains. The pride I feel is matched only by the desperate need to get her out of this alive.

"Alright team, converge on our position. We're punching through the east exit. Chaos, I need a distraction."

"One big boom, coming right up!" Xander's voice holds a hint of manic glee.

I turn to Alina, cupping her face in my hand—a brief, stolen moment of connection before all hell breaks loose. "When the explosion hits, we move. Fast and low. You remember your training? "

Her eyes meet mine, fierce and focused. "Like it was beaten into me yesterday."

My thumb brushes her lower lip. "That's my girl."

The warehouse shakes as Xander's explosive goes off. I leap into action, Alina right on my heels. We sprint through the chaos, smoke, and gunfire. I take down two hostiles with precise headshots, my body operating on pure instinct—kill anything that threatens her.

We're almost to the exit when I hear Alina cry out in pain. The sound cuts through me like a physical blow, stopping my heart for a split second before it pounds back to life with furious intensity. I whirl around to see her stumbling, clutching her arm. Blood seeps between her fingers.

"I'm fine," she grits out. "Just a graze. Keep moving!"

Red bleeds into the edges of my vision. Someone dared to hurt what's mine. The thought surfaces with terrifying clarity, drowning out the tactical part of my brain with the need to destroy whoever fired that shot.

With effort, I force myself to concentrate on getting her out alive. I grab her uninjured arm and pull her along, using my body as a shield. The feel of her against my side both grounds me and fuels a desperate rage.

We burst out into the night air, the rest of the team providing covering fire as we make our escape. Once we're clear, I pull her into a shadowed doorway, my hands immediately moving to examine her wound.

"Let me see," I demand, my voice a rough growl. I gently pry her hand away from the wound, relief washing through me when I see it really is just a graze.

"It's not bad, really. I've had worse paper cuts." She tries to lighten the moment .

I don't smile. "Someone shot you." My voice comes out dangerously quiet. I press my forehead to hers, breathing in her scent, letting the reality that she's alive calm the storm inside me. "I'm going to kill every last one of them."

Alina catches my chin, forcing me to meet her gaze. "Hey. I'm okay. We're okay. The mission comes first, remember?"

I nod, letting out a shaky breath. "Yeah." My fingers trace the outline of her face, reassuring myself she's really here, safe in my arms. "But this changes things. Steele knows we're onto him. And Naomi—"

"She betrayed us," Alina finishes, her expression grim.

"Or she was compromised from the start," I add, the implications settling heavily between us.

Alina's eyes narrow, that familiar determination shining through. "So what do we do now?"

I straighten up, my mind already formulating our next steps. "Now? We go back to the drawing board. And we hit Steele where it hurts."

Back at headquarters, I guide Alina to my private office rather than the medical bay.

"Remy can—" she starts.

"I'll do it." My tone leaves no room for argument.

I retrieve the first aid kit from my desk drawer and motion for her to sit.

With careful precision, I clean the wound, my fingers skimming her skin more than strictly necessary.

The intimacy of the moment hangs between us—my hands on her bare arm, her breath catching when I lean close to examine the injury.

"You could have died today," I say quietly, my thumb tracing the edge of the white gauze I just wrapped around her arm.

Her eyes lock with mine, rebellious as ever. She groans, shifting on the chair. "It's just a flesh wound, Ghost. Barely worth the bandage."

"This time. And last time," I counter, my voice dropping lower as I cradle her face, my callused thumb dragging across her soft bottom lip. My chest tightens at how close it had been. "And I plan on making damn sure you stay breathing. No matter what it takes."

A knock at the door interrupts the charged moment. Cole enters without waiting for a response, his eyes taking in our closeness before tactfully focusing on his tablet.

"I've got something," he announces. "Naomi's been making regular transfers to an offshore account. It's well-hidden, but there's a pattern."

I reluctantly step away from Alina. "Good. Keep digging."

We follow Cole back to the command center, where Jax spreads out a map, tracing shipping routes with his finger. "Check this out, Kade. These routes don't make sense for legitimate cargo. They're taking way too many detours."

"Perfect hiding spots for human cargo," I mutter, my jaw clenching. I feel Alina beside me, her arm brushing mine as she leans in to study the map.

As the team discusses potential next steps, I notice Alina absentmindedly tracing the marks I left on her collarbone last night. Our eyes meet across the table, and the room suddenly feels too warm. The memory of her beneath me, surrendering completely, flashes vividly in my mind.

Cole clears his throat pointedly, and I realize I've missed something he said. Alina's knowing smirk tells me she's fully aware of where my thoughts wandered.

"We need to move fast." I force my focus back to the mission. "Steele's one step ahead, and those kids are counting on us."

Alina's hand finds my arm. "We need a plan."

I take a deep breath, her touch grounding me. She's right, of course. My protective instincts are in overdrive, clouded by the lingering rage at seeing her blood.

"You're right. Let's break this down." I lead her to the strategy table, pulling up a holographic map of the city. "We know Steele's operation is spread out, but there has to be a central hub. Somewhere he feels safe."

As the team gathers to study the data, I pull Alina aside, backing her against the wall of a nearby corridor.

"You're staying here for the raid," I state, voice brooking no argument.

Her eyes flash dangerously. "Like hell I am."

I move closer, one hand braced beside her head, my body effectively caging her. "You're already injured."

"It's a scratch and you know it."

"I won't risk you again." My other hand slides to her throat, not squeezing, just resting there—a reminder of who's in control despite our professional setting.

Instead of backing down, she leans into my touch, her defiance sending heat straight to my cock. "And I won't sit here while you risk yourself. We're partners in this, remember? "

The word 'partners' hits differently now, loaded with meanings beyond our mission. I drop my forehead to hers, conflict warring inside me. The need to keep her safe battles with the knowledge that she's earned her place on this mission.

"Fine," I finally concede, my voice rough. "But you stay at my side. You don't leave my sight. Not for a second."

Her smile is victorious, though she doesn't realize she's just agreed to exactly what I wanted—keeping her where I can protect her.

"Kade!" Cole's voice calls from the command center.

"I've got something! An old warehouse on the outskirts of town. It used to belong to Steele's grandfather's company. On paper, it's been abandoned for years, but satellite imagery shows recent activity and a maintained airstrip."

My hand trails down Alina's arm as we return to the command center, a silent reminder of our connection.

"Pull up everything you can on that warehouse. Layout, security systems, recent deliveries. I want to know every detail before we move in."

As the team gathers around the holographic display, studying the warehouse schematics, I feel a surge of anticipation. We're close—I can feel it in my bones. Steele thinks he's untouchable, but he's about to learn just how wrong he is.

I catch Alina's eye across the table, and a silent understanding passes between us. Whatever happens next, we're in this together.

My hand unconsciously touches the tactical watch on my wrist—the one matching the one I gave her. My claim on her, visible for anyone to see .

"Alright, team," I say, my voice steady. "Let's gear up. We've got children to save and a monster to take down."

As the others disperse to prepare, I catch Alina's wrist, pulling her back to me. In full view of anyone who might be watching, I claim her mouth in a brief, possessive kiss.

"When this is over," I murmur against her lips, "I'm not letting you out of my sight for at least three days."

Her breath hitches. "Promise?"

I brush my thumb across her bottom lip. "That's a guarantee, little hellcat. Now let's go hunt a monster."