Zane carefully slid out of her and disposed of the condom before he enfolded her in his arms. She tugged the sheet over them and melted into him with a sigh of contentment. Zane's presence in her life had forced her out of the protective shell she'd built—a self-imposed chain link fence of programs and systems that blocked people from getting too close. He'd found a way past her defenses and deposited himself into her heart. She smiled against his warm skin. She was loved.
Epilogue
Drake tamped down the gut-wrenching dread that had been hounding him since he and Dixon had found out Jade's cover might have been compromised. He glanced over at his brother who sat as still as a statue in the same position he'd assumed when they'd entered the secure communications room a half hour ago. They hadn't been called into the teleconference with the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency, but they were here and so far no one had asked why. Joseph, Jewell, her man Zane and Chief also sat around the conference room table.
Jason's voice broke across the speaker. "We will go live in two minutes. I'm muting all participants. The DEA does not need to hear any reaction other than mine."
Jewell looked over at Zane. "I don't like the sound of that."
Drake agreed with her. It sounded like Jason was expecting bad news. He sat still and impassive, mimicking his brother's pose. He could feel the tension and concern rolling off Dixon.
"Mr. King, I've heard from our agent." A voice Drake didn't recognize came across the speaker.
"And?" Jason's voice was clipped and icy.
"There seems to be a complication. Your agent hasn't been in direct contact with our's in over two months."
Drake jumped up at the same time as everyone else in the room bolted to their feet. Zane held out his hands. "Quiet, we don't want to miss what is said."
"You damn well better explain yourself, and quickly." Jason's voice cracked like a whip across the room.
"They were separated, as was expected. From our research, we discovered some of the women are used as labor. The men are the front of the organization. Your agent told our man she would give him the designated sign if she were in distress. She has yet to give that sign."
Drake's insides sank. Jade would never give a distress signal. If there was one thing he and Dixon had learned about her, it was that she believed she was invincible.
"So you don't know if she is alive or dead." The question snapped both his and Dixon's head toward the speaker.
"Our agent sees her occasionally when the women are moved from one area of the compound to the other. Again, she has not sent him the distress signal or tried to make contact."
"When was the last time he physically saw her?" Jason bit out the question.
"Two weeks ago."
"Again, you don't know if she is alive or dead."
Drake felt the rage conveyed in Jason's growled statement. He felt it boiling under his skin like a poison.
"You are correct. I do not."
Drake glanced at Dixon at the exact time his brother snapped his head toward him. There was no way they weren't going after Jade. They would get her back, and they'd kill anyone who stood in their way.
"I contacted the Department of Justice and the Secretary of State when your office started giving me the runaround. Guardian has been given permission to go in and extract our agent and take down the compound." Jason's clipped statement gave Drake hope. Guardian being in charge of the operation gave Jade more of a chance than if the FBI got involved. They sure as fuck didn't need another Waco incident.
"I was advised of that this morning. I can't say as I am pleased. Two years' worth of groundwork and undercover operations will be ruined if it isn't handled—"
Jason's rage tore through the man's whine, "Guardian has assumed this case. I want every shred of information you have immediately. Failure to comply is not an option unless you want the POTUS involved."
Drake swept the room. Joseph was unreadable as was Chief and Zane. Jewell had tears in her eyes, but she was holding strong. Dixon shifted next to him. He cast his brother a questioning look. A minuscule shake of his head forestalled any further communication. They would talk when they were alone.
Jason's commanding timber interrupted his thoughts. "I've hung up on the fucking administrator of the fucking DEA. Jewell, I need you and Zane back here immediately. Dixon and Drake, you are the only pilots currently at the ranch. Get the G6 fueled and get them here, now.
"We are going after her." Dixon's bark at the speaker surprised everyone except Drake.
"You won't be involved in this operation. I need you at the ranch." Jason's dismissal sounded distracted.
"We are involved. Either you use us, or we'll go get her ourselves. Jade is our friend. We don't have many, Jason. We need to participate in this operation." Drake added his thoughts to his brother's remark.
Joseph looked at Zane as he spoke. "Jason, I can't leave Ember, she is going to download any day now. Use Zane and the Twins. They have the expertise you need. I'm assuming you, Jacob and Jared will be intimately involved. The twins are family."
Drake listened to Jason exhale, and then silence descended. Finally, he spoke, "Alright. Double D, get Jewell and Zane to D.C. Jacob, Jared, and I'll plan the op. Chief, I'll want you on standby, but I need someone to keep the complex running while we go get Jade."
"Roger that." Chief acknowledged the charge he'd been given. He motioned toward both of them. "I need to see you two."
Dixon felt the anger building under his skin. He knew Drake could feel it too. There was no way in hell they wouldn't be included in the mission. His brother nudged him, and he glanced up. Joseph and Chief stood before them. Jewell and Zane were nowhere to be seen. Well fuck.
"You better clear your heads or Jason will take you both out of the mission." Joseph stared at him and then at Drake.
"Roger, that." They both answered at the same time.
"I need to head over and be with Jewell when she tells mom what is going on. Chief, keep me informed. I don't give a flying fuck what time it is, I want immediate updates."
"You got it." Chief turned back toward where he and Drake were standing after Joseph ghosted out of the room.
"Keep your head in the game. She's a King and part of your extended family."
Dixon nodded at the same time as Drake. They cared about her. They'd shared a night on the beach with a bottle of Jack and some cold hard truths. Jade was an amazing woman. She saw through the shields he and Drake wore like armor. The woman was exceptional, and had her undercover assignment not taken her away for over a year, either he or Drake may have pursued a relationship with her. Hell, maybe they both would have. But they'd moved on with their lives when Jade had gone undercover. But she needed help now, and they would be there for her. Come hell or high water.
"We need to file a flight plan, get the plane fueled, do a pre-check and get in the air." Drake rattled off the immediate tasks at hand.
Chief leveled his stare at them for several long seconds before he nodded once. "Roger that. Be safe and go get our girl."
The End
About Kris
Kris Michaels is the alter ego of a happily married wife and mother who loves to write erotic romance with a twist of military flavor. A chance meeting and immediate friendship with an established author propelled Kris into a world where her lifelong fantasy of publishing romance novels came true! Her vivid imagination and erotic fantasies evolved into the Kings of Guardian Series. Kris believes in meeting life head on… as long as there is an ample supply of coffee, whiskey and wine! She believes love makes this crazy life worthwhile. When she isn’t writing Kris enjoys a busy life with her husband, the cop, and her two wonderful sons.
Connect With Kris Online:
Website: http://krismichaelsauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kris-Michaels-746901612054241/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaels_kris
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13787639.Kris_Michaels
Other Books by Kris Michaels
The Kings of Guardian Series:
Jacob—Book One
Joseph—Book Two
Adam—Book Three
Jason—Book Four
Jared—Book Five
Jasmine—Book Six
Chief—Book Seven
Jewell—Book Seven
Everlight Series:
An Evidence of Magic
An Incident of Magic
Stand Alone:
A Heart’s Desire
Jewell (The Kings of Guardian Book 8) Page 24