Page 252 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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“He wasn’t your enemy.”

Rage curls low in my chest.

“Then he should’ve picked a better way to show it.”

A beat.

Then—

“He was undercover,” the agent says.

Silence.

Sharp.

Cutting.

Briggs mutters something under his breath.

Aspen goes still behind me.

“Undercover where?” I ask.

The agent’s eyes lock onto mine.

“Inside the network you’re trying to dismantle.”

That lands.

Because it changes things.

But not enough.

Not even close.

“Then your operation is compromised,” I say.

His jaw tightens.

“We’re aware.”

“Are you?” I push. “Because it looks like your people are the ones targeting civilians.”

His gaze hardens.

“Careful.”

“No,” I say. “You be careful.”

A beat.

Then—

“You think we’re the problem,” he says.

“I think you’re not telling us everything,” I reply.

That earns me a slow nod.

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