Page 236 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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“And you’re asking me to trust people I don’t know,” I reply.

His head tilts slightly.

“You don’t have to trust us.”

“Good,” I say. “Because I don’t.”

That lands.

Behind me, I feel it—

The team locking in.

Backing me.

Not one of them stepping down.

Not one of them lowering their guard.

The agent exhales slowly.

Then—

“You had contact with three targets tonight,” he says. “One of them was supposed to be taken alive.”

My stomach drops.

Just slightly.

Because I already know where this is going.

“And?” I ask.

His eyes don’t leave mine.

“One of them was ours.”

Boom.

There it is.

The room shifts instantly.

Tension spikes.

Briggs mutters under his breath.

Aspen steps forward before she can stop herself.

“Ours?” she echoes. “What does that mean?”

The agent’s gaze flicks to her.

Takes her in.

Assesses.

Then back to me.

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