Page 65 of Hunted

“Fallon Gray should make a full recovery, although the next few days will be very painful while her body regenerates.”

“I should go there. She’s part of my team. And I need to call Vlad.”

“What you will do,” my uncle said icily, “is report to base in Dallas immediately.” When I said nothing, he continued, “How did Fallon gain access to intel about the site in San Angelo?”

“Fallon was acting on my orders. This isn’t her fault.”

“She knew exactly what she was doing, as did you. I want to know who else was involved in this little scheme to go against my direct orders. You couldn’t have acted alone. You and August were unconscious when the laptop was recovered and Fallon isn’t a hacker.”

I said nothing. This was my screw up. There would be hell to pay and Fallon and I would have to answer for defying orders. No way was I throwing Rowan under the bus for something that had been my call.

Guillermo growled. “We’ll talk about this when you get back to base. I’m pulling you off Ellie Crowe’s protection detail, effective immediately.”

“You can’t do that.”

“You’ve lost focus. Tonight’s incident proves it. I’ve tried to give you leeway when it comes to her, but this has gone too far. Lives have been lost.”

“That has nothing to do with her. I won’t leave the protection detail.”

“That was a direct order, not a request, nephew, and we’ll talk about your recent insubordination further when you get to Dallas.”

“No.” I was shaking so hard now my vision was starting to blur. “I’m requesting a formal leave of absence, effective immediately. I’ll hunt Rossi on my own if I have to. But I won’t abandon Ellie.”

“Denied. You’re to report to base.”

“Then I’ll file the paperwork to formally separate.”

The silence on the other end of the line was glacial. “If you separate from the Tracers, you will not be able to come back.”

“That’s up to you.”

“You’re willing to throw your future away, over some girl?”

“She’s not just some girl. She’s my mate and future wife.” I was breathing hard. Had Guillermo and I always been headed towards this moment, a fracture point I’d been unable or unwilling to see? Either way, I knew there was no going back. Not from this. Maybe there hadn’t been, ever since the night of that challenge when he’d realized I was strong enough to one day take the pack he’d claimed. “I’ll always be proud to serve the Tracers, but my family and the people I love come first.”

And with that, I hit the end call button.