Her Obsession (by Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 38

Keeper

Sage

The transport van rattled quietly as we turned off the main road and onto a gravel path hidden by overgrown trees. Rain hadn’t started yet, but the clouds above churned, heavy and swollen, promising a downpour that would make extraction hell. Good. Chaos is cover, and I’d take nature’s help over blind luck any day. Conner sat across from me, dressed in black like the reaper he was, checking his gear with deliberate calm. I caught him glancing my way again. Always watching. Always worrying. It was sweet, infuriating, but sweet.

“You’re staring,” I murmured, not looking up as I secured the last strap on my thigh holster.

“Your shoulder hurts,” he shot back, voice low.

“Barely,” I replied, flexing my leg for emphasis. “And I’ve shot better while injured.”

He didn’t argue. He knew better now. Luca’s voice crackled in our ears. “Storm’s about twenty minutes out. You’ve got a good window for insertion. Thermal’s up, minimal movement near your breach point.”

“Copy,” I said. “Tell Liam he moves on my signal.”

The van slowed to a crawl, then stopped entirely. I slipped my hood up and gave Matteo a nod. He moved first, disappearing into the trees, his team behind him like shadows in motion. We followed, Conner beside me, silent and efficient as we threaded through the forest path toward the compound perimeter. Thunder grumbled in the distance. As we crouched behind a line of rotting crates about fifty meters from the south wall, I pulled the tablet from my pack and tapped into the feed. Mirov’s guards were doing lazy rounds, most taking shelter from the wind inside the outer walls. Good. That would make them slow.I reached into my pocket and slipped out a small black box, the jammer.

“Two minutes before I trigger this. Once it’s live, we move. We’ll have four minutes before backup starts showing.”

Conner glanced down at me. “You sure you’re up for this?”

I looked up at him and smiled. “I’m always up for revenge.”He grinned, sharp and dangerous. “Let’s make some noise, then.”And then we moved, into the dark, into the storm, into hell.

Liam

The wind screamed through the trees like it knew what we were about to do. I tapped twice on my mic. Go.The explosion was small, controlled, just enough to blow the side gate without drawing too much attention to our sector. The sound cracked through the forest like lightning splitting wood, then rolled away with the thunder that followed. Perfect timing. Sage’s plan was unnervingly flawless, as usual. I waved Matteo’s team forward. Six of us in total, four under my command, two with Matteo for sweep and extraction. No one spoke. No jokes. No adrenaline-fueled cockiness. We knew what we were walking into. Naomi wasn’t just a name on Sage’s list. She was someone the Ghost wanted back. We cleared the gate fast and low, bodies pressed to shadowed walls as floodlights flickered in the distance, stuttering from the jamming signal Sage had triggered. One by one, we slid into the first hallway. Metal grates underfoot. The air stank of wet concrete and blood.

“She’s not supposed to be moved,” I muttered into comms. “If she’s still in the same sector, she’ll be down the main corridor. Right side.”

“Copy that,” Nico’s voice came through our earpieces, crisp but laced with the kind of nerves only he could make sound flirty. “Eyes in the sky say three guards inside your sector. Two already down. Last one’s pacing near the hall junction like he’s on a Tinder date with death. You’re welcome.”

“Any surprises?” Matteo asked.

“Not unless you count the heat signature in the room past your mark,” Nico replied. “Looks like your girl’s still there, Liam. She’s not alone, though.”

I tightened my grip on the rifle. “What kind of not alone?”

“Small. Moving slow. Could be injured or restrained. Or bait. Don’t get cocky.”

We reached the junction. One guard left. He didn’t even get to raise his weapon before Matteo dropped him with silent precision. His blade work was almost

artistic.

1/3

8:06 pm P PDD.

Keeper

“Door’s coming up.” I muttered. “Bio-locked.”

“Yeah, don’t try to hack that one, Sage rigged a bypass,” Nico added. “Check your pack. Injector vial, green cap. You’re welcome again.”

༠:༦།

I pulled the needle from my side pouch and slid it into the control panel. It hissed. Lights flickered red, then green. Unlocked.The door creaked open like a dying thing exhaling. Naomi was there, barefoot, cuffed to a metal chair, blood drying on her collarbone. Her head lifted slowly, one eye swollen shut, the other blazing with defiance even in her broken state.

She looked straight at me. “Hello handsome,” she rasped. Before I could answer, Nico’s voice crackled in our ears, suddenly sharp. “Liam move! Two signatures coming up behind you. Fast.” I spun. Gunfire erupted in the corridor.

Matteo and I dropped low, returning fire as two armed guards came charging out of a side hallway like demons late to the apocalypse. Concrete chipped above my head. Matteo grunted as he clipped one in the shoulder. Blood splattered the wall. The guy didn’t fall. Adrenaline or something stronger. Great.

“I like him,” Naomi slurred from behind me. “The tall one. With the muscles. Is he single? Can we keep him?”

Matteo snorted. “Tell your target to shush.”

“She’s not my-” I cut myself off, emptying half a clip into the left flank. One body dropped. The second kept coming. Naomi, utterly unfazed, leaned sideways in her chair. “Oh, hey, blondie. You got nice forearms. Did you know that?”

“You are so high right now,” I hissed, pressing my back to the doorway.

“Yeah, but not blind,” she mumbled dreamily. “Do a spin for me, I want to see the whole package.”

“Not really the time.”

“Okay, but later?” Another burst of gunfire cut her off, ricocheting down the hall. I ducked instinctively, Matteo flanking right to trap the last shooter in a crossfire. The guard tried to pivot but took a shot straight to the throat. Silence rang in the aftermath, broken only by Naomi’s soft gasp.”Oooh. That was

hot.”

Matteo raised an eyebrow. “How much shit did they shoot her up with?”

“More than enough,” I muttered. “Probably can’t even walk.”

“Rude,” Naomi pouted, “I’m delightful. Just mildly concussed and highly medicated.”

Nico’s voice cut in through the comms. “Just so you know, I’ve been recording her commentary for posterity. I might turn it into a highlight reel. Title it: Seduced by Violence.”

“I would watch that,” Naomi said, blinking blearily at the ceiling. “Do I get royalties?”

I knelt beside her, checking her vitals. Her pulse was steady, pupils uneven but reactive. She wasn’t bleeding badly, thank gods but she needed out. Now.

“We’ve got her,” I said into the comms. “Extraction required. North stairwell. Matteo and I will cover the exit.”

Naomi smiled at me, eyes half-lidded, “You smell good. Like blood and soap. My new favorite combo. Are you going to carry me off into the sunset big boy?

I sighed.Matteo clapped me on the back. “She’s a keeper.”

2/3

8:07 pm P P D

Keeper

Chapter Comments

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Visitor

7 days ago

yup I love Naomi