Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Agent Rogers stood in Roman and Blair’s foyer, his presence unwanted despite the casual delivery disguise.

“How did you know?” Roman asked, his voice taut with suspicion.

“When foreign royalty gets kidnapped on US soil, the Bureau takes notice,” Rogers replied, stepping further into the house. “Especially when

a certain family with a history of… shall we say, unconventional problem–solving… gets involved.”

“That doesn’t explain how.” Roman narrowed his eyes on the FBI agent. He was going to get answers.

“There was a witness last night to the kidnapping. Unlike you lot, they came to the FBI. Which luckily I was the responding agent.”

Blair crossed her arms. “We were handling it.”

“It’s good to see you, Blair, and I can see that,” Rogers gestured toward the improvised command center. “Nice setup. Very Die Hard meets Ocean’s Eleven.” His gaze lingered on the equipment. “But I’m afraid this has become a federal matter of sorts.”

Luca stepped forward, his expression dangerously calm. “With all due respect, Agent Rogers, we don’t have time for jurisdictional pissing match. Every minute we waste is a minute Keira remains in danger.”

“I’m not here to take over,” Rogers clarified, surprising everyone. “I’m here to help. Off the books for now.”

Sutton’s eyebrows shot up. “Off the books? Since when does the FBI work that way?”

“They don’t,” Rogers admitted. “Which is why I came through the door as a florist rather than with a warrant and a SWAT team. The Bureau knows about the kidnapping, but I convinced them to give me twenty–four hours before we make it official. Now I’m putting my ass on the line. We need to get them out alive or I’m fired.”

“Why would you do that?” Roman asked, still wary.

Rogers’s expression softened slightly. “Because I know what happens when too many cooks enter the kitchen. The Wystovian security team wants to handle this their way. You want to handle it yours. Meanwhile, local PD will be scrambling to assert authority once they catch wind of it even though it should be an FBI case. And in the middle of all that cock waving…”

“Keira and the prince become collateral damage,” Blair finished, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Exactly.” Rogers nodded. “So I’m offering a compromise. You share what you know with me, I share my expertise with you, and we work together to bring them home safely before my superiors force me to make this official”

Mitchell from the Wystovian team stepped forward. “This is a diplomatic matter—”

“Save it,” Rogers cut him off. “Right now, I don’t see diplomats or royals. I see two missing persons in immediate danger. So, are we going to stand around arguing protocol, or are we going to find them?”

fell over the room as everyone considered the offer. Finally, Sutton returned to

of Roman’s men. “Get dressed in this and get in the van out front and drive it away. If the house is being watched, a delivery person wouldn’t

who nodded for him

quick and out the door within moments after putting on the uniform,

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Chapter 1661

crane visible through the window where their holding them,” Sutton explained, gesturing for Rogers

the image. “That narrows it down, but there are still dozens of abandoned warehouses in that zone. He pulled out his phone,

satellite thermal imaging in the harbor area by tomorrow

that long,” Blair

I know you’re worried, but we can’t burst in there half–cocked and not know what we’re dealing with. It’s not like I have a SWAT team backing me up here. I know it’s cutting it fine with my deadline. We need to get a fix on the situation before we go in there. They

already sent us

request another,”

wisdom in the agent’s strategy

narrowing down the search area. If they see people searching the dock area, it

phone. “What do I say to

ransom amount for Keira?” Rogers knew the Wystovian team wouldn’t share that

Keira.” Roman was the one

securing the funds but need proof they’re still unharmed before proceeding,” Rogers instructed. “Banking hours, liquidating stocks, transfer limits, they are all reasonable delays they’ll expect

million dollars.”

first message came through. She showed

money. Need to see both Keira and the prince alive today before we can proceed with transfer.

send it.” Rogers approved. “Now we wait, but not

on the table. Mitchell and his Wystovian team clustered around them, marking

Mitchell explained, circling areas with a red marker. “Industrial active zone here, mid–harbor with mixed–use facilities, and the abandoned sector farthest

too many buildings to search

She hadn’t looked up from her laptop where she’d been working silently. “I’ve be running the photo through additional analysis. The angle of light through the window gives

moved to her side. “That helps,

the window glass, barely visible

recognizable insignia. “Eastside Shipping.

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Chapter 166

it down to four potential warehouses,” Mitchell said, Immediately marking

phone buzzed with an incoming message.

“They want proof we have the money ready to collect before they’ll