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?”

silence fell over the room as everyone considered the offer.

service and handing it to one 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

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

1/4

Wed, 13 Aug

Chapter 1661

crane visible through the window where their holding them,” Sutton explained, gesturing for Rogers to look. “Eastern harbor

in, studying the image. “That narrows it down, but there are still dozens of abandoned warehouses in that

a call. I can get satellite thermal imaging in the harbor area

that long,”

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

already sent

another,”

wisdom in the agent’s

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

phone. “What do I say

amount for Keira?” Rogers knew the

for Keira.” Roman

“Tell them you’re working on 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 from someone trying

million dollars.”

shaking since the first message came through.

Need to see both Keira and the prince alive today before we can proceed with transfer. We have meeting with bank 10 am tomorrow morning

it.” Rogers approved. “Now we

the table. Mitchell and his Wystovian team

has three main sections,” Mitchell explained, circling areas with a red marker. “Industrial active

the map. “That’s still too

the photo through additional analysis. The angle of light through the window gives

her side. “That

“There was a reflection in the window glass, barely visible but

turned her laptop around, showing a blurry but recognizable insignia. “Eastside Shipping. They went bankrupt three years

2/4

Chapter 166

four potential warehouses,” Mitchell said, Immediately marking

phone buzzed with an incoming message.

have the money ready to collect before they’ll

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255