Chapter 88 Identity Exposed

• Selene knew she shouldn’t let strange thoughts creep in. But the ache in her chest wouldn’t quit. It felt like that ball Cinderella went to—every bit of glitter spun out of a fairy’s spell. When the clock struck, everything snapped back to reality. Only Cinderella still married the prince, and she… A bitter taste rose on her lips. Selene set a small hand over her belly. She still had the baby, and Seth. They were her hope… Beep-beep. The text alert jerked her back. She dug out her phone. A message from the organization lit the screen: “Operation tonight. Eleven o’clock, same place.” Selene threw up a hand to flag a cab and headed to the usual spot to rendezvous. At thirteen, she and Seth had joined Interpol. In the medical arts their grandpa passed down, there was one secret technique that could help members who couldn’t risk exposure. At 1 a.m., their off-road jeep rolled up to the next city’s docks. A yacht at the pier was already set to depart. Selene piled out with her teammates and moved to board, when a yacht cruising in from not far off blasted its horn. Then a voice boomed from its speakers: “Boats at the pier, please make way. We’ve got a critical patient on board. Let us dock first.” “Give way!” the same order crackled in her earpiece. Selene snapped a look at their boss. He was wound tight, like he knew the owner of that yacht. Their own boat pulled off toward deeper water. Moments later, the luxury yacht docked clean. The people who came down made Selene jolt hard. If she wasn’t seeing things, Mason Markle and Yael Kline were carrying someone wrapped in a sheet—Colton Lowell. They both had visible injuries too, like they’d just been in a fight. “Selene, move!” The operation lead grabbed her and pulled her toward them. “Mrs. Lowell!” As they got close, Mason clocked Selene, and Yael did too. They both froze. Seeing them rattled, Selene tensed and stalled for a beat as well. “Don’t just stand there—Selene, see if you can stabilize him.” Colton’s white dress shirt was soaked red—bad, real bad. The lead dragged Selene over and pushed her to the man’s side. No one had time for etiquette. Mason and the butler lowered Colton to the ground. Selene dropped to a knee beside him and, with everyone watching, ripped open his shirt. He’d taken a bullet to the shoulder. Blood kept pumping, and an infection would be easy to set in. She pulled out silver needles and struck several points on his chest to stem the bleeding. Then she packed the wound with herbal medicine she kept for treating teammates. Only then did the tension ease a notch. The operation lead shot Mason a look. The two of them stepped into the shadows and spoke in low voices. An instruction crackled in Selene’s earpiece: “Plan changed. Tighten the net. Selene stays.” Tighten the net? Did they already have the target? Selene’s head jerked up, and she finally noticed Mason was conferring with their boss. So they did know each other. She turned back to Colton. In a flash, pieces clicked. No wonder that mob fugitive had kidnapped her. No wonder he could bait the cops into firing. He was… “Mrs. Lowell, our helicopter’s on the pad. Please come with us to the hospital.” Mason came back and cut through her spiral. She met his eyes and nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.” Per protocol, she had to follow orders. She went with them and flew back to Nodale.