Their expressions fell, disappointment etched on their faces.
Mary blinked in confusion.
“Um, what?”
And then, as if the universe had conspired against me, my voice slipped out with a weight I hadn’t intended.
“Because my dad’s alive.”
The table fell silent. Lillian’s jaw dropped in shock. Mary stared at me as if I’d just announced I was moving to Mars.
“I killed him,” I said, still grappling with the reality of it. “Five years ago. Mission critical. They labeled him a traitor. They said if I didn’t take the shot, everything would fall apart. So I did.”
Lillian’s mouth opened and closed, her mind racing.
“WHAT THE ACTUAL—”
“I watched him die,” I whispered, the truth crashing over me like a wave. “He bled out in my arms. I buried that memory. And now… he’s standing in my living room as if no time has passed.”
Mary slammed her drink down, her expression fierce. “I swear to God, if he faked his death and then waltzed back in like it’s all good—”
“I’ll break both his knees,” Lillian growled, her nails digging into the table with a determined fury. “And maybe give him a little stab. Just a non-lethal one, probably.”
“I’ll be your backup,” Mary added, her tone deadpan. “We can call it a ‘family reunion.’”
I laughed—a breathless, shaky laugh that slipped out when you’re unraveling and not quite sure how to hold it all together.
In that moment, it felt safe, as if it were just the three of us—girls in a café, free from missions, legacies, and the weight of bloodshed.
“He wants me for another operation,” I said, dropping the final truth like a match in a dark room. “Off-the-books. High stakes. And he wants Noah, too.”
Their eyes locked onto mine, full of concern.
“Why Noah?” Lillian asked, her brow furrowing.
“He thinks he’s useful,” I replied. “He’s been watching him. Analyzing him.”
Mary leaned forward, her curiosity piqued.
“And what do you think?”
I found myself staring at the foam in my cup, lost in thought.
“I think I’m nothing but a tool a lifeless robot for his disposal,” I admitted.
Lillian’s expression tightened.
“Don’t you dare say that. You’re not a drone, Liz. You’re allowed to feel something real.”
But the words echoed in my mind, not theirs, but his.
“He’s your weakness.”
“You smile. You hesitate. You hope.”
My father’s voice lingered, haunting me, taking up space he had no right to occupy. I leaned back, folding into myself.
“Anyway,” I said, my voice flat. “It doesn’t matter. Once the operation is done, it’s over. Noah won’t be part of the equation anymore.”
