“We’re a private military contractor specializing in protection services. Got the call yesterday.”
“From whom?”
“Ghost.”
“Ghost?”
“My boss.”
“His real name is Ghost?”
“Mason Blackwood. We call him Ghost.”
“Military nicknames?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your nickname?”
The question catches me off guard. Most clients don’t care about team dynamics or operational details. They want protection, extraction, and survival. Dr. Eliza Wren wants to understand everything.
“Whisper.”
“Whisper?” Her eyebrows shoot up. “You? Mr. Monosyllabic Grunts and Single-Word Answers? I’d think they’d call you Caveman.”
Despite the circumstances, her reaction almost makes me smile. Almost.
“Sniper. Move quietly. Strike silently.”
“Ah.” She nods as if this explains everything. “So you’re the team’s long-range specialist.”
“Among other things.”
“What other things?”
“Surveillance. Reconnaissance. Target elimination.”
“Target elimination.” She repeats the words carefully. “You mean assassination.”
“When necessary.”
Most people flinch when they learn what I do for a living. Dr. Eliza Wren just nods and moves on to the next question.
“How many people are on your team?”
“Five active. Two inactive.”
“What happened to the inactive members?”
Ryan and Celeste’s situation is classified, but explaining it requires more words than I prefer using. “Phoenix. Had to disappear.”
“They’re alive?”
“Yes.”
“But they can’t come back?”
“Not while Phoenix exists.”
