I feel the corners of my mouth lift up. “Victoria Cross is an entity unto herself. She sells information to the highest bidder and doesn’t really involve herself. You can trust her to honor her word and she seems to have a soft spot for us. If she’s said she’ll keep them safe or vetted those who will, then your sister is in good hands.”
I can see relief wash over her. "Stryker, thank you for bringing us somewhere safe."
Words stick in my throat. "Get some rest. We'll figure out next steps after Kane and I talk."
I leave before she can see the fear I'm trying to hide.
Kane looks up when I enter operations. "How are they settling in?"
"As well as can be expected." I move to stand across from him. "Rachel's tough. She'll adapt. Lucas is scared but holding together."
"Good. Tommy briefed me on the tracker." Kane pulls up additional intelligence. Committee movement patterns. Kessler's known associates. Financial transfers indicating a major operation. "Military-grade tech, planted before you left Tucson. They've been watching Rachel longer than we realized."
"Weeks, at minimum." I move closer to the display. "Maybe since Lucas witnessed the murder."
"Which means they've had time to map her entire network. Friends, coworkers, family." Kane zooms in on thermal imaging from the safe house assault. "Multiple operatives, professional coordination, military-grade equipment. Webb's making an example. Show that witnessing Committee operations gets you killed no matter who tries to protect you."
"Then we make sure Lucas survives long enough to testify."
"Agreed. But short-term, we need to address the immediate threat." Kane zooms in on thermal imaging from the safe house assault. "This wasn't a cleanup crew. This was a statement."
The replay shows thermal signatures moving through the building. Me holding position while Rachel and Lucas huddled in the panic room. Committee operatives retreating when Kane's reinforcements arrived.
"I should have swept the vehicle before we left Tucson."
"You were focused on immediate extraction. That's prioritization, not failure." Kane's voice stays level. "But from now on, every vehicle gets swept. Every location gets checked."
"Understood."
Kane closes the tactical display and looks at me directly. "How are you handling this? Having Rachel and Lucas here?"
The question catches me off guard. "I'm fine."
"Stryker." His voice carries that tone that means he's not asking casually. "I sent you to Tucson knowing your history with her. Knowing it would be complicated. That was tactical. You're the one who cares enough to die protecting her, which is what this situation requires."
My jaw tightens. "Then why are you asking?"
"Because caring enough to die for someone and caring so much it clouds your judgment are different things." Kane's expression doesn't change. "I need to know which one I'm working with."
"I'll keep them safe."
"That's not what I asked." He waits, and when I don't answer immediately, continues. "You left her eight years ago because you thought you couldn't be both an operator and someone she could count on. Now you're trying to be both. I need to know if you can actually pull that off, or if I need to adjust the protection detail."
"I can handle it."
"Good. Because she trusts you, and Lucas is starting to. Don't prove them wrong." Kane's voice softens slightly. "And Stryker? Whatever reasons you had for walking away from her eight years ago don't apply anymore. You're not the same operator you were then."
I nod because there's nothing else to say.
"I'm taking first watch," I say. "Someone should monitor the entrance feeds."
"Tommy's already on it. You should rest."
"Can't. Not yet." I turn to leave. "I'll be in the observation room if you need me."
Walking away feels like retreating. I make my way through corridors I know by heart, past doors that lead to rooms where my team sleeps and plans and prepares.
Past Rachel's door.
