The room goes still.
No one breathes.
“Then we make sure you don’t,” Ghost says.“And if eliminating Morrison means losing her anyway?If she finds out what you did and can't forgive you for it?"
The possibility that Evangeline might hate me for protecting her is almost too painful to consider.But not as painful as the alternative.
"If she never forgives me, I’ll live with that.Better angry and alive than mourning her too."
Ghost studies me for a long moment, weighing options, calculating odds.Finally, he nods.
"Alright.We move against Morrison, but we do this smart, clean, and with minimal blowback.We tell her afterward, when it's done and she's safe."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet.This kind of operation requires resources, planning, perfect execution.One mistake and we're all fucked."
"I understand."
"Do you?Because once we cross this line, there's no going back.Morrison disappears, his operation gets dismantled, and anyone who asks too many questions becomes a problem we have to solve."
The weight of what he's saying settles over the room.This isn't just about eliminating one threat.It's about taking on a network of criminals who won't hesitate to retaliate.
"What do you need from us?"Rogue asks.
"Intelligence gathering, financial tracking, coordination with our contacts in law enforcement.This has to look like an internal dispute within Morrison's organization, not an MC hit."
"Consider it done," Tempest says."What's the timeline?"
"Soon.Morrison's getting desperate, which makes him dangerous.Those phone calls are just the beginning.Next comes direct threats, maybe even an attempt to take Evangeline or the kids."
"Then we’d better move fast," Ghost says."Rogue, I want you coordinating with our police contacts.See what kind of official cover we can arrange.Sniper, start tracking Morrison's movements, habits, security.Tempest, you're on financial intelligence.I want to know every account, every asset, every business connection."
"And me?"I ask.
"You stay close to Evangeline and those kids.Keep them safe while we set this up.And try not to let your personal feelings compromise the mission."
It's a direct order, but also good advice.The next few days are going to test every instinct I have, every principle I've tried to live by.
"There's something else," I say, my voice rougher than I intended."When this is over, when Morrison's gone and the truth comes out, she’ll need time.So will the kids.And us?I don’t know what we’ll be."
"You think she'll blame you?"
"I think she'll blame herself.For not seeing it, for almost marrying him, for trusting someone who had her brother killed."The thought makes my chest tight with pain."She's going to feel like everything was her fault."
"Then you make sure she knows it wasn't," Ghost says simply."You remind her that she was the victim, not the villain.And you give her all the time and space she needs to heal."
"How do I live with doing the right thing if it means losing her?"
The question hangs between us, heavy with implication.Because that's the real risk here, the price I might have to pay for keeping her alive.
"Then you'll have done the right thing anyway," Rogue says quietly."Because loving someone means putting their needs above your own wants.Even when it destroys you."
He would know.He lost Willow for five years because he put her safety before his own happiness.He got her back eventually, but only after paying a price that nearly killed him.
"Besides," Tempest adds, "she might surprise you.Women are stronger than we give them credit for.Especially when they have something worth fighting for."
"Like what?"
