“Liar.”
“Truth.”
She tilts her head, studying me like I’m a problem she wants to solve. “You look… older.”
“Thanks.”
She snorts. “I didn’t mean?—”
“I know what you meant,” I cut in, and my voice comes out rougher than I want. “Focus.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Yes, sir.”
Heat flicks down my spine. It shouldn’t. It’s one word. But on her mouth, it lands like a dare.
I lean in just slightly, letting her feel the shift without giving her contact. “Try that again.”
Sadie’s breath catches. Not dramatic. Not performative. Real.
Her gaze drops to my mouth, then jerks back up. “Try what again?”
I let a slow smile pull at one corner of my mouth, because if I don’t find some control here, she’s going to take it. “Calling me sir.”
Her cheeks color faintly, like she’s furious her body betrayed her. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” I straighten. “Because you’re about to learn how this works.”
She sets her jaw. “And how does it work, Lieutenant?”
I point toward the equipment wall. “Start with the gear inventory. Learn the names. Learn the placement. Learn why it’s there.”
“That’s busywork.”
“That’s survival,” I correct. “When you’re in smoke and you can’t see your own hand, you don’t get to guess.”
Her expression flickers—something serious sliding in behind the sass. “Fine.”
She moves to the wall, clipboard ready, pen poised. The sight should feel normal. A new intern learning the ropes. Instead it feels like I’m watching the person who broke me take notes in the place I rebuilt myself.
Axel strolls by behind her with deliberate loudness. “Hey, Intern Marshall, if you need help, Lieutenant Kane is very… hands-on.”
Sadie doesn’t look away from the equipment. “I’m sure he is.”
Axel laughs, delighted.
I snap, “Axel.”
“What?” he says. “I’m helpful.”
“Go be helpful somewhere else.”
He saunters away, still grinning.
Sadie makes a mark on her clipboard, then glances over her shoulder at me. “Does your crew always flirt like this?”
