I lean back against the pillows, exhaustion pulling at me. The pain medication is wearing off, and my side is starting to throb. But underneath the pain, something else is burning.
Purpose.
"Walk me through the plan," I say. "All of it. I want to know what we're doing and when."
Jagger exchanges a look with his brothers, then nods.
"Phase one: neutralize Victor Harrington. He's the last surviving Custodian who authorized Phase Two funding. With him gone, the program loses its primary advocate within the Custodian structure."
"How?"
"He attends a charity gala next month in London. Black tie. Heavy security, but I know the venue. I know the security firm. I know exactly how to get close to him."
"You're going to kill him at a party?"
"I'm going to expose him at a party. The documents Aurelio provided include correspondence with Harrington's personal signature. Proof of his involvement that can't be denied or buried." Jagger's smile is cold. "We release everything to the media at the same moment we confront him publicly. By the time his security realizes what's happening, the story will be out. No way to contain it. The Silent runs deep, but they don’t like defectors."
"And if they try to silence us?"
"Let them try. We'll have copies distributed to every major news outlet in the world. Kill us, and the story only gets bigger."
Jace picks up the thread. "Phase two: the facilities. Once Harrington is exposed, the remaining Custodians will panic. They'll likely try to get rid of the evidence. After all, what happens to one, happens to all. Losing power isn’t something the Silent will take lightly, so getting rid of the children would be next.”
"We can't let that happen."
"We won't. Jinx has contacts who can monitor the facilities. The moment we see movement, we go in. All four sites, simultaneously. Extract the children before anyone can hurt them."
"That's a lot of ground to cover."
"We have allies," Jinx says. "People who owe me favors. People who hate the Ministries as much as we do. When the time comes, we won't be alone."
"And then?"
"Then we disappear." Jagger's hand finds mine. "The children go to safe houses. We go underground. Let the chaos sort itself out while we stay out of reach."
"For how long?"
"As long as it takes. Then we take our seats. We will take Harrison, you will take Chen as a replacement for Webb’s open spot and hopefully we can convince Briar to take his. The more of us who want to run the council properly, the better."
It's not a perfect plan. There are a hundred ways it could go wrong. But it's a plan. A path forward. A chance to end this.
"Okay," I say. "Let's do it."
"You need to rest first."
"I'll rest when it's over."
"You'll rest now." Jagger's voice is firm. "You took a bullet and almost bled to death in front of me. You're not going anywhere until that wound is healed."
"But—"
"No arguments." He leans down, kisses my forehead. "The gala is a month away. We have time to prepare. Right now, your only job is to get stronger."
I want to argue. Want to insist that I'm fine, that I can help, that I need to be part of this. But my body is already betraying me, exhaustion dragging at my eyelids, pain pulsing through my side.
"Fine," I mutter. "But the moment I'm healed—"
"The moment you're healed, we start training. I'm not letting you walk into another firefight without knowing how to protect yourself."
