Because they hear it.
This isn’t hesitation.
This is decision.
“We build our own op,” I continue. “No command. No oversight. Just us.”
Cal nods slowly. “Delta Five off-book.”
Jonah exhales. “That’s not risky at all.”
“That’s survival,” Ronan corrects.
Mila hasn’t moved.
She’s still watching the screen.
Still watching that name.
Like she expected it—but hoped she was wrong.
I step closer to her, lowering my voice just enough that the others can’t hear. “You okay?”
She lets out a breath, slow, controlled. “Yeah.”
I don’t believe that.
But I don’t call her on it.
“Come on,” I say quietly.
She hesitates, then nods.
We step out of the war room, leaving the team to start breaking the rest of the list apart.
Mila
Location: Safehouse — Back Hallway
Time: 10:19
The hallway is quiet.
Too quiet after everything we just saw.
I lean back against the wall, closing my eyes for just a second.
Director Hayes.
Of all the names on that list…
That one was the worst.
Jase stops in front of me, close enough that I can feel the heat of him, the steady presence that somehow grounds everything.
“You knew it could be bad,” he says.
“Yeah.”
