Our Lovely Nights (Original, English Version)

Chapter 17 - Mikhail James

I'm glad to have the old team back and a few more members. If I'm honest about it, I do need Sanders on the team. She has ideas different from the rest of us. Gerry would serve as our leader. Sanders joined the strategists. Gabe on intel. I'm still on surveillance.

The plan changes every time new information comes in. Sanders didn't bother with the details. She said she'll come up with the details when she comes to the office.

I was surprised when she called. She's been gone for too long and yet she hasn't changed. I'm glad that she's with Oliver, though. And Cara.

Even without Cara in the equation, I knew she wants to help me. With Cara, she seems more determined. It just got personal to her. It has always been personal to me.

She didn't give me details but she's planning to come back about a month after Cara gives birth. I'm not sure why. Every day, I feel like I'm hanging on a balance. I haven't felt this way in years. It took me a while to accept it's probably because I do have something to lose again if I'm not careful. Not just one person, but two of them. Not to mention the extended family. Don't overthink. I closed my eyes to stop the thoughts from running wild. Would the rest of her family be in danger? I exhaled. Sanders wouldn't let that happen. I won't let it happen.

I only messaged Cara a few times these last few months, almost once or twice a month. In a few weeks, she'll be due to deliver the baby. I think I feel nervous. I couldn't help looking up information on it.

If Cara hadn't slipped that Sanders' delivery went well, I wouldn't have known that's the reason Sanders isn't coming earlier. She tried to assure me that it will be fine since Lee was fine. It couldn't be that different. I did mention though that it's Sanders' second time. But then again, she went through c-section the first time because of her accident.

In no time, Cara initiated a video call to show me our daughter. She looks like an angel. I was speechless as I watch her. Cara didn't say anything else other than "just tell me if you want to see her".

I told her to take care of herself and our daughter before ending the call. I was tempted to go and see them but I'd rather not risk it.

A few weeks later, Sanders arrived at the office. She met with Gerry first. When the team had a conference, she laid out the details and asked for opinions. We've been working on it for years, mostly intel and surveillance. These past few months, we're developing a plan to put them all behind bars. The trickiest part is obtaining evidence that will nail them down. Sanders was solemn as she listened to the others' reports.

"Wait, so we know where the books are stored?" She asked when Cal told her about his attempt to steal them.

"Yes. But I couldn't open the safe. I got the combination, but there's a sort of physical lock. It looked like a puzzle. I couldn't get inside." He explained. We were silent after that.

"Do you remember the structure of the lock? Can you give me a sketch?" Sanders requested.

"Sure. I made a drawing of it." He took out his phone and showed an image to Sanders. I watched as Sanders' expression showed surprise and recognition.

"You know this?" Cal asked before any of us could speak.

"Tanya's locket. It's similar." She muttered as she studied the drawing.

"I could get the locket. You check if it's the same." She returned the phone to Cal.

"Copy."

"It's still better to get the evidence first before we hunt them down." Gabe spoke up.

"We could come up with plans. But to be safe, yes, we need to get those evidence first." Sanders agreed.

We all understand that it will be game over if we try to attack while trying to get evidence. We could end up having no evidence and that means a shitload of trouble for us. We'll be in hot water.

She's not really the leader of her team. She only gets special treatment because she's unique. Since some of the ideas are raised by her, only she can pull off the details. In those areas, she takes the lead. Otherwise, she lets the others speak about the rest of the plan.

It still took us months. On the seventh month since Sanders joined, we waited nervously for results. This could make or break us. Cal led a small team to get the books. There's back up ready. Sanders didn't want anything to do with it, except the lock thing. Gerry took the lead and the rest of us watched the monitoring nervously. We can only move forward if tonight is successful.

The first problem they encountered? The combination changed. They had to use a gadget to know what it is. That took time. It must've been nerve-wracking for them. Someone helped with disabling the security system in place. Other than my own people, Sanders know better ones. She won't introduce them to us, though.

One time, she confided to me that they could be considered kids. They would only be questioned continuously if she brings them to headquarters. Apparently, they're a team, too. Sanders isn't worried.

"One of them on the lead, two on backup. They can't mess it up." She assured me when I asked why she's not personally monitoring them.

I normally don't worry about these things as I trust everyone I work with, but... this time, I do feel anxious.

When the arrests happened, almost everything happened within calculations. Except the casualties. And the fact that the actual scenario branched out from the main plan. It's something like Plan F sub C, instead of plain Plan A. A lot of factors and deviations have been considered. It took days to memorize. Given all the combination of scenarios, memorization happens to be the way. Familiarization wouldn't work, unless you want monitoring to state every detail when the plan needs to change. That will take precious time and might take their attention away from surveillance. We can't afford that.

I did get shot in the leg, a scrape. My injury was mostly a fracture when I forced myself to jump from the second floor of a building in pursuit of a key figure. It didn't help that I had to run after him after that fall. It got worse.

As I lay on the hospital bed, I can't help asking for updates. I need to know what's happening out there. I need to know this is the end. If I had to chase them again in the future, I would have lost already. It took another hour before it was declared that the operation is a success. Of course, that was only the general statement. I myself saw people from our side who fell tonight. I closed my eyes as I try not to blame myself. It was my fight and yet, they had to die. It should've been me but it wasn't.

Sanders had a way with words. She convinced me to pull myself together. She actually video-called Cara to let me see our daughter again. Think of them, she said. She left as soon as the call connected. Cara comforted me, too. I stared at her as much as I stared at our daughter. I remember Sanders' words. I could marry her and have the family I wanted.

Too bad for Sanders,I got my shit together much earlier that I even played a prank on her husband.She was understandably mad.