The Daughter Extraction

Cold Truths

•ALEC•

I pushed the gates open and strolled up to the front door of the house. This was the only place that crossed my mind, and I knew I was running out of options, but it seemed like I didn't have much of a choice.

I knocked on the door, turned around, and glanced back at the road while waiting for someone to answer.

She's definitely going to be mad at me for this.

"Whose place is this?" Luna asked, curious. I looked between her and the door.

"An old friend." I raised my fist again and knocked loudly.

After a few seconds, heavy footsteps thudded down the staircase, and the lock clicked before the door swung open.

On the other side, wearing only a dressing gown, stood the old friend I had mentioned. More like an old colleague, she used to work for the CIA as an international spy, ultimately betraying the US government by acting as a double agent for the Russians.

The last time I saw her was the day we escorted her to the airport for deportation after her double identity was exposed.

There was a hint of surprise on her face, mirroring mine when I noticed she hadn't changed a bit—appearance, at least.

"Alec," she said my name before glancing at Luna by my side.

"Hi, Lana."

She folded her arms, frowning at us with confusion, her sleep-deprived face masking the surprise.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Can we come in? It's a long story."

She cast another uncertain glance toward Luna and then checked behind us, making sure we weren't followed. After a minute, she stepped aside and opened the door wider.

"Sure, come on in."

I gave her a small appreciative smile before letting Luna enter first, and I followed suit.

As I stepped into Lana's apartment, a sense of monotony enveloped the space. The walls seemed to whisper shades of gray, and the air carried a dull, lifeless ambiance.

The couches were all impersonal leather, devoid of any warmth, while the tables were cool to the touch, crafted from clinical glass. Cabinets, drawers, and shelves lined the room in a uniform white, giving off an almost sterile vibe.

Contrasting this sterile atmosphere was the surprising cleanliness and pristine order that Lana maintained. It was as if everything had a designated place, and not a speck of dust dared to settle.

Typical Lana. Always the clean freak.

Lana gestured for Luna and me to sit on one of the leather couches, while she settled into the opposite armchair, fixing us with a confused stare.

The room, with its clinical aesthetic, seemed to echo the suspicion that lingered in Lana's expression as she silently observed us.

"So, what happened? How are you in Mexico?" She asked while fixing her gaze on me.

"We had an assignment to do here. The op went well but my crew is running behind on securing us a safe location where we could stay, our target's men are crawling all over this place looking for us. So I thought we'd drop by and ask to stay for the night and we'll be out of here first thing in the morning."

Her mouth set in a hard line before she looked towards Luna.

"Is she your partner or something?"

I glanced towards Luna and she gave me the same confused look back. Part of me still doesn't trust Lana to disclose any information about our current mission to her.