Guardian Angels

Chapter 29

As Sam entered the precinct, her usual tardiness barely registered among her colleagues, a testament to the routine nature of her late arrivals. However, the bandage wrapped around her shoulder stood out, an unusual addition to her otherwise unremarkable entrance.

"What happened to you?" one colleague asked, nodding towards her shoulder as she made her way to her desk.

Sam, quick with a tale, flashed a wry smile. "You won't believe it, but I met this handsome street racer last night. One thing led to another, and well, a small street race ended in terrible consequences," she said, her tone light, playing into the persona she had crafted to mask her nightly escapades as Alex Mason.

Her colleagues, used to Sam's tales of nightlife adventures, showed a brief flicker of interest before turning back to their previous conversation. Sam, blending into the group, picked up on the topic at hand.

"You missed the latest news, Sam," another colleague chimed in, eager to fill her in. "Clara's operation against Lorenzo Moretti turned into a disaster last night. Nearly lost her entire team. It was a massacre."

Sam's heart skipped a beat, the casual retelling of events she had lived through just hours before as Alex Mason feeling surreal. "What happened?" she asked, feigning ignorance and surprise.

"It was a complete trap. Clara and her team were ambushed. If it wasn't for Alex Mason showing up, Clara might not have made it," the colleague continued. "It was intense. He saved her, blocked a bullet intended for her, and then set Lorenzo on fire, Taliban style." His voice was tinged with fear and awe.

"Clara even tried to arrest him afterwards, but the injured Mason escaped," Another colleague added. "Mason saved Clara. She shouldn't be trying to arrest him," he argued, a note of admiration in his voice.

The precinct was divided in their opinions on the vigilante's actions. "But he's still a criminal, isn't he? He killed Lorenzo. Vigilantism isn't justice," countered another, highlighting the legal and moral complexities of Alex Mason's actions.

Sam listened, her expression neutral as she absorbed their perspectives, a tumult of emotions churning within her. And yet, as she listened to her colleagues' divided opinions, she couldn't help but wonder where her actions as Alex Mason placed her in their eyes—hero, criminal, or something in between. As the debate continued, Sam made a silent quit, her thoughts drifting on Clara, on Izzy, and on the path she had chosen.

As Sam made her way to the hospital to check on Clara, her path unexpectedly crossed with Danny's just outside the building. He had heard about the ambush on Clara and had come getting the full story, but the sight of Sam, injured, caught him off guard.

"Danny," Sam greeted, trying to ease the tension with a casual nod. "Heard about Clara's incident, so I came to check in. How is she?"

Danny's eyes were fixed on the bandage wrapped around Sam's shoulder. He managed a nod. "I was going to ask you the same, Sam. But, what happened to you?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Sam offered a dismissive wave, the lie about her injury rolling off her tongue with practiced ease. "Oh, this? Just a flesh wound. Got a bit carried away with some... street racing. It's nothing serious, doesn't even bleed anymore," she said, gesturing to her shoulder where the bandage covered the gunshot wound beneath, carefully maintaining her lie.

As they walked towards Clara's room, Danny broached a subject that lingered between them, his voice soft, reflective. "I talked with Clara about you, you know. She told me... she thinks you're trying to escape something. I won't stop you, Sam, but I'll wait for you," he confessed, his words tinged with a mix of understanding and sadness. "You said you'd never be with other men, but honestly, I don't care about that. I just..."