Sophia stood at the threshold, her hand resting on the doorframe as she turned to face Lucas. "Be safe," he said, his voice laced with concern.
Luciana, already on the porch, glanced back, her eyes urging Sophia to hurry. Nadia and Raven waited in the car, their expressions stoic.
Lucas stepped forward, his gaze intense. "Let me come with you," he pleaded. "You might need an extra pair of hands."
Sophia shook her head, her resolve clear. "No, Lucas. You need to stay here, take care of Ava. I can't risk losing you too."
"But Sophia," Lucas insisted, "you'll need all the help you can get. I can't just sit here while you're out there in danger."
Sophia's eyes softened, torn between her love for Lucas and the mission at hand. "I... I just can't," she whispered.
Lucas reached out, taking her hand. "I know what I'm signing up for. And I can't let you do this alone."
Sophia hesitated, her heart warring with her mind. "What about Ava?" she finally asked, voicing the concern that weighed on her.
"We'll drop her off at my mom's," Lucas suggested. "She'll be safe there."
Sophia looked back at Ava, who was watching them with wide, innocent eyes. "Okay," she conceded, the word heavy with the gravity of her decision. "Okay, you can come."
Lucas's expression shifted to one of determination. "I'll go pack Ava's things," he said, already moving toward the stairs.
Sophia watched him go, the finality of her choice settling in. She turned to wait with Luciana, who was beckoning from the car, her movements sharp with urgency.
"Time is of the essence," Luciana called out, her voice carrying the weight of their shared desperation.
Sophia nodded, her steps quickening as she moved to the car, the mission to bring Emma back now a family affair.
##################
The HQ cafeteria was a symphony of clinking cutlery and hushed conversations, a sanctuary where the world's burdens could momentarily be laid to rest. Ryder sat alone, his plate an artful arrangement of grilled chicken, its golden-brown skin glistening under the fluorescent lights, accompanied by a vibrant medley of steamed vegetables that added a pop of color to the otherwise sterile surroundings. He took a sip of water, the cool liquid a brief respite from the relentless pace of his thoughts.
Diego joined him, his presence a silent acknowledgment of camaraderie in their shared struggle. "How long you been with the agency?" Ryder inquired, his voice a low rumble that seemed to blend with the ambient noise.
"Seis años," Diego responded, the words rolling off his tongue with the warmth of his Mexican heritage, a proud smile touching his lips.
Ryder nodded, a silent salute to Diego's tenure. "Twelve years in the military before this," he shared, his gaze distant as if viewing a past only he could see. "It's like a family heirloom, this life of service. Always one of us in the fray."
Their exchange was interrupted by the arrival of Jin and Mei, whose youthful exuberance cut through the cafeteria's monotony like a burst of sunlight through storm clouds. "What's the buzz?" Mei asked, her voice a melody that seemed to dance around them.
"The military," Ryder replied, the word carrying the weight of countless memories.
"Ouuuu, the military," Jin echoed, his tone playful, a spark of mischief in his eyes. They laughed, a sound that rippled through the room, a reminder that even in the face of danger, joy could still find a place.
YOU ARE READING
G.H.O.S.T.S
Action"G.H.O.S.T.S" Ryder's exit from the army is a silent retreat from the cacophony of war, a step back from the precipice of a life spent in service. The agency, a beacon in the aftermath of his military career, offers him a chance to redirect his expe...
