Maia Mesa grew up with her family in Cuba, but that suddenly changed, and she found herself in a position no one wishes to be, without family.
Marcus Burnett, a repentant and good soul takes her as his own daughter, as well his wife Theresa, a new...
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It had been four months since that harrowing day, and while the physical wounds had mostly healed, the memories were still fresh. My own bruises and cuts had faded, leaving no lasting mark, but they were nothing compared the cuts dad had, they are going to leave scars. And of course, after we returned to home, he and mom had scolded me for charging into that building, lecturing me about recklessness and the dangers of acting on impulse. But what could I say? If it meant saving them, I'd have jumped off a cliff without a second thought. Of course, I didn't tell him that.
Today, our home was filled with laughter and warmth, a stark contrast to the chaos we'd faced. The entire team is gathered to celebrate a significant moment—Rita's promotion to captain and the restoration of AMMO.
It felt like a return to normalcy, as if we'd finally come full circle.
Dad walked in, carefully balancing a cake meant for Rita. He placed it on the table with a satisfied grin. I'm standing next to Kelly—though we met just four months ago, we've built a good relationship. I can't say the same about Mister Ego.
She's expertly preparing drinks, and it's clear she's a natural at it, each move precise and effortless. "You could've been a great bartender in another life," I mused, raising my glass to her. "This is amazing."
She winked; her smile playful. "In another life, maybe."
Meanwhile, Dorn was manning the grill, a task he had somehow convinced my dad to let him handle—a feat in itself. Dad always insisted you had to earn the right to grill, but Dorn had managed to break through that stubbornness.
Dad grabbed a beer and called for attention. "Now, it's time to raise our glasses. To our new captain."
Glasses clinked together as we all toasted. "To our new captain."
Dorn cleared his throat, drawing our attention. "Guys, I've got some news for you." We turned to him, curious. "I just started therapy, and my therapist thought it'd be super beneficial if maybe we could hit up a group session together."
An awkward silence followed as we exchanged glances, not wanting to make Dorn feel bad. We all muttered vague agreements, trying to escape the moment.
"Oh, for sure."
"Yeah, I will be there."
"Definitely."
Then, Mike gestured to dad. "Hey, Marcus, let me holler at you for a second." They moved away for a private conversation.
But not before dad gave Dorn a nod. "Let me think about it."
Rita noticed my empty glass and quickly handed me another. "So," she began, draping an arm over my shoulder. "How's work?"
