Stuck with the enemy

Chapter 42: Building A Team

The next morning, I wake up before the alarm rings, which is both annoying and suspicious. I stretch lazily, feeling a burst of energy. The pale light of dawn spills through the blinds, casting soft shadows across the room. The house is still quiet, except for the rhythmic sound of Aras's footsteps in the hallway. I know he's awake, because the man doesn't sleep. Ever.

I glance over at my desk where the team list sits—completely untouched. Great. I have to make some decisions today, I think to myself. But where do I even begin?
"Do you think we'll make it, Derya?" I mumble to myself as I pull on my hoodie, not entirely expecting an answer. But Derya's calm voice fills my head anyway. "You will. You always do."

I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the nervous energy buzzing inside me, and make my way to the living room.

Aras is lounging near the couch, folding up the blankets he had been using like some kind of human laundry machine. I swear, that guy could make an art out of folding sheets. He looks up as I walk in.

"Morning," he says, his lips curving into a half-smile, though there's a tiredness in his eyes.

"Good morning," I reply, sitting down on the couch.

Jacob enters shortly after, a cheerful grin on his face as he balances two mugs of coffee. He grins like a kid on Christmas morning. "One for you, and one for me!" He's practically bouncing on his toes as he hands me a cup.

Aras squints at us, his gaze narrowing in on the coffee mugs. "Where is my coffee?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

Jacob smirks. "Well, if I see more energy from you today, Aras, maybe you'll get one." Jacob teases. "Hey," Jacob continues, winking, "if we're going into the patrol, we need some proper motivation. I'm talking about top-tier training, cool gear, and—dare I say it—showing off to everyone that we, the Browns and the Smith, are the best."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "You've lost it, Jacob. We're not going to show off. In fact, we need to keep a low profile. Don't draw attention to ourselves. We're infiltrating, gathering intel, and then we're out. Let the other kids do the boasting." I take a sip of my coffee, feeling the warmth seep into me.

Aras, now standing behind the couch with his arms crossed, eyes me skeptically. "Have you thought about the list of names yet?"

I sigh and set my coffee down, staring at the wall."You two...and,...that's it." I shake my head in mock disappointment. "Honestly, there are so many good people, I could take everyone if I had the chance. But I can't."

Jacob enters the kitchen, but his voice carries back to us. "Callum's a must. It's been his dream. He talks about it all the time."

"And Kai?" Aras asks, raising an eyebrow, "He's solid. Miriam would be good, too. What about her?"

Jacob comes back into the room with another coffee, handing it to Aras. "Little Jane is also a great choice. That energy of hers? I've never seen anything like it, a total powerhouse. You remember when she took down those guys for messing with Mike? Total legend."

We all laugh, the mood lifting a little as we recall her no-nonsense attitude. She was a force to be reckoned with, and we all respected that.

"I'll put them on the list," I say, nodding. "And see if you can figure out how to recruit a few more."

"Will do," Aras replies. "Now, go—don't waste time."

Later, at the café during the lunch break

I slump into the chair beside Alya, feeling like I've just run a marathon in my head.

"Ugh, I'm dead," I groan, slouching down into the cushion. I take a long sip of my coffee, which is more like fuel at this point.

Alya, who's sipping her cappuccino, glances at me sympathetically. "Busy day, huh?" She leans in, setting her mug down. "What about the other stuff? Got a list of names yet? Who are you taking with you?"