Page 54 of Code Name: Grit

“Let them,” I interrupted, earning shocked looks from everyone in the room. “I’m done living in fear.”

Grit touched my arm gently, and I met his concerned gaze. “Let’s discuss this privately,” he suggested.

I nodded curtly and followed him to a small conference room off the main command center. The moment the door closed behind us, I rounded on him.

“Don’t you dare side with them on this.”

He raised his hands. “I’m not taking sides.”

“There are only two positions here—locking me away or letting me do my job.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It is to me.” I paced the length of the room, trying to contain the panic rising in my chest. The thought of returning to that life was unconscionable. “I can’t.”

Grit moved closer, his hands coming to rest on my shoulders. “I understand your fear?—”

“It’s not fear,” I insisted. “It’s refusal. I won’t let them take my life from me again.”

“Listen to me.” His grip tightened slightly. “No one is suggesting you hide forever. Just until we assess the threat level and establish countermeasures.”

“This isn’t negotiable for me,” I said flatly.

Grit looked away, frustration evident in the tense line of his shoulders. He paced to the window, staring out at the lake for several moments before turning back.

“Two days,” he finally said. “We stay here for two days to implement security protocols and gather intelligence. After that, if there’s no direct threat, we return to the field operations with additional safeguards.”

I considered the compromise. The pragmatic part of me recognized it was reasonable, even necessary.

“Fine. Two days,” I agreed.

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “And you follow every security protocol without argument.”

I nodded, relaxing slightly. “Thank you for not shutting me down.”

“I would never.”

The door opened before he could say more, and Dragon entered, her expression tense.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I found something you need to see.”

We followed her back to the main room, where she brought up new intercepts on the main display.

“The Patriarcas have put out specific instructions to their operatives,” she said, highlighting a message. “They want you taken alive. They’re explicitly planning to use you as leverage to force the Belcastros to abandon territories.”

Grit’s expression darkened. “Over my dead body.”

“That’s good news,” I said, earning shocked looks. “If they want me alive, they won’t order a hit.”

Admiral leaned forward, studying the message. “Lumi makes a valid point, albeit a graphic one. Let’s think this over for a minute.”

“What’s even more interesting,” Tank interjected, “is the Belcastros’ response to learning the Patriarcas are looking for you.”

I frowned, something about this nagging at me. “What exactly are the Belcastros doing?”

Dragon pulled up several more intercepted communications. “They’ve mobilized lookouts across the city, but their language is…unusual.”

I studied the messages, noting the specific wording. They weren’t using terms like “target.” Their instructions to their people seemed almost…protective.

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