She then took another quick look back at the three in front, clearly listening intently to something over their earpieces but didn’t react much beyond looking ahead as if trying to act casual.

Then began a quiet flurry of lines between two of them that were at such a pace and of such a dialect that she couldn’t make one word from another. It was almost as if it weren’t Spanish, and then it hit her. This was like what I heard over their radio the other morning!

And as two of them started looking over their left shoulder, Sam, Sebastian, and Dani’s also followed along as they saw a pair of what seemed to be construction workers suddenly stopping in their tracks. More indistinguishable words continued to flow by as the two distant workers both set their tool bags down by the traffic light pole they stood next to. The two then looked at one another before slowly looking back up at the light behind them as they reached for the bags they set down.

Sebastian must have felt the need to instinctively pull Sam in tightly and uncomfortably as she had to stop herself from shouting out in surprise, but it wasn’t in vain as a loud pair of cracking sounds and two fountains of gravel and dust flew up from behind both of them. That next instant, the same two of the group leading them hurried off in a dash towards the two that had now fallen over their bags while one remained.

[Stay with them!] The leading man shouted as the third who remained turned to speak.

Sam could only stand there, mesmerized by the mixed waves of shock, panic, fear, and confusion blocked out her ability to determine the conversation Sebastian and Dani were now taking part in while noting the steady influx of screams and shouts from the surrounding public.

Those sounds… Shit! Did someone just get shot!?

The arm still holding Sam close kept the worst of her fears at bay while she began to make sense of what she could as she looked around, not paying attention to a conversation she couldn’t understand anyway. If they had us pause here, it must have been to better track who was moving in on us. She then looked over at the two supposed construction workers’ bodies, now stood over by the two who ran off, searching the bodies while passersby began to gather around, mobiles out and recording.

She then looked back over at the belltower. You mean… they have snipers up there?! They shot those two before they could move in on- damn I hope they hit the right people!

Police sirens interrupted her thoughts as she felt herself now being pulled away and in the opposite direction from the scene. “We are clear, they say,” Sebastian assuaged Sam’s worries as he too occasionally looked back over his shoulder. “They will find out quickly who they are.”

“But wait, where are we going?”

“Another way in,” he continued in the same tone. “Stay quiet. Just walk.”

All Sam could do was walk as guided, stuck between eyes shifting all about as they approached the backside of a large condominium tower and the attempt at piecing together the events that just occurred. And as the uncomfortably silent tour dragged on through back doors, inconspicuously located elevators, and access-restricted underground tunnels, theories began to formulate as she couldn’t help but think to the side: Wow. As corny as it seems, this really makes me feel like this was the reason they call it “the Underground.”

But as more theories ran through her head, only one remained through the steady process of elimination. Her mental state instantly took a turn for the worse, despite how much things had settled down over the past minutes.

Rex!!

Her free hand balled into a tight fist as she bit down. No one else could have sent out a hit on Sebastian and Dani other than him! The dirty motherfucker is trying to cut me slack and not him! But as angry as she now became at the possibility, she knew now how much harder it would be to ever explain things to Sebastian after all.

He felt her begin to quiver, catching more of his concern as they awaited one last restricted-access door to open at the end of a long, poorly-lit tunnel. “Sam, ‘you okay?” he whispered.

“No, I’m not,” she weakly replied under her breath, unable to cover her thoughts completely but still in hopes he would let things slide for now.

“Adelante,” Sam heard someone in front speak up, catching her attention.

Wait, I recognize this place. As they were led only steps around the corner, she saw the same lift she frequented since arriving. “Hey, this is what I take to get to the LTAC holding area every day.”

More words began flying between the one who led them there and a few who joined up before loading up on the lift, triggering Sam to look up to Sebastian for a hint.

Sebastian listened for a moment before leaning towards Sam to whisper: “There’s a meeting. Emergency meeting. We are all going.”

Sam felt relief that more time was bought for her to determine the best way to break everything to him, but her stomach remained in a knot as there would be no way in her mind Sebastian would forgive her for cutting such a deal with someone still intent on killing him.

And after being seated around a circular table in what looked like a meeting room of sorts, the ones that filled up half the table viewed Sam’s clutching onto Sebastian as nothing more than a sign of having missed him. But even Sebastian knew something else had her in a mess.

After hushed exchanges between him and Dani, he turned to Sam to speak as they continued to wait on others to join, offering a comforting smile. “It’s all okay, Sam, we’re all here and safe. Dani and I were never in any actual danger as you saw.”

Dani caught onto the topic as she chimed in with a smile of her own: [It’s cute seeing someone care that much about you, brother. Yep, you’d better stay alive for her.]

And they both were right in her mind, to a degree. She harbored a newfound hatred for Rex as the assumed intent on still having him killed incensed her to a level she hadn’t yet experienced, and of course the thought of him not arriving alive did cross her mind over the past few minutes more than she wanted it to. Even his surgery recovery came up once or twice, aware it had gone without a hitch but knew he wasn’t one hundred percent. But it was all still contemplating the way she could deliver her confession that continued to eat her alive.

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[Yo, Bas! Dani!] Renzo’s voice called out from the entry as he rushed over to his siblings, catching all three’s attention. [I just heard what happened!]

[I think that’s why we are here all gathered like this with no chance to even catch our breath,] Sebastian replied as he looked over to the doorway to see more file in along with Kaylen. [Here, take a seat,] he motioned toward the empty spot next to Dani.

[Alright, quiet everyone,] a man who walked in last behind Kaylen spoke with a hand up as the room quickly fell silent. The door closed and another member began passing around blank notepads and pens. [Encryption wall is up, but keep your devices off. Enrai has some words for us,] the older figure in his forties continued as he took his seat as well just across the table from Sam and Sebastian. He then reached across the table to a small control panel as he entered a few short commands.

Sam still wanted to die right then and there from the weight of her decisions, but something in the air gave her hope that she would receive some assistance, albeit indirectly and only by circumstance. She took in a slow, deep breath and sat up straight, noticing Sebastian’s arm leaving her side as he too leaned forward intently.

[Recent direct communications with a Hexa upper official has us in a better situation than previously expected,] the digitally altered voice with a higher pitch than usual suddenly filled the void. The voice wasn’t spine-chilling like before, and everyone’s mood was surprisingly casual although with mixed-in exhaustion and anticipation.

This must be the voice of Enrai…

“Hey, you,” whispered the member earlier who passed out the notepads as he stood behind Sam. “It’s okay to use the phone while the door is closed.”

“Oh, thanks!” she whispered back with relief she could at least listen in, both for what was going on as well as for anything useful for her situation. She wasted no time powering her mobile back on and opening the translator, hoping she didn’t miss too much.

[-Which begins this Saturday as you all know. And despite our preparations to move, we can’t risk a fallout with the public. This is why we will downsize our initial infiltration team and focus on what assistance Hexa will provide us.]

Hexa? Is Mr. Vrey giving into the Underground so easily? Or is it someone else? Because I remember hearing how close he was to not letting Enrai take us in for shelter.

[And fear not, this is not a move taken by Vrey. It should be worth noting that we connected with Rafael Lucian, stepping in for logistics while they seek a fill-in for Knight’s vacated seat. He is the one speaking, but his source is tied to Knight himself.]

[Good,] Kaylen huffed. [The last thing we need is more of what we’d owe Vrey after this is over.]

[Emilia,] Enrai continued. [I will agree to allow your plan to remain the focus here, although I must relegate command to Eryx once everyone is in position. I cannot allow you to be exposed unless we have no choice, assuming you are still unable to connect to Reign just yet.]

[Understood, and yes, sir, I have a backup frame in case of emergency,] Kaylen nodded with a huff of hesitation, then looked to the man she walked in with that had hushed the room earlier to kick off the meeting. [Eryx, I take it you’re fine with newcomers on our hands?]

He turned and shrugged his shoulders, raising a brow. [You talking about Ernesto? You worry about Ella, Eunice, and Enzo, and let me worry about my one man.]

All that while, the names already had Sam and the Navarre’s exchanging confused glares as Dani couldn’t help but whisper: [What’s with all these crazy nicknames starting with E? Who is who?]

Renzo whispered back, trying to avoid eye contact with Kaylen as she continued sharing her details. [Well, I’m clearly Enzo- it sounds like me. I learned that Cruella is Ella, but who are the others? Did they randomly assign you names, too?]

“Excuse me!” Kaylen angrily shot at Renzo out through her teeth, motioning for him to shut up as he rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair quietly. [Apologies, Enrai.] She then straightened up and flipped a page on her clipboard. [The only intel I managed to collect on those stolen Ap50’s is that they are definitely headed down FC east-bound on a heavy cargo train marked for parts. That means the entire lot, not a portion, should be our main threat of concern.]

[As goes our prediction.]

Although with much guilt, Sam began ease up, feeling like everything might just work out, seeing that Enrai looked to have things already decided beforehand, calculating how much to omit. It was too tempting to think how perhaps Sebastian would see everything spoken as Enrai’s call to make, not anyone else’s.

[This attempt to seize the Capital must be stopped at all costs. We cannot afford to wait two hours and fifty minutes for an SAU response that should total up to that many LTACs in their possession. Eryx, you will receive your specific instructions. Emilia, you as well. Move the moment Rex’s liaison reaches out to any of you.]

Sam winced the instant she heard his name, looking to judge Sebastian’s reaction. And of course it was sour and with thorough disbelief, almost as if he felt he was hearing things. Shit… ugh…

[And from that instant any of you meet, cut all communications from our central hub, is that clear?]

[Well, excuse me, Mr. Enrai, sir, but…] Sebastian spoke up as he leaned forward, tensing up.

[Yes, Hexa recruit, Elijah. You may speak.]

Sebastian jumped slightly in reaction to both his unexpected codename and the fact Enrai knew who was speaking after never having heard his voice before.

Sam, too, wasn’t expecting it. Damn! How the hell do they take in everything and everyone so quick!?

Sebastian took in a deep breath, straightening out what he wanted to say once more. [To be frank, first of all, I don’t remember signing up for anything other than agreeing through Hexa to stay under Mrs. Rodgers’ protection for the time being. What is this Rex business you speak of in the Capital?] A collective, silent gasp was drawn simultaneously from Sam and his siblings, but Kaylen surprisingly remained unfazed. It was almost as if this kind of disagreement was commonplace. [I believe I have a right to know before I continue this commitment I’ve been left with not much choice but to make.]

Sebastian really is different when he’s in his element. I forget this is how he was before we started dating and he found himself in other countries…

[Fair. I will allow your upcoming partner, Ernesto, to fill you in on every key detail you wish, but to at least give you a proper response, Rex was always one we never got along with yet he holds the key to what you and I both seek. That’s the elimination of Reaper from the picture, and so far only Rex has been able to provide us with specific whereabouts and we will soon receive the when. Does this help resolve your doubts, Elijah?]

Sebastian cocked his head, unsure where to look as he continued to speak, but nevertheless kept up his resolve. [Mr. Enrai, do you know why my brother, my sister, and myself are trying to seek this Reaper character?]

[Revenge. You lost your team to his men; we all know of this.]

[We- well, no. Samantha here and I have seen to the deaths of his two partners in two different countries across the world. We didn’t come this far to be betrayed by the same man who wanted us dead for months on end right here in my backyard. I need some kind of insurance here, if I may request.]

A pause left time for Kaylen to rub her eyes impatiently, seemingly as if she couldn’t believe he wasn’t already on board with the plan. [I will arrange what you seek,] Enrai replied after thinking. Allow me to contact you through one of my messengers later this evening.]

[Yes, sir.]

Phew. Sam eased up even more as she began seeing where Sebastian was headed with his persistence. Maybe I’ve been saved from an unnecessary battle after all. And although the guilt of her weaseling out of full responsibility remained heavy on her stomach, she was still convinced the best result for now would be to avoid any major fallout after coming this far.