Kai woke up staring at a concrete ceiling that looked like it had survived a minor war. A single fan spun above him with a groan that made the entire room vibrate. He blinked a few more times until he remembered where he was. The safehouse. Someone’s forgotten warehouse in To Kwa Wan that felt one good storm away from collapsing.

  His body complained the moment he tried to sit up. Every bruise made itself known. His ribs felt swollen. His neck still ached from where the target’s bodyguard had grabbed him. He muttered something he hoped sounded like a curse and not a wounded animal.

  Lian stood across the room loading magazines. She did it silently. Efficient. Like she was sorting receipts instead of bullets. She still wore the same black shirt from the night before, though he could tell she had cleaned the blood off at some point. Her hair was tied back and her attention was fixed on her work.

  Kai rubbed his face. “Morning.”

  “You slept through the morning,” she said without looking up. “It is two in the afternoon.”

  “That is still morning somewhere.”

  “I do not operate somewhere.”

  She handed him a cup of warm water. Not tea. Not coffee. Just water because she did not trust safehouse appliances. He took it and sipped it carefully.

  “So,” Kai said, stretching his sore arm, “last night went well.”

  She finally glanced at him. “That is an interesting interpretation.”

  “We got the kids out. We stopped the shipment. The wrong people died anyway, so in the grand scheme of things that is a win.”

  “You almost got your throat crushed.”

  “Almost is better than yes.”

  Lian exhaled through her nose in a way that told him she had worried. She would never say it out loud, but he could read her moods like a language. She did not like how close it had been. She did not like that he stepped in front of the target’s man without thinking. She did not like the tremor in his hands afterward that he tried to hide.

  He leaned back against the wall. “You are staring.”

  “I am thinking.”

  “About?”

  “You killed someone for the first time without hesitation.”

  Kai swallowed. The inside of his mouth felt dry. He knew she was right, but he did not want to talk about it. It was easier to pretend it had not messed with him. Easier to blame adrenaline or instinct or the fact that the man had been hurting children. He did not feel regret, and that bothered him more than the killing itself.

  “He was hurting kids,” Kai said softly. “I did what needed to be done.”

  “That is true,” Lian said, “but it does not mean it should be easy.”

  There was no lecture in her voice. No judgement. Just a plain statement. He appreciated that more than she realized.

  He set the empty cup aside and pushed himself to his feet. The safehouse wobbled with him. “I need food.”

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  “We have instant noodles.”

  “Perfect. I can drown my trauma in sodium.”

  She rolled her eyes and went to prepare them. Kai followed, taking slow steps. His legs felt stiff, but he was steady. He watched her pour hot water over the noodles in two cups they had bought from a convenience store at four in the morning. She handed him one and took the other for herself.

  They sat at the end of a wooden crate. The air smelled faintly of metal and dust. Kai slurped loudly on purpose and earned a small look from her.

  “What?” he asked with his mouth full.

  “You eat like you have never had food before.”

  “Near death experiences make everything taste better.”

  They sat in silence for a bit. Lian was the quiet one by nature, but today her stillness felt heavier. He could tell she was replaying the mission in her head. She always did. She always searched for the mistake that could have gotten them killed. Kai hated that part of her routine, but he knew it was the only reason they were still alive.

  He finished eating and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You know,” he said, “I am fine.”

  “I know,” she said. “I also know you think being fine means ignoring what happened.”

  “I am not ignoring. I am processing. Very slowly. Like an old computer.”

  She let out a breath that bordered on a laugh. “You are ridiculous.”

  “Thank you.”

  He leaned back and let his head rest against the crate. “Do we have another mission lined up?”

  “Not yet,” Lian said. “But Mei is on her way with more intel.”

  “Here?”

  “Yes.”

  Kai straightened. “She hates this place.”

  “She hates all safehouses,” Lian corrected. “She is still coming.”

  As if summoned by the mention of her name, the metal door rattled. Lian drew her pistol and moved silently, checking the slit in the door. She relaxed a fraction and opened it.

  Mei stepped inside with the energy of someone who had been awake far too long. She tossed her backpack onto the ground and brushed her hair away from her face. “Your place smells like rust and regret,” she said.

  Kai raised a hand. “Good to see you too.”

  Mei handed Lian a sealed envelope. “This just came through my channel. It is tied to the same network from last night.”

  Lian took it and opened it without sitting down. She scanned the papers inside. Her expression barely changed, but Kai noticed her shoulders shift.

  “What is it?” Kai asked.

  “Coordinates,” she replied. “Another warehouse. Different district.”

  “More kids?”

  “No. Adults.”

  Kai frowned. “What are they doing?”

  “Being trafficked.” Mei sat on an empty plastic container. “This ring is bigger than we thought. The man Kai killed was not even a lieutenant. He was a disposable guard.”

  Kai rubbed his temples. “So we are not done.”

  “No,” Lian said. “We are not.”

  Mei looked between the two of them. “You can take a day if you need it. I do not think the next shipment leaves until tomorrow night.”

  Lian shook her head. “We go tonight.”

  Kai blinked. “We do?”

  “You are injured,” Mei reminded him.

  “He is functional,” Lian said. Her voice was calm but firm.

  Kai shrugged. “I can move. I can shoot. I can hack a few things if needed. So yes. I am in.”

  Mei sighed. “You two are exhausting.”

  Kai grinned. “We try.”

  Lian folded the papers and tucked them into her pocket. “We leave at sunset.”

  Mei raised a brow. “No time to plan?”

  “We plan on the way. It is not the first time.”

  Kai stretched his arms, wincing at the painful pop in his shoulder. “I just woke up and I am already going back out. This lifestyle is not sustainable.”

  Lian gave him a look. “You love it.”

  He smiled. “I love parts of it.”

  Mei stood and grabbed her bag. “I will get the vehicle ready. Do not make me wait.”

  She left as quickly as she had arrived.

  Once the door shut, Kai faced his sister again. “You really think I am fine enough for this?”

  “You always rise when it matters,” Lian said. “And we do not leave work unfinished.”

  Kai nodded slowly. “Then let us get it done.”