"I was thirteen, new to being a mother," I start as I hug myself as a bit of comfort but not enough to console me. "You and the others already know that I'm an orphan, and I told you about my parents. After I left the foster home where I met Effie, a couple adopted me. The excitement of having a family made me wish it was all a dream, but it was a stand and delivered. A woman named Eva took me away and had me placed within her community called the Order. In that community, it's more of a religious faction; you had to follow the rules to live a better life. Living in a big community wasn't so bad, and Eva was kind to me, but I found out the dark secrets later. Eva is no ordinary woman; the people who follow her think she's a saint, and they think she can save the world from chaos if that ever happens. But she is no saint." I turn away from him, look at the moon, and continue my story."Eva kidnaps children from those who she finds have no place in this world. She uses her soft and cunn

I sharply inhale before I calm myself. "What's your name?" The girl weakly lifts her head, and her eyes shoot up, petrified. She lowers her head to avoid eye contact. "The Captain asked you a question, traitor." Gunnar snarled as he was about to hit her, but Kendall stopped him, increasing his anger. The Order girl trembled on the floor as she let out a panicked breath. "A...April H-Hines." "Well, April, I wanted to ask about your relationship with Myles, but you and I know what you did." April swallowed hard as she kept her head down to the floor. "Myles is like a younger brother to me," I began. "He was my second in command and always wanted to be the best. He worked hard to get where he was. Like everyone in the agency, we all had shitty lives. I guess Myles told you how his dad left and his drug-addict mother would beat the crap out of him. He was brought up with no love from his parents. After joining the Daggers, he strived to survive this cruel world and vowed to save kids

I went upstairs and stopped to hear voices coming from the room. There was a crack as I pushed it open to find Persephone reading to the little ones. She has little Sophia on her lap while James and Ramsey are on their baby rocker. Leo and Chris quietly play on their Nintendo Switch with headphones on, sitting on bean bags. "Poppy." My daughter looks up as her hazel eyes sparkle. "Mommy, look, I'm teaching Sophia and the boys words. Though the boys are still young, Sophia told me her first word." Feeling proud in her eyes, I crouched down and sat on my legs. I reach and brush her hair. "You must be an excellent teacher." "I could be a teacher," she giggles. I cannot help but smile at how bright and kind my daughter is. Since she learned the truth about me and her birth, I still feel the guilt gnawing inside. Persephone would have been better off with a family who would love her as much as I did, but she chose to accept me. It's a good thing she didn't witness what had happened do

It's been a while since I've visited Odin's office. After another hot, passionate kiss with Seth, I'm getting lazy and not coming here. Even Seth wouldn't let me go and began to whine like a child. I couldn't help but get mad at him because his expression was too adorable. But I'm obligated to finish the mission. I straighten my suit jacket, brush my hair back, and let out a heavy sigh.I softly knock on the wooden polished door with my knuckles. "Come in," his deep voice seems demanding yet overpowering.I open the door and step inside, walking towards his desk slowly as I look around. The office has stayed the same; everything is in place and clean through and through. Odin's office space is more extensive than most because he's the boss. It's a vast space with window walls that curve where you can see most of Los Angeles. On the walls are paintings he had purchased or were gifted to him from friends, but now they are taken down and replaced with pictures of his family, smiling and

"Baby?" Seth calls out; he puts on his million-dollar smile, flashing those perfectly white teeth. "Miss me already?" I chuckle and flirt. Then I shift my eyes at Paola, who doesn't care, then back at him. "Always." "Where are you?" He moves his head around the phone screen, trying to get an angle. "Why do I see blood on the wall and you? Are you okay?" I love how he worries about me even when I'm covered in blood. "I'm in Vegas. And don't worry, it's not mine. But listen, Seth, the story you told me about that woman who tortured you in Japan?" Seth's face went pale, and he got quiet. "Terry, babe, I don't want to think about it. That woman is dead. Please don't bring her up." It breaks my heart to hear his voice sound so painful. I promise I won't have him suffer anymore. "Seth, I understand, but that woman...she's not dead." "What do you mean?" His thick and neat brows furrow in confusion. "I was told she died." "By who?" I ask. "My old boss." "That's a lie." "Baby, I swe