Beyond the mission

ugh the room. "You do nothing for this family, just lounging around, dr

caught up in his beer to noti

atmosphere. Anger and desperation swirled inside him. "I've had enough!" he burs

om barely registered his departure, too engrossed in her argument.

ing, he sank into the shade of a tall tree, finally letting himself

you doing all alone in a place like thi

to toe, unfazed. "I don't see h

nted at danger. "Feisty. I like t

re you a cop? Did my mom send you? If so,

ur mom. Or the police." She leaned in slightly. "Let's

and next you'll tell me

at. But I'm serious. Come with me, and I'll show you. I can turn yo

e the beginning of every bad decision in a horror movie. You rea

arms. "I'm yo

"Alright, have it your way. I'm out. J

a flicker of doubt creeping in. 'What if this was the one c

ai

ancing back ov

I want to believe you. I really do. You swear you'l

ading across her face. "Kid, I don't say th

ter, he was riding beside the strange woman in a sleek

y fading behind them. Jason glanced out the window, his

got a name? Or do I just keep call

m the road. "You can call me Raven.

e someone who's into se

"Only one of t

gh-tech. Way too advanced for a regul

rts," she said. "Where people like y

it sound like I'm joining a s

deal with is real-messy, dangerous, and nothing like the movies. B

f his decision settling in. Whatever was ah

face. Beneath the polished offices and high-tech gear lay something far more dangerous: a covert organization

was brutal: D-rank at the bottom-rookies barely trusted with a blade. Then C, B, and A-the rising predators. S-rank was elite, deadly and refined. But SS-rank? Tha