"...Something about that girl just doesn't sit right with me," Mia murmured, shifting her legs.
Joy, who had been admiring some flowers, turned to face the others sitting together on the garden floor.
"Really? You're just noticing? Aside from being a massive bitch, I don't believe that pregnancy story one bit," Joy said, shaking her head.
Cady nodded. "Exactly! Can you believe she was drinking wine and still claiming to be pregnant? I'm not buying it."
"Yesss," the rest of the girls chimed in with nods.
"Yeah, I thought I was the only one who noticed that," Mia added. "She asked me to get her wine. And aside from wanting to smash that bottle against her head, I was shocked. Like, how do you call yourself pregnant and then down almost half a bottle?"
They all nodded again.
Cady bit her lip. "I think I need to talk to Knight."
Mia sighed. "Knight's not available right now."
Cady frowned. "What do you mean? He didn't leave the house, did he?"
Joy turned around. "What Mia's trying to say is—it's Kieran that's here, not Knight."
Cady rolled her eyes. "Girl, they're the same person."
Mia and Joy both shook their heads. "Nah. Not right now. Didn't you see how Kieran caught Amelia before she fell? Knight would've let her drop dead. Kieran's acting like a total simp."
Cady scoffed. "He's not being a simp. Why would he let Amelia hit her head on the glass? Though… I would've enjoyed it. I still don't trust that girl's pregnancy story."
Mia shook her head. "Kieran's messed up right now. He needs to let Knight take over and clean up this mess. He hasn't done anything about Genesis's family. Or Takeshi. And I know Amelia isn't working alone."
"Facts," Joy added. "But why are we sitting here doing nothing? Knight didn't bring us here just to act like maids. I'm itching for some blood and action."
"Me…" Mia started to speak, but stopped as Katherine came running toward them.
Everyone turned.
"Guys! You need to hear this!" she gasped, coming to a stop beside them.
Cady groaned. "What now, Kat?"
Katherine dropped to the ground. "Zarina just wrapped up her latest mission!"
Their eyes widened. They all leaned in closer.
"Wait, is she back at the academy?" Cady asked quickly.
Katherine shook her head. "Nope. And here's the juicy part—after four months undercover, Knight already gave her another mission."
A silence fell over the group.
Joy finally spoke. "That's not fair. She gets all the field work while we're stuck playing maids and babysitting a spoiled brat?"
Cady raised a brow. "That's what you care about?"
Before she could say more, Mia cut in. "Be grateful for this break. Yeah, I miss fieldwork too, but Zarina had to act like some lover for some crusty old coot. I've had my fair share of withered flesh pawing at me—and that was just a one-month mission."
Cady's jaw tightened. "You do know we don't have to sleep with the targets, right? So I'm sure she didn't."
They all stared at her like she'd grown a second head.
Joy broke the silence. "No one's judging, babe. We've all had to do wild stuff on missions. Remember when I had to infiltrate San Loches Asylum."
They all nodded, and Joy visibly shivered.
"Yeah," she said. "I had to act completely unhinged—and even slept with the warden just to get near the target."
Cady sighed. "Still… Zarina just got back. Can't she catch a break?"
The girls giggled.
"Aww, someone misses their wife."
"Of course I do." Cady admitted.
Then She straightened. "Never mind that—do you know where this new mission is? And who it involves?"
Katherine grinned. "Oh, I do. And you're gonna love it."
Meanwhile…
Mark strolled through the casino like a cat that didn't care what burned.
He wasn't in a hurry, never was. A cigarette hung lazily between his lips, smoke curling around his face. His hands were deep in his pockets, shirt half-buttoned like he couldn't be bothered. That usual blend of boredom and smugness clung to his face.
Laughter bubbled from a nearby table.
"Hit me again and I swear, Joey, if I bust—"
"You'll bust like your marriage. Shut up and take the card."
Chips clacked. Someone groaned.
Mark didn't even glance their way.
"Ey, I told you black was gonna hit—ow, you owe me five hundred and a drink!"
"Not my fault your gut's got bad signal."
He exhaled slow, passing a drunk guy who slurred, "Hey, man, you got a light?"
Mark didn't stop. Just tilted his cigarette toward him with a lazy smirk. "Already lit, champ. Try again next time."
More laughter behind him. He moved past the poker tables, fingers trailing across the padded edge, not really looking at anyone. Just watching. Judging.
Another conversation floated by.
"Three kings and you folded? Are you brain-dead or just blind?"
Mark chuckled under his breath. "Some people shouldn't be allowed near cards."
He flicked ash onto the floor and kept walking.
A security guy nodded at him. Mark ignored it. He didn't return nods. Nods were effort.
Then he stopped.
Just for a second.
The doors had opened again. The lights didn't flicker, but something in his chest did. He didn't know why he noticed, he just did.
A figure slipped in. Hoodie drawn. Head low. Slim frame.
Wrong place, wrong posture.
Wrong vibe.
He narrowed his eyes, cigarette pausing at his lips.
The figure took one step inside, then turned like they were about to leave.
Mark moved.
Not fast, but direct.
He caught up in five lazy steps and grabbed the back of the hoodie without warning. "Oi, what the hell are you.."
He yanked the hood back and spun the figure around, words spilling like smoke.
"Nah-uh, not tonight, sweetheart. You don't just walk in here like…"
Then he saw her face.
His grip loosened.
It was her.
The girl from yesterday.
The one whose face had been stuck in his head like a bad habit. Like a song with no lyrics.
Her eyes went wide.
"S-Sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me, I'm not here to…"
Mark blinked.
Then said, slower this time, "No, no. I'm not gonna hurt you."
She looked unsure. "You're… not?"
He tilted his head, smoke drifting between them. "Nope."
They just stood there for a moment, casino noise dimming like the world had stop.
Then he spoke again.
"What's your name?"
She hesitated, eyes darting to the exit, to him, then down.
"…I'm Zarina."