CONSEQUENCES AND COMPLICATIONS
I woke to sunlight burning through my eyelids and the realization that I slept in Luca's room.
Still in my tactical gear. Still wearing the vest that smelled like smoke and cordite and fear. My body aching from adrenaline crash and the weight of carrying violence I never forget.
Luca was gone. The bed beside me cold. For a moment, panic seized my chest..
"He's with Maria," Ghost's voice from the doorway. "Making breakfast. Kid's fine. You, on the other hand, look like hell."
"Feel like it too." I sat up slowly. Everything hurt. "What time is it?"
"Ten-thirty. You've been out for four hours. Boss said to let you sleep." He handed me a bottle of water. "Drink. Dehydration makes the crash worse."
I drank. The water tasting like metal and exhaustion. "Dant
