MAYA'S POV
Maya knows something happened before Cain and Elara tell her.
She can see it in the way they move when they return to the facility—careful, deliberate, like they're both carrying invisible wounds. In the blood still visible under Cain's fingernails despite obvious attempts to wash it away. In the hollow look in Elara's eyes that says she's seen something she can't unsee.
"It's done," is all Cain says when Marcus asks for a report. "Alexei's dead. The bounty dies with him."
Marcus nods, relief visible on his face. "Casualties?"
"Thirty-eight confirmed on their side. Zero on ours." Cain's voice is flat, emotionless. The voice Maya's learned means he's feeling too much and shutting it all down. "We need to coordinate cleanup, ensure there's no blowback."
"Already on it. FBI's
