“He’ll find us,” I said softly.

“…I don’t care. I don’t want you to leave!”

“I don’t want to leave either, but I have to do this.”

“No, you don’t!”

“Yes I do…he’ll threaten the both of you, and after what you’ve been through, I will NOT put you through that again.”

“What’s stopping him from doing it Kaiden for christ’s sake! He re-grew my finger without much thought. Do you know the approval process for regrowth treatment?”

“No. I don’t know.” I admitted, lying through my teeth.

“Three years Kaiden…and he got me a new finger in an hour!”

Shin-Lee buried her head into my chest and began to sob. I fought with every fibre within my body to hold back my tears. She didn’t need that, she needed reassurance. I knew that, so I did what she needed whilst she cried.

One of the two times I saw Shin-Lee shed tears, was when her friend died during a mortar attack in one of the southern cities, where she originated from.

The second time was when we discovered Hannah had Mienyelfribosis, something she blames herself for, as the disease originated from Latrina.

The fact Mr Black displayed his power in front of Shin-Lee, having her finger regrown was concerning. I even admitted to myself that having her finger regrown was something I could accomplish without hitting up my old contacts back at Dawn Light, the Black Op Division I worked for after I received my cybernetic enhancements.

It also didn’t help when the bastard outfitted Jix with new legs and, and never bothered with having the cybernetic replacements. Now that, truly made me scared, because Jix wanted nothing to do with cybernetics.

The night of Stetson Vizare’s death when I asked the assassins about Mr Black. They both feigned ignorance. The way they looked at each other, seemed genuine, but no doubt they had training for that. I’d put the Artificial Death case behind me, but I still didn’t like the outcome.

They were far too many unanswered questions. A question I pushed from my mind, not allowing myself to get wrapped up in the tug of war of wits, trying to understand the machinations of the Federation.

The Artificial Death case was always at the back of my mind, the way everything played out, it felt as though I was pushed into the case, to ensure the report was written in that way…but was Mr Black involved? I didn’t what to think, to be honest, but I know one thing.

I was in a tight place, and there was no way in hell I was leaving my family exposed, not after what we’ve been through.

“The operation shouldn’t last a few months. We have a deadline of two months at most. I know your concerns, Shin.”

“He sees Hannah and me as leverage over you Kaiden!”

“I know, I don’t trust him with a spoon, but this is the best scenario we have right now.”

“Kaiden…”

“I know Shin-Lee, but I have to do his job. If I don’t do this jo—“

“What about the next job he wants you to do!”

“Th—“

“And the job after that!”

“I’m not a fool Kaiden, these men will always want something!”

I grit my teeth in frustration and swallowed deeply. Shin-Lee was right, she always was, but to hear her say what had been on her mind truly pained me.

“I’ll fix this,” I said.

“How?”

I curled my lips into my smile and kissed her on the forehead. “Trust me, I can fix this.” I lied, not knowing how I would.

Shin-Lee buried her head into my chest and shook her head. “You said the same thing when you suggested we leave Latrina!”

A boulder slammed into my shoulders, making my heart beat whilst it sunk into my stomach. “You’re right,” I said. “I swear, I’ll fix this, but I need you to be wary of his men.”

“I am Kaiden, I saw three at the amusement park.”

“There were eight men, but seeing three is good. You’re improving.”

“Not by choice Kaiden.”

“I know, but I’m satisfied with it.”

I felt Shin-Lee nodding in my chest. I kissed her on her forehead again, and then she rolled over, staring at the ceiling, trying her best to calm herself.

The both of us lay in bed motionless for an hour as I held her, comforting her whilst we listened to the silence that roamed around the room and outside.

Unlike Bridge City, Castrian never had lights blinking every second of the day. It also meant that I didn’t need a modified tint for his window.

Instead, my family and I would look through the window and enjoy the serenity of our new home.

The skyline in the distance looked as though it had been painted, digitally and not like the classics I’d seen in the Broken Sphere.

I couldn’t say I was mesmerised by the paintings within the auction house, but the onesers certainly did enjoy them. upon sight. As they lived in a different world, I thought bitterly.

Shin-Lee finally fell asleep in my arms. As uncomfortable as I was, I didn’t want to move because I knew that this is what I signed up for and this is what I cared for.

“Daddy,” Hannah said softly, drawing my eyes to her. My heart skipped five beats in an instant as I lay there, holding her mother whilst she rubbed her eyes as she looked at me.

“Yes, baby?” I answered.

“Can I sleep with you and mommy?”

“Of course, baby, hop on up,” I said with a smile. I turned to the right, reaching over Shin-Lee and hit the panel attached to the bed.

The flap on the right side of the bed opened up and the sound of the panel extending began to moan out like a zooming sound.

A soft hiss whistled from the bed head which was followed by expanding foam which stretched out to the end of the bed.

I wiggled myself free from Shin-Lee, pushing myself up, and spreading a sheet under the new extended section of the bed.

Hannah hopped up and separated Shin-Lee and, as she made herself comfortable between us, put her feet on my thigh and she held onto her mother’s arm as if it were the new stuffed animal we bought for her.

As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, the love I felt for the two most important people in my life know no bounds, so I did what I could and enjoyed the simple moment in time, just to love them for who they were and what they meant to me.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Shin-Lee and I shouted as the glass from the kitchen counter retracted, showing the cake in its full glory.

My lips curled into a smile, watching as my daughter's eyes lit up in excitement seeing the cake appear in front of her.

Hannah charged toward Shin-Lee hugging her tightly, she crept up her waist and then onto her chest making sure that her mother understood how she felt.

I was a little jealous watching Hannah’s glee. As many stuffed toys I’d bought for her the past few weeks, I didn’t get that response once. I tried not to allow my mind to wallow in it much, but if I were being honest with myself. It did sting.

Instead, I reminded myself that after this bullshit job from Mr Black. I would have to find a way to ensure I stayed out of danger, for the long haul.

Hannah leapt from her mother’s arm, and then hugged me, jumping on my feet as she did so. I winced from the pain, then scooped her up, placing her right next to her cake, watching as her eyes gaped looking at the sight.

“You’re ready to eat a slice?” I asked.

“Yes!”

Shin-Lee smiled, walking on over to the sink, picking up a knife from the knife set and a ceramic plate. She brought them over whilst I kept Hannah from pulling them apart with her own hands.

Hannah took the plate from her mother and began wolfing the chocolate cake down, leaving crumbs and icing across her lips, making me laugh.

I whipped the crumbs and icing off from her face, watching as she continued eating her cake, noticing the energy provided by the sugar form within her eyes as she began to smile with chocolate-covered teeth.

The three of us sat together, enjoying our own slice of cake and smiling as though nothing was wrong.

If only that wasn’t the case I thought, bitterly whilst I enjoyed every moment I had with my family. The bitter-sweet moments of the day passed us by, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Hannah played her monster game whilst stealing another slice of her cake. Shin-Lee and I ignored the theft. After all, her birthday was yesterday and she needed to feel like a princess.

My eyes trailed to Shin-Lee, which made me smile unconsciously. “What?” She said, face turning red from blushing. “Everything,” I answered.

“What is everything Kaiden?”

“You’ve given me everything,” I whispered, stroking her cheek, feeling the coldness of her body. “You’ve given me a daughter, a reason to live and a reason to love. I love you.” I said.

Shin-Lee’s face went from pink to red in an instant, as she blushed from my words. In all honesty, I said those words whenever I could, because that’s how I felt about her.

My life as an Infiltration Specialist Operator was simple. The next mission, and the one after that. It’s funny how that worked out, with the successful completion of Hortort Calisum’s assassination.

The assassination mission to kill the Latrina Empire Emperor was meant to be my last, as in, it was a suicide mission I’d volunteered for.

If I failed a Third Continent War would’ve erupted throughout the Hemisphere, a war which we couldn’t afford, especially our very limited resources.

The Old Emperor got it in his head that the Myelofribosis disease was orchestrated by The Antillean Federation. Of course, that riled his people up and made them speak of war.

The armistice between The Doasa Nation, Antillean Federation and the Latrina Empire had been agreed upon as all three nations realised that war with each other wasn’t helping.

I had read everything I could regarding the armistice, and the three nations, separately and based on what I’d found, either nation could’ve continued this war easily…if resources weren’t dwindling, hence why the cease-fire was brought into place.

That all changed when Hortort Calisum rose to power, as he was never a fan of the armistice that had been cemented just fifty years ago.

He believed the Myelofribosis was created to weaken Latrina Empire, which would’ve allowed the Antillean Federation supremacy.

Of course, he didn’t have merit, but he had the bodies to go to war. When he almost killed Colonel Levisay, that was when I was brought in to assassinate him.

I knew what my mission was, and did it, as best as I could. In that process, I met Shin-Lee, the only woman I cared for, something I didn’t understand or know, till I met her.

She and Hannah are my everything me, and I swear, that after this bullshit with Mr Black is over I am done putting them in danger.

“You have that look in your eye again,” Shin-Lee said.

“What look?” I asked laughing.

“Contemplation, what’s on your mind?”

“A lot.”

“I know, but talk to me. I know you’re still thinking about what happened to Hannah and me.”

“It’s not just that, I think ever since I came into your life I’d really made things difficult for you.”

“What do you mean?” Shin-Lee asked, pushing herself up from my chest.

“If I didn’t get involved with you back in Latrina you’d probably been fine. You wouldn’t have to go through what you have been through…”

A stinging sensation resonated from my chest after Shin-Lee slapped me. She eyed me coldly, eyes turning from light brown to black. Steam flowed from her lips like a Hannya Boy and I could tell she was about to rip me apart. “Do you regret meeting me Kaiden?”

“Of course not.”

“Do you regret bringing me across the Waste?”

“No.”

“Do you regret having Hannah?”

“Never.”

“Then never mention that again.”

Shin-Lee closed her eyes, biting her bottom lip, and then pushed herself up from off the couch. She turned left, but stopped mid-step, then turned back around, sitting right back in my lap. “We only have a few days left before you leave again. I would appreciate it if you keep those thoughts out of your mind. I know you hate leaving Hannah and me alone. I don’t like it too, but every time you do, you speak nonsense like that as if you’re trying to push us away.”

“We’ve walked thousands of miles to get here. I haven’t. You haven’t left. Let's get through this trial together and make plans for what happens next, alright?”

My lips curled into a smile as I eyed Shin-Lee, I nodded in agreement, then turned to Hannah, who simply had her head down in her game, playing as though she hadn’t heard a word.

“Thank you,” I said, looking up at Hannah.

“For what?” she asked softly.

“Everything.”