They walked in silence.
Well—technically.
The kind of silence where every breath was a gritted threat, every step a held-back storm. Sam led the way through the pitch-black tunnel, flashlight sweeping ahead, jaw clenched so tight it might snap.
Behind her, Lilly muttered something under her breath. Ava laughed—just once, sharp and amused. "Was that supposed to be an insult? I've heard worse from rookies in basic."
"Oh, I'm sorry, were you in basic when you decided to fake your own death and vanish for three years without even a goddamn note?" Lilly said, voice rising.
"Here we go again," Sam whispered to herself, stopping in her tracks.
"I told you already," Ava said through a smirk Sam could hear, "it was for your own good."
"You don't get to decide what's good for me!" Lilly snapped.
Sam turned. Slowly. Eyes bloodshot. "Okay. New rule. No talking unless it's mission critical. Otherwise, I swear to God, I will start handing out sedatives like candy."
Lilly crossed her arms. "Tell her that."
Ava mirrored her. "Tell her harder."
"Oh my god," Sam muttered, gripping the bridge of her nose with one hand, the gun in the other.
They started sniping again quiet but deadly. Sam kept walking. Pretended she didn't hear Ava say, "You always did cry too easily," or Lilly hiss, "And you always disappear when things get real."
She was so close to pulling the trigger again—just once more, just to feel something.
But instead, she stopped in front of a reinforced steel door and sighed.
"Okay," Sam said, turning to face them both. "This is it. The breaker panel is behind this wall. Once we're in, we move fast, no distractions, no drama, no blood feuds. That means you," Sam said, pointing at Ava, "keep your snark to yourself."
"And you," Sam pointed to Lilly, "don't bite anyone."
Lilly rolled her eyes. "No promises."
Ava just shrugged. "Only if she throws the first punch."
"I swear to everything I don't believe in," Sam growled. "I'm going to sedate you both and drag your limp bodies through this mission like toddlers on a leash."
They both blinked at her.
Lilly: "That's hot.
"Ava: "Yeah, kinda is."
Sam groaned, kicked the door open, and stormed inside.
"Therapist with a gun," she muttered under her breath. "I didn't sign up for this shit."
Behind her, two beautiful, chaotic war machines followed—smirking, simmering, and absolutely incapable of peace.
And Sam?
Sam had the matches, the mission, and a migraine.