I was the one driving the car to the building Mark had told me about, my hands gripping the steering wheel with perhaps more tension than necessary.
Liu Mei had taken the passenger seat next to me, her nose buried in yet another book despite the bumpy ride through the debris-strewn streets. Elena and Cindy occupied the seats behind us, their own weapons ready but their conversation subdued. The morning's events seemed to hang over our small group like a cloud—Cindy's unexpected kiss, the emotional weight of unspoken feelings, and now this impromptu expedition that had somehow transformed from a simple solo mission into a group undertaking.
How had things ended up like this? I'd wanted to handle this alone, probably on my bike for speed and stealth. Taking three additional people felt like I was multiplying the risks unnecessarily, not just for myself but for everyone involved.
