The celebration in the penthouse was a far cry from the tactical tension of the previous night.
Champagne had been poured, the aroma of a high-end catered brunch filled the air, and for the first time in years, the "Secret Soldiers" looked truly, vibrantly happy.
Alicia was laughing at something Jason whispered, her eyes bright and clear; Lucy was relaxed against Chris, and Kristen was playfully wrestling with Jake over the last piece of artisanal toast.
The Master was gone, his shadow deleted from their lives, and the relief was a physical weight lifted from the room.
But the bubble of privacy was about to be burst by the ghosts of a different past—the loud, boisterous, and civilian world of the men's high school years.
The elevator chime echoed through the foyer, followed by a burst of loud, masculine laughter that didn't fit the usual high-security vibe of the penthouse.
"I'm telling you, if the front desk tried to stop me one more time, I was going to buy the building just to fire that guy!" a voice boomed.
Jason looked up, a look of shocked realisation crossing his face. Before he could move, three men burst into the living area, looking like they had just stepped off a private jet from a much louder dimension.
Leading the pack was Marcus, the high-energy Playboy of their old group. He was dressed in a designer suit that cost more than a small car, his hair perfectly coiffed, and a smirk on his face that suggested he had never heard the word "no" in his life. He was unattached, unbothered, and always looking for the next party.
Behind him was Ethan, the Married one. He was more grounded, wearing a sensible cashmere sweater, though he still had a mischievous glint in his eye. He was the moral compass of their old trio, usually the one keeping the others out of jail.
Finally, there was Leo, the Fiancé. He was currently staring at his phone, likely texting his wife-to-be, looking like a man who was happily settled into the comfortable rhythm of domesticity.
The three newcomers stopped dead in their tracks as they took in the scene. They had expected to find their old friends—the stoic Jason, the nerdy Chris, and the bruiser Jake—grinding away at work.
Instead, they found them surrounded by three of the most striking women they had ever seen.
"Whoa," Marcus breathed, his eyes widening as they landed on Alicia. He smoothed his tie instinctively.
"Jason... buddy... I thought you said you were 'busy with security.' I didn't realise the security was this... exquisite."
Ethan stepped forward, a warm smile breaking across his face as he looked at the couples. "We heard the news about the corporate merger being finalised—well, the rumours of it, anyway—and figured we'd fly in to celebrate. But it looks like we're late to a much better party."
Leo looked up from his phone, nodding toward Chris and Lucy. "Good to see you, Chris. And who are these lovely ladies?"
Jason stood up, his arm still firmly around Alicia's waist. He felt no need to hide her, no need to protect her from these men. The Master was a memory; these were just friends.
"Guys, perfect timing," Jason said, his voice brimming with a genuine happiness that made Marcus do a double-take.
"Meet Alicia, Lucy, and Kristen. They're the reason we're celebrating. They're the heart of this city now."
Alicia smiled—a real, dazzling smile that reached her eyes. To a stranger, she looked like a high-society queen, perfectly at ease.
There was no trace of the "Ghost" who had been picking off mercenaries just hours ago. She was happy, free, and proud to be by Jason's side.
"Nice to meet you all," Kristen said, leaning back into Jake's chest, her tone playful.
"Jake's told us stories about you three. Mostly about how he used to have to carry you home after prom."
Jake let out a rare, booming laugh. "That was only Marcus. Ethan could usually walk."
.
.
.
As the three friends joined the circle, the energy in the room shifted.
Marcus immediately tried to turn on the charm, attempting to flirt with Lucy, only to be met with a witty, analytical comeback that left him blinking in confusion while Chris chuckled.
Ethan began chatting with Kristen about the challenges of keeping Jake in line, finding a quick kinship with her "Enforcer" energy.
Leo sat with Alicia and Jason, showing them pictures of his upcoming wedding venue, unaware that the woman he was talking to had just survived a military-grade assassination attempt.
The ladies weren't hurt, and they weren't haunted. They watched the three old friends with a sense of wonder. To them, these "normal" men with their normal problems—wedding planners, wives, and bad dating luck—were the ultimate sign of victory.
This was the world they had fought for. A world where the biggest threat was a loud friend showing up unannounced for brunch.
"To old friends," Jason toasted, raising his glass.
"And to the women who finally made them interesting," Marcus added, raising his own, though his eyes were still searching for a way to impress the three sisters who were clearly way out of his league.