Chapter 14 - Site BravoSubterranean Level 4, Undisclosed Location, Virginia.
Lily Vance sat on the edge of a sterile white bed, staring blankly at the concrete wall.
Site Bravo wasn't a military base, at least not one that existed on any public map. It was a subterranean fortress, a relic of the Cold War that had been modernized with biometric scanners, blast doors, and an autonomous life-support grid.
She had been escorted here by armed men who treated her with a bizarre mix of absolute deference and terrifying efficiency.
The heavy steel door slid open with a hydraulic hiss.
Echo-Actual walked in. He wasn't wearing his tactical helmet anymore, revealing a sharp, stoic face lined with years of combat stress. He held a silver tray with a steaming mug of tea and a plate of warm food.
"Eat, Ms. Vance," Echo-Actual said, setting the tray on the small metal desk. "Your vitals indicate severe exhaustion and caloric deficit."
Lily looked at the food, then at the heavily armed commander. "Where is my father?"
"He is concluding an operation in Chicago," Echo replied smoothly. "He will be joining us shortly."
"An operation." Lily let out a hollow, bitter laugh. "My husband beats me. My dad shows up in a rusty truck. And an hour later, I'm being guarded by a private army in a nuclear bunker. Who is he? Really."
Echo-Actual paused. He looked at the young woman, seeing the bruised face and the deep trauma hidden behind her eyes. It was strictly against protocol to discuss the past with a civilian. But this wasn't just any civilian. This was the VIP.
"Your father," Echo-Actual began slowly, his voice laced with deep respect, "was the tip of the spear. When diplomacy failed, when the military was too loud, and when the CIA was too political... they sent him."
Lily’s breath hitched. "He killed people?"
"He eliminated threats," Echo corrected softly. "Terrorist cells, rogue dictators, human trafficking rings. He operated in a moral gray area so that people like you could live in the light. He was the most lethal asset the United States Government ever produced."
Lily wrapped her arms around herself, staring at the floor. "And he gave it all up? To fix cars?"
"He gave it up for you," Echo said. "When your mother died, he walked into the Director's office, placed his weapon on the desk, and said he was done. They tried to stop him. They threatened him with treason. But no one on earth can stop Arthur Pendelton when his mind is made up. He wanted to be your dad. That was his only mission."
A tear slipped down Lily’s cheek, tracing the edge of her fading bruise. For two years, she had suffered in silence, terrified that Richard would destroy her poor, elderly father if she ever asked for help.
She hadn't known she was the daughter of a dragon.
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"What happens now?" she whispered.
"Now?" Echo-Actual crossed his arms. "Now, he finishes the job. Richard Vance didn't just hurt you. He was tied to a cartel. And your father doesn't leave loose ends."
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