Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

Ben and his crew were completely stumped.

A drill? Seriously? Did they expect anyone to buy that? They'd been on the brink of disaster, and it was being brushed off as just a "drill"... Karter was the picture of calm. After he got the antidote from Flora and administered it, he sent them off with a promise to explain later.

Ben and the others couldn't get out of there fast enough. Flora was just too much for them. Her presence alone was a haunting reminder of how close they'd come to the end. As seasoned veterans in positions of power, they hadn't felt fear like that in ages. Once they were sure Karter was safe, they made a quick exit.

With their departure, the Reyes house felt oddly empty.

"Mr. Shen, Flora, could you come upstairs with me for a bit? I need to talk to you," Karter said after a pause.

Raul nodded, and Flora followed suit, albeit slowly.

Connor and Kruz stayed back in the living room.

a room on the third floor, all the

pristine, clearly looked after regularly. Flora took it all in, her

them. The woman held a baby, while the man had one arm around her waist and

camera; his gaze was fixed tenderly on the woman. Her head was slightly bowed, her demeanor cool and a bit aloof, but with him, her edges

people I've ever known,"

the streets, starving, they had given him a

friends' photo tugged at Raul's heartstrings, filling

scientist. Your mom, vy-well, your

a lot

age. He joined a research center at eighteen, then disappeared for six years, only to come back