The two of them chatted as they walked straight into the elevator, not even glancing back. "Good thing you found your card, or this trip would've been for nothing."

As they turned, the elevator doors slid shut behind them. Mia cocked her head, thoughtful. "Weird. That guy at the front desk looked a lot like my husband."

Molly tried to look, but the doors were already closed. "No way. Didn't you say Andre's got meetings all day?"

Mia shrugged. "He's the boss. He can do whatever he wants."

Molly just rolled her eyes. "Fair enough."

They shared a knowing look as the elevator doors slid open again. "I must've been seeing things. That wasn't your Andre," Mia muttered, half trying to convince herself.

"Yeah, I think so too," Molly agreed.

Once they reached the security floor, Mia and Molly handed over all their electronics. Mia, not wanting to be weighed down, took off her jacket and walked in wearing just her sweater.

Mia swiped her ID to get in-and immediately, a big digital sign above the door lit up: "Auntie."

Instant hush. Every head in the room turned to stare at the glowing word on the screen.

stepped in, startled by the

What's happening?

other, then realized everyone's attention was locked right on

"Mia, why is everyone

me I have no idea. Why are they all glaring at

over her shoulder-no one

in the crowd, someone spoke up, "Look, one of those

spread through the room, growing louder by the second. "She actually showed up this year!

people thought

and maybe something happened. Can't

on off-the-books jobs— special requests with big payouts. If you got caught or failed, it wasn't unusual for you

matter what, The Silent Ring had strict rules: take a

if anyone grabbed a contract, Andre usually acted before anyone else even

for good. Someone else piped up, "Didn't she put out a call for backup a couple years ago? I remember she

needed backup, with Mia helping out. They'd gone to Juliana's house to settle a score, and after that, Juliana's family learned to keep their

to all the

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