Ryan Bruce didn't consider himself a liar.
He just happened to keep secrets for a living—and right now, one of those secrets was about to blow a hole through his Saturday morning.
He slipped out of the preschool gym, still hearing Faith's dramatic wailing echo off the glitter-soaked walls.
Something about a stolen cookie and a "betrayal of trust." Typical.
The second he hit the parking lot, his pace quickened. He tossed the tray of cupcakes in the trunk, yanked off his "#1 Dad" sticker, and slid behind the wheel of his minivan like a man on a mission—because he was.
"Talk to me, Siena," he said, tapping his earpiece.
"You're late," came the cool voice of Siena Rae, his ONYX CORE mission handler.
"Asset Wrenz breached the server room five minutes ago. Broadcast tower's locked down. I suggest you move faster unless you want to explain to your wife why she's starring in a cyberterror hostage video."
Ryan swerved out of the lot, tires squealing past a confused PTA volunteer waving a clipboard.
"Did Wrenz go in alone?"
"Unknown. Possibly one escort, but he's moving like he owns the place. Signal's bouncing all over—classic misdirection. He's not here for data. He's here for control."
Ryan's jaw clenched.
Control of a news tower meant access to live feeds, emergency override systems… chaos in the wrong hands.
Emily's voice crackled in his mind. "Don't forget to pick up milk."
He gunned the engine.
Four minutes later – Service Entrance, Uptown Broadcast Tower
Ryan popped the lock on a rusted maintenance door with a magnetic key embedded in his belt buckle. He slipped inside, passed through two empty hallways, and ducked into an old janitor's closet.
Inside was what ONYX CORE called a Drop Node—a disguised panel that slid open with a touch code.
He peeled off his dad disguise and opened the panel.
A matte black case emerged, whisper-quiet.
Inside:
A modular black suit, form-fitting and impact-resistant.
A custom compact pistol.
Climbing gloves.
Contact lens HUD.
And a gum wrapper, scribbled with "Smile, Veltrix" in Sprocket's handwriting.
Ryan exhaled slowly. The dad mask came off. Veltrix stepped in.
"Ready?" Siena asked in his ear.
"Always."
He pulled the door open.
Two floors up, Wrenz was rewriting the city's communications.
Ryan wasn't sure if this was about his family, the agency, or something worse—but one thing was clear.
This wasn't just a routine mission.
It was personal.
[TO BE CONTINUED...]