Page 75 of Judgment Day

“Thank you for being patient while Exa decided what she wanted to do with him.”

“That’s fine. That child needed this as much as we did. I’m just glad the lawyer who represented and helped the guy who murdered our children is now in your prison.”

“Back then, he was just a lawyer. It was hell watching him rise through the ranks. But that’s all over now. My team will start exposing him once our plan is ready. When you get here, I’ll let you torture him.”

“My skills are a bit rusty. But I’m sure I’ve still got it. Your girls did well. Not just Exa. But your daughter too.”

Nova smiled. “Don’t let that slip in front of her. Arson can never know she’s my child.”

“I know. Which is why I don’t understand why you’re letting her work on the Letisha case. What if she finds out she’s the granddaughter of the Triad leader?”

“She won’t find out. Because she doesn’t know I’m her mother. And my father doesn’t know I’m still alive. I plan to keep it that way.”

“Nova...”

“Miriam, let’s not debate over this. We have the last man on our kill list. We’ve avenged our families. Let’s celebrate.”

“You’re right. But I still think you should tell Arson the truth.”

“How do I tell the Timeless Agent I rescued and raised that I’m her real mother? That I’m also the reason she was kidnapped and hurt as a child? Oh, and that I’m the daughter of the Triad’s leader? Right now, I’m a role model to both her and Exa. What would they think of me if they knew the truth?”

“I’ve spent time with both young ladies. Trust me. They won’t be too hard on you. We all have a past that we’d like to be kept secret. Plus, it wasn’t your fault. You’d been kidnapped by your father’s enemies. You’d been hurt by them. And they took your child and sold her. But you fought for years to find her. You rescued her.”

“Werescued her. You, me, and Peril. We were all part of the Trinity back then.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“I know. We’re old now, Miri.”

“No, we’re aged. Not old.”

“Yeah, let’s go with that. After I help my girls with this Letisha case, I think I’m going to retire.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“You’re never going to retire.”

Nova laughed. “Maybe I’ll go to the Academy and work. I’d love to have you join me.”

“Right now, I’m needed here with my girls. Rain and Oni and the kids need me. This is where I belong. You belong with your girls. They need you.”

“First, we have to survive this thing with the Soldiers and the Triad.”

Miriam sighed. “I don’t want my team to know that I’m involved. I’m a grandma,” Miriam told her. “I can’t be part of stuff like this. But I want to help. I can’t hack like I used to. But I still know good people in low places. I can find information.”

“Thank you, Miriam. Come visit us here when you’re ready. We’ll keep him alive for a long time. So, you don’t have to rush.”

“Talk to you soon, sister,” Miriam said.

“Talk to you soon, sister.” Nova ended the call.

She stared down at the phone for a long time. It was finally time for her to go up against her blood family and the Triad. Nova sighed. This would be the most challenging fight of her life.

But she was ready.