So intense, somanding.


    I''d never seen anyone from the Costello family act like this before. Is this really the Devonport Costellos from two decades ago? These aren''t the roughnecks I remember meeting. Tricia, uninterested, simply said, "Lock them up."


    "Yes, ma''am," came the response as several folks had already pinned Alec and me down. If we got caught by this crew, the oue was pretty clear. Alec and I shared a look before springing into action, slipping right into battle mode. Our initial n of getting caught was just a ruse to see my parents. Now that it flopped, we weren''t about to just sit there and take it.


    Tricia was momentarily taken aback by our skills, convinced she''d seen such moves somewhere before. In the thick of the fight, a woman''s voice suddenly cut through the chaos, "Stop."


    The voice was clear, melodic, yet packed with authority. I spun around and there she was—my mom, standing behind us. She was wearing a vibrant red dress, her hair cascading down her back, makeup wlessly applied, and she looked much younger than I remembered. I was momentarily stunned. Who knew my mom could look this bold and striking?


    In that briefpse, a fist came flying my way. If Alec hadn''t noticed in time, I''d be missing a couple of teeth.


    "Didn''t you hear me? I said stop," Sophiemanded, her gaze as sharp as knives slicing through the bodyguards.


    The bodyguards quickly defended themselves, "Ma''am, these two kids hit hard. I don''t know who trained them, but if we don''t take them down, they might hurt you."


    "Yeah, if you get hurt, the boss will have our heads," the other bodyguards chimed in. They''d never encountered kids this tough before.


    Sophie walked over to Alec and me. Seeing my mom so radiant and sure of herself brought tears to my eyes. I couldn''t help but blurt out, "Mom!"


    "Mom?" Tricia and the other


    bodyguards were floored. The young girl standing in front of them didn''t seem much younger than theirdy, so could she call her "Mom"?


    "..." Sophie was taken aback, "Do I look that old?"


    "..." I awkwardly stepped back while Alec exined, "My sister just got a bit too excited seeing Ms. Sophie, so she misspoke."


    "You?" Sophie''s eyesnded on Alec. There was something familiar about him, something she''d seen before. And the way he spoke it reminded her so much of James.


    Sophie frowned, "Who are you? What are you doing at S Corporation?"


    "It wasn''t our idea toe here. Your people thought we looked suspicious and brought us in," I replied.


    As soon as I said this, Sophie turned her gaze to the bodyguards. Feeling a chill run down their spines, they quickly exined, "Ma''am, it''s not like that. These two kids were acting suspicious at ourpany''s entrance. We grabbed them because they seemed shady!"


    "Yeah, they were really suspicious lurking around, whispering, and even called Tricia ''uncle.'' I bet they''re undercover agents from The Silent


    Shadows sent to infiltent