Chapter Twenty-One: The One Who Stayed

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The team didn't leave quietly.

There were sighs. Glares. One last attempt from Yelena that ended in a muttered curse and a shoulder-check on the way out. Even John looked back once, like he was waiting for Frankie to say don't go-but she didn't.

She stood there until the bunker door sealed shut behind them.

Silence.

Finally.

Frankie waited a beat longer, made sure the perimeter triggers activated, then exhaled slowly and pressed a hand to the wall-just for grounding. The cool metal helped. A little.

"Alone again," she muttered.

But she wasn't.

She stepped into the hallway toward the gear room-and froze.

There he was.

Bob.

Standing awkwardly, hands in the sleeves of his jacket, shifting from foot to foot like he just realized he stayed behind in a literal lockdown fortress with a woman who once took out an entire squad with a single knife and a speaker blasting death metal.

Frankie stared at him.

He waved, unsure. "Hi."

She blinked once. "You're supposed to be gone."

"I know."

"Did you not hear the part where I said leave?"

"I did," he said. "I just didn't."

A beat.

"Because I want to help."

She didn't know what to think. Didn't know what to feel. And for Frankie Vale, that was the most dangerous part of all.

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