CODE NAME: ETHEREAL

Chapter Four: Exit Wound

Venice — The Morning After

Rue woke before the sunrise.

Not from a dream, but from instinct.

She lay still, wrapped in freshly laundered linen with a Glock under the pillow. Her shirt had slipped down her shoulder, revealing a tattoo no one ever touched without permission: an abstract map of the Gulf Coast, tiny red dot on Miami. Home. Her origin. Her wound.

Ja'Liah's body wasn't beside her.

Of course not. Women like them didn't sleep soundly.
They planned in the shadows and kissed like they'd never see morning.

Rue stood and walked barefoot through the quiet flat. On the counter: two espresso cups. One still warm.

A folded note, written on a cocktail napkin.

"You twitch in your sleep. It's cute. You also snore. Be safe, Fleurentin. — J"

Rue smiled despite herself. She burned the note.

*Flashback End*

The Next Job: Montenegro

Three weeks passed.

Rue was back under her official identity: Dr. Rue Fleurentin, keynote speaker at the International Coastal Engineering Forum. Her cover allowed access to classified marine tech blueprints currently in the hands of a corrupt Serbian colonel.

Meanwhile...

Ja'Liah Saint was already there. Embedded as a system security analyst under the alias "Jae Vega," she'd infiltrated the colonel's cybersecurity team with nothing but a pair of AirPods, a TUMI backpack, and a revolver in her ankle holster.

They didn't know the other was coming.

Until Rue walked into the gala wearing a champagne gold gown with a slit high enough to justify war.

And Ja'Liah—posted in a corner—dropped her champagne.

"You gotta be f— kidding me," she whispered under her breath.

They locked eyes across the room.

Rue's face said: Professional boundaries, Saint.

Ja'Liah's smirk said: Professional my ass.

⸻

Back Room Rendezvous

The gala lights glittered. Rue moved like a panther toward the back hallway. Ja'Liah followed with her hands in her pockets.

When Rue turned the corner, Ja'Liah was already there, leaning casually against the wall like she'd been summoned.

Rue crossed her arms. "Did you follow me again?"

"No. I was already inside."

"Convenient."

"Maybe fate's got a thing for sharp women in sharp heels."

Rue's lips curled. "You're charming."

"I'm dangerous," Ja'Liah corrected.

"Why not both?"

The hallway buzzed with low music, muffled laughter, and lies being exchanged in the ballroom.

But in that hallway?

There was only silence. Tension. And that mutual realization:

This wasn't over. It was just starting.