her flickered like it might die any second. She held the pen tight, staring at the blank passport. Kai's

't trust her-she could tell. His fingers tapped the gun at his hip, a warn

She hadn't done this in years, not since Aran begged her to help him

perfect, like the chaos didn't touch him. He carried a bottle of wat

as dry. She grabbed the bottle, took a small

inst a crate. "Somewher

This isn't saf

"Now work. Male, thirty-two, Malay

passport. Her fingers moved slow at first, tracing lines, testing the ink. She remembered how to do this-blend

"You're good," he said after

im," she snapped. "

ice sharp. "He crossed me. You're

etails: birth date, height, eye color. Her pen scratched the page, steady now. The warehous

ing to Lek. "Check it," he said. Lek grumbled but left, disappear

ing ink just enough to look natural. Her heart raced. What

ith glasses and a woman with short hair. They carried boxes and laptops, setting them on the floor. The wo

they?" Mi

cks anything. Phet runs the numbers. You'll

s description-and glued it in. Her hands were steady now, the water helping. She added h

d it up

detail. Mira held her breath. If he didn't like it, what then?

e hid it. "Where's Ara

"Finish more jobs,

oice rose. "Y

ng the passport into his jacket

k at him, scream, run. But Lek was back, looming clos

w. "Take her upstairs

ce soft but firm. Mira didn't move at first, but Lek grabbed her arm, p

low, she saw the warehouse floor-crates, guns, men moving like ants. Upstairs was different. A long table ran along one wall, c

blank IDs, passports, and more tools. Her stom

ra didn't recognize-small, shiny, with bl

ai's business. We mo

e it

e passports. "Fake names, f

stuff. What had he gotten into? She sat at the desk, staring at the

uddenly, his

tairs behind them. Kai checked a screen, nodding. Mira p

"Mira, next job's

she said

to a corner with a thin ma

id, standing

ose. His eyes locked on hers, col

im, but Lek was there, smirking, hand o

city. Mira watched him, hating how calm he was, how he owned her now. She needed a plan

thought. Then she'd think. Sleep pulled at her, the hum of the screens li

i answered it, his back to her. His voice was low, but she caugh

profile sharp in the dim light. He said one last thing, too q

you hear?"

e lied, sitti

r. Then he smirked again, that same dan

iet again, but her mind raced. Aran was alive-but "not for lo