“Yeah, try not to make me laugh,” he mutters.
I step closer, my gaze moving over the injury, assessing without asking.
“You’re still here,” I say.
“Last I checked,” he replies.
“Damage?” I ask.
He shifts slightly, wincing.
“Nothing I won’t hate for a while,” he says. “But I’ll live.”
I nod once.
“Good.”
He studies me for a second, then glances past me toward Stacy before looking back.
“You cleaned it up,” he says.
“Not yet,” I reply.
“But you’re going to,” he says.
“Yes.”
He nods slowly.
“Renn?” he asks.
“Identified,” I say. “Network exposed.”
“And the rest?” he presses.
“In progress,” I reply.
He leans back slightly, careful with the movement.
“…You missed it,” he says.
“Yes,” I answer.
No hesitation.
No deflection.
He watches me for a moment longer, then nods again.
“Alright,” he says quietly. “Then don’t miss the next one.”
“I won’t,” I reply.
That’s not a promise I make lightly.
He believes me anyway.
“You changing things?” he asks.
