Page 81 of Code Name: Grit

Lumi finally spoke. “What about Cassio? Did he know who I was before the hunting lodge?”

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.

“No,” Admiral said gently. “According to Keller, Cassio had no idea you existed until Giovanni made the accusations. However, it was your connection to Dante, which, in turn, connected you to Amelia, that resulted in the protection orders going out.”

The implications of this settled over the room. Cassio Belcastro—the man who Lumi had been raised to fear, the figure who had haunted her entire life—had learned of his daughter’s existence only days ago, in the most dangerous of circumstances.

“Why come forward now?” I asked. “Why not maintain the operation?”

“Giovanni forced their hand,” Alice explained. “His obsession with his vendetta against Cassio threatened to expose everything. Then when he thought you resembled someone in the Belcastro family—coupled with the word on the street that you were untouchable—it left Keller with no choice but to accelerate the timeline.”

“The hunting-lodge confrontation wasn’t planned,” Ranger added. “They meant to contain the situation before it spiraled completely out of control.”

“Their?” Lumi asked.

“Cassio, Rafael, and Keller.”

“So what happens now?” she asked, her voice steady despite everything.

Admiral straightened. “Keller is willing to answer any questions we have; however, I predict he’ll soon be off the grid.”

“Meaning?” I asked.

“Witness protection at the highest level.”

Lumi’s eyes widened. “What does that mean for me?”

“Word on the street is the Genoveses, Columbos, and Bonnanos all have hit orders on him. He’s got plenty of dirt on them, just not enough for indictments. He knows it, and they know it. But none of that touches K19 or Lumi specifically.”

Admiral looked around the room. “If there’s nothing else?—”

Lumi stood. “There’s something I’d like to say.”

“Go ahead,” said Admiral.

“I want”—she took a deep breath and let it out slowly—“to thank each and every one of you for all you did.” When her voice caught and tear-filled eyes met mine, I motioned her closer to me.

“Thanks from both of us,” I said, keeping her nestled by my side.

As the meeting broke up,I found myself exhausted despite having done nothing more strenuous than sit upright for an hour. The pain medication was wearing off, making each movement increasingly difficult.

Lumi noticed immediately. “Let’s get you settled,” she said, her voice gentle as she helped me to my feet. “Your camp’s been prepared.”

“Our camp,” I corrected quietly.

A smile touched her lips. “Yes, Grit.”

The afternoon light filtered through the pine trees as we walked slowly from the command center. I wondered how Lumi would feel staying there. “You sure about this?” I asked before opening the door.

“I’m fine. There are more good memories here than bad.”

Inside, everything had been arranged for my recovery. Extra pillows on the bed and a recliner positioned by the window overlooking the lake.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, wincing as the movement jostled my shoulder. Lumi helped me remove my shoes, then retrieved the pain meds the doctor had prescribed.

“You should take these,” she said, offering me two pills and a glass of water.

“I don’t like how they make me feel,” I admitted. “Foggy. Disconnected.”