Jack cocked his eyebrow again, “This sounds like New World Order. Like a conspiracy theory.”
Servario raised his eyebrows, confirming Jack’s statement. I looked at him with disgust, “You agree with one governing power for the world?”
He sighed, “You never listen. I disagree with that one point. I don’t think the Organization should have the Burrow and take the power from everyone. I disagree with the New World Order.”
My mom nodded, “As does Fitz. He has never believed anyone should have it.”
Luce took a deep breath, “Whoa.”
Coop nodded, “This is why we have to find a way to destroy the Burrow. We will get rid of the list and then the Burrow, and it ends with them.”
Servario nodded, “That is the best plan.”
My mom nodded, “That is what we will be working towards. We will be alone on this one. No more CI, except whatever dummy missions the commander sends you on, and you will do those to make it appear as if you are part of the team. The rest of the time we will work for one goal, death of the Burrow.”
I swallowed hard, “We swore to protect the Burrow and the scientists.”
Servario nodded, “That’s the thing that will keep you alive. While you are killing off the list, the Burrow will believe you to be on their team. I will be working with Fitz to devise a plan to get the Burrow and finding out how the Organization plans on killing you all off, when they discover who you are. We will have kept our fingers in many pots and not have to worry about anyone double-crossing us.”
I nodded, “Wow, this sounds like a really bad plan. I don’t see how my kids will be safe at all, and what about the poor scientists? It’s not fair that they get killed ‘cause they’re smart. Won’t Dad be in danger too?”
Coop took my hands in his, “We take it one day at a time. You can’t plan for every second of the next year or two that we need to finish this and take back our lives.”
I sighed and got up. I walked inside and sat on the couch, blocking it all out.
“Mom, I have hockey in fifteen minutes. Can you drive Matt too? His mom is on the phone.”
I looked over my shoulder and nodded, “Of course.” I got up and loaded the gear into the truck. When Mitch got in he gave me a smile, “I like it here.”
I smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek, “Me too.”
He pushed me off, “Mom, jeesh. No kisses. Someone could have seen.” I nodded at Coop standing in front of the truck. He nodded at me, “I’m driving.”
I smiled and shoved over so he could drive. He climbed in, “You score tonight and I’ll let you play my new Assassin’s Creed.”
I shook my head, “Nope. No way. Pulling mom veto. No violent games.”
Mitch moaned, “MOMMMMMM! Come on. All the guys play it.”
Coop nodded, “It’s true. I asked the other dads at the game, they all play it. I double checked.”
Mitch put his hands up, “Two goals, I’ll get two goals and you let me play?”
I smirked, “Five goals and I let you play.”
His jaw dropped but he thought for a second, “Done.” He put a hand out. I shook it, “You’ll never get five goals.” I looked back over at Coop, “This is exactly the sort of hockey-parent behavior they try to discourage.”
He scoffed, “Whatever. It’s a competitive sport. The kids need to be motivated.”
I shook my head, “You are both bad.”
An hour and a half later, I was screaming my face off as he scored his sixth goal. He pointed up at me in the crowd as his team screamed and lifted him off the ice.
I sat down, flustered and excited, “I can’t believe he got six goals.”
Coop laughed, “Oh ye of little faith, I totally knew he would.”
Jack passed me a coffee as he and Luce climbed back up the stairs. I sipped it and made a face. He rolled his eyes, “You’ll get used to it.”
I looked at them and smiled. In the corner of my eye, I saw Servario sipping coffee and watching the game from below. I looked away from him and kissed Coop on the cheek, “I wish this were our real life.”
He smiled back at me, “One day at a time. Today, this is our life.”
I grinned, “How did you get so smart for someone so young?”
He shrugged, “I hang out with a lot of older people.”
I laughed and shook my head, “You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.”
He shook his head, “I am sleeping wherever you are.”
I sighed, it was a happy sigh, and looked out onto the ice as my boy had the game of the year. I was excited that even though I had learned of the uphill battle we faced, that was my life today.
I couldn’t help but glance down at where Servario had been. He was gone. He had wanted me to see him so I knew he was there. He was always there.
I hoped that he always would be and told myself it was because I wanted him to keep me safe. I looked back over at Coop and smiled at the way he beamed proudly as he cheered for my kid. My kid he made feel safe.
My mom’s words trickled through my head, but I pushed them away and let it just be about that day. One day at a time, we would succeed and get our lives back. One day at a time, we would win. And one day, we would look back and know we had made the right choice for all the people who had no clue how crazy the world had gotten.
Did I have all the answers? No. I still wanted to know what was on the phone Servario sold me out for. I still wanted to know what butterflies and nightingales had in common. I still wanted to know what my mother had over Servario that made him come and save me. Mostly, I wanted to know what was more important than me to Servario, considering I felt pretty important to him. Through it all, I felt like I mattered.
I pushed those thoughts away and let it be about Mitch, 'cause in the end it really was about the kids.
The End.