rom me. Her presence filled the familiar

tle but firm, "it's time you thou

between us. New York's finest, apparently. A life choice,

o me. This conversation

ace flashed in my mind. Our bitter mar

" she'd hissed, her eyes like ice. "Julian

less prank during a confrontation I tried to stop. A fall.

eanor' s roses, the weight

earlier. The ver

mmered. A s

f concern in her eyes. "Are you

to gather myself.

closer. "Take your

ssure. The ghost

s an afterthought, Eleanor slid one more folder ont

," she said softly. "But I felt y

ct eyes. Another, more recent, showed her in a wheelchair, face etched with pain but still defi

red understanding of pain, o

e hoarse. "I choose he

culpted eyebrow rose.

r expression unreadable for

th a disapproval that surprised me. "But Ethan, the file say

was a physical w

aid, my voice steadier n

nguished Service Cross. Purple Heart. Led her unit through an ambush, saved thre

n. "The reports say she' s... changed

ook for strength not in perfection, but in how someone car

anor," I said. "It's just...

before Eleanor, a gesture I

others. Society might see her as 'less th

. "This isn't a whim. This

her eyes softening, bu

made me promise to look out for you, to ensure your hap

gible thing, a shield I h

ult path, Ethan.

l, the hollowness of that first

tter than an easy one with... deceit," I sai

The disapproval in her eyes faded,

. If this is your

red, her tone shifting back to its usual efficiency.

t, once given,

washed over me. "T

r than I had in what felt like a li

lian Croft. Coming to