One Week Later

  The golden hues of the setting sun bathed The Cliffs in a subdued light as the front door creaked open. The members of Team SMASH filed in one by one, their usual swagger muted by somber faces.

  Hanz, a familiar presence, acknowledged them with a courteous nod. “Ms. Sana’s in the den. Let me show you the way.”

  They followed Hanz to the den, their presence filling the room. They spotted Sana in a wheelchair, her shoulders slouched. Lara sat on the sofa beside her, watchful as their entrance altered the room’s atmosphere.

  Sana lifted her head, her faint smile unable to mask her fatigue. The sling supporting her arm and the wheelchair she was confined to spoke volumes without having to utter a single word.

  “Hey,” she hummed casually.

  Marcus stepped forward first, jaw tight, hands flexing at his sides. “Sana,” he started, his voice a fragile mix of affection and frustration. His gaze roamed over her injuries as he forced a breath out. “How are you holdin’ up?”

  “I’ve been better,” she admitted, looking from one teammate to the next. “I’m sorry about the quarters. I should’ve been there.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Sebastien interjected. “None of this is on you.”

  The conversation naturally veered toward their performance in the League of Legends World Championship quarterfinals. Sebastien spoke with measured regret. “Brock tried, but he wasn’t you. We couldn’t find our groove without you, Sana. Everything felt off.”

  Hex, usually the chatterbox, stayed uncharacteristically silent. Ashton had his arms crossed, unreadable. The weight of their first defeat in four years pressed down on all of them.

  “To be fair to Brock, we’ve never used subs before,” Sana said softly. “This loss stung, but it’s given me a lot to think about.” She hesitated, then asked, “What if… a member wishes to retire?”

  The words hit like a thunderclap. Marcus snapped, “What are you saying? Are you thinking of quitting?”

  Sana’s eyes dropped to the floor. The question she had avoided—even from herself—now hung in the open. “I don’t know. I might be the youngest in the team, but… I have family obligations. And this injury…” She trailed off, torn.

  “You’ve always been the heart of this team. We need you, Sana. Without you, we’re… just not the same,” Marcus pushed on, his conviction raw.

  Before the tension could spiral further, Seven entered. His presence shifted the room’s mood. His gaze swept over the room before settling on Sana. To the team’s shock, Seven stepped forward, leaned down, and pressed a kiss on the top of her head, a gesture both intimate and grounding.

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  “Sana, I’m home,” he called out with an ease that contrasted with the charged scene.

  Her face brightened, the weariness melting away. “Oh! You’re back,” she chirped before introducing him to her teammates. “Everyone, this is Seven, my boyfriend. Seven, meet my teammates: Sebastien, Marcus, Ashton, and Hex.”

  Seven inclined his head politely, his posture relaxed. Still, his sharp eyes caught the flickers of displeasure across the room. Marcus, in particular, barely hid his hostility.

  “It’s nice to meet you all. I heard from Sana you were all her classmates from MIT,” Seven greeted them, friendly but composed.

  However, the team barely acknowledged him. And Marcus? His stare burned into Seven, his animosity thinly veiled. “Funny,” he huffed, arms crossing. “We’ve never heard about you.”

  At that very moment, Hanz appeared at the doorway, his timing impeccable. “Everyone, dinner is ready,” he announced smoothly, breaking the intense moment.

  They filed into the formal dining room in an awkward procession. Sadra and Ami welcomed them warmly. Seven sat beside Sana as always, while her teammates spread out, their camaraderie muted by the unfamiliar setting.

  At first, dinner passed with polite small talk. But when Seven began feeding Sana, the sight grated on Marcus, his appetite vanishing with each passing moment.

  Across the table, Sadra, unaware of the team’s defeat, casually asked Sebastien about the championship. Sebastien seized the chance to voice what weighed on them.

  “Uncle Sadra,” he began, setting his utensils down. “Sana’s absence dealt us a huge blow. We got a sub at the last minute, and nothing clicked. For the first time in our history, we were knocked out in the quarters.”

  He broke off with a sigh, shoulders heavy. “Sana is the cornerstone of this team. Without her, we couldn’t hold it together.”

  Sana drew a breath, bracing herself. “Fellas, let me tell you something. I wasn’t in an accident. I was… ambushed; I got shot in the shoulder and thigh. I don’t know what the perp wants from me, I don’t know how long I have to stay hidden, and how long it would take for my arm to regain full speed and agility.”

  Her teammates stared, stunned into silence.

  “Right now, your safety is paramount,” Seven murmured. “Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.”

  Marcus’s head jerked up. “Hey! Who are you to butt in?” His tone turned sharp. “What if you’re part of the elaborate ruse to get to Sana? Who are you even?”

  His hostility could slice through steel. Seven’s calm didn’t waver, though his piercing glare locked onto Marcus.

  Sana’s annoyance flared. “Marcus! Enough! I know better than anyone who he is! Whatever decision I make, it won’t be taken lightly. I need time to think about the team, my family, and myself.”

  Sadra stepped in with unflappable authority. “Marcus, please give Sana some time. Let’s not push this tonight. She’s not ready.”

  The rest of the meal passed in fragmented chatter, the usual warmth and liveliness of the Shahi household struggling to reemerge. When Seven finished feeding Sana, he excused himself. “Uncle Sadra, Aunt Ami, please excuse me, I have to give James his nightly treatment.”

  Before leaving, he placed a hand on Sana’s shoulder. “I’ll be back in about an hour.” Then, glancing at Lara, he added, “Keep an eye on her until I get back.”

  “Yes, Seven,” Lara replied firmly.

  As he stepped out, the team exchanged uneasy looks. Sebastien, his disdain undisguised, snorted, “Sana, is your boyfriend so petty? Marcus only said a few words, and he left without eating.”

  Sana finally snapped. “Sebastien! Don’t assume things about him! You don’t know him! He’s gone to treat the bodyguard who’s now paralyzed because of me!”

  Shock rippled through the group at this new revelation.

  “Sorry, Sana,” Sebastien apologized. “We’ll head out now. Let us know once you’ve decided.”

  Sana nodded slowly, weary. “Thank you for coming. I… I’ll let you know soon.”

  As they filed out, Marcus lingered at the doorway, conflicted. After a long beat, he stepped into the night, his thoughts restless.

  I have to find out more about this Seven character!