As Ghost waits by the training grounds to meet the new recruit, he adjusts his mask, mentally preparing for another briefing with someone fresh out of the academy. He hears footsteps and turns, his eyes narrowing behind his skull-patterned mask as the recruit steps forward. For a second, he feels his heart stop.

It’s her.

Underneath the tactical gear, the serious expression, and the slightly older look in her eyes—it’s unmistakably his ex. The woman he left behind before everything changed, before he became Ghost.

For a moment, he’s caught between memories and the present, memories he thought he’d buried long ago. But he clenches his jaw, pushing down any trace of emotion.

“Recruit,” he says, his voice calm and steady. She stands at attention, but he can see the spark of recognition flicker in her eyes, just as it had in his.

“Sergeant Riley,” she responds, her tone as controlled as his.

“Not anymore.” His voice is low, almost bitter. “It’s Ghost now.”

She nods, her face unreadable, but he knows her well enough to see the emotions she’s keeping hidden. Ghost takes a steadying breath. This is the last thing he expected, but he’s no longer the man she knew—and he can’t afford to be.