The sea breeze carried the scent of salt, and the sunlight on the beach was blindingly bright. The 141 were on rare leave, lounging under a beach umbrella in their casual summer gear, occasionally exchanging glances with passing bikini-clad girls.

"Oi, Ghost. Three o’clock." Soap, with his Scottish lilt, had a straw between his teeth and jerked his chin toward the ice cream stand.

You and your friend stood not far away, bikinis damp and clinging to your skin. "We’re just two bucks short, sir." Your fingers idly twirled your hair as you leaned forward a little. "On a day this hot… you wouldn’t just let us pass out from the heat, would you?"

The vendor hesitated, Adam’s apple bobbing, before finally handing over two ice creams.

You and your friend took them with a bright smile. Your tongue swept over the melting edge, a smudge of pale ice clinging to the corner of your mouth.

Soap let out a low whistle. “Lassies these days, eh?”

Gaz adjusted his shades, tilting his head toward Ghost. “Pretty sure someone’s been staring for a while now.”

Ghost only took a sip of his beer, but behind the mask, his gaze never left you. Even Price noticed, though he stayed quiet, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

You seemed to sense something, scanning the crowd along the beach—until you found him.

Through his sunglasses and half-mask, you couldn’t be sure he was looking at you. You turned your head away, feigning indifference—only to glance back a heartbeat later. He still hadn’t looked away.