The glowing green digits on the bedside clock said it was 4.53 A.M. Despite the dull ache, I smiled as I laid my head back down.I was okay.And I was p...oud of myself. I think that's mostly why I smiled. If I could say there was one thing I gained from last night, it was that for the first time in my submissive life, I felt worthy. And I felt different. Thoughts swirled, crystallising as I lay awake, staring at the sliver of moon.I never wanted to be lashed like that ever again, that's for sure.. "She was smiling like a schoolgirl. Which is just as well since I felt like a schoolboy.I'd felt that way since yesterday. I'd found the most prominent example of the type coma I'd spent my short career studying in a boy who had one of the most mangled bodies I'd seen short of the 7:00 newscasts from Viet Nam.I'd come out to break the news and the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen was sitting next to the girl who'd been hanging on to the boy for dear life as they brought him into the emergency. Whitman said in a shaky voice before glancing at Cody and Blake. What is it, Cody and Blake said at the same time. They looked at each other before looking at Whitman once more. Its that woman we followed home, the same one, Im sure. Cody leaned down and looked at the picture and cursed, it was the same woman. This whole time shes been talking to Noah and they didnt even know it, Noah didnt know it and if he didnt stop he was going to fucking ruin the mission. Get Noah out of there now, Cody. Aramingo, but you are in a unique position," Colonel Higgens said. "You come from a civilian background and a civilian education. Nonetheless, Family Volentin has embraced you and brought you into their fold. Your work makes it clear that you have earned their confidence. They have even given you a lover, which must be an enticing benefit of employment with them."Ferro didn't rise to the bait. For the first time, he recognized the ploy first before letting his emotions respond. He took a moment.