It was a week after graduation, and Logan's team had gathered at a popular restaurant in Ciudad Juárez. The dim lights of the establishment cast long shadows across the room, where groups of mercenaries and other figures from all walks of life dined and discussed their next moves. Despite the war looming on the horizon, there was a sense of calmness in the air as the team exchanged stories and laughs, enjoying their first real break after months of training and survival.
Logan sat at the table with William, Matthew, Jessica, and Elsa, all of them having completed their mercenary evaluations. They had officially signed up for the life they had been preparing for.
William was the first to speak, glancing at his own mercenary rank. "Tier D, Grade C... Not the best, but I'm making progress," he said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "Still, it's not bad for someone like me who's more about brute strength than tactics."
Matthew laughed and leaned back in his chair. "Same here, man. I'm Tier D, Grade C too, but I'm not complaining. Just another day, right?" He flashed a grin and glanced over at Logan. "Speaking of, Logan, that van you got me... thanks again, man. I still can't believe you went that far for me."
Logan smiled back, his eyes filled with pride. "You're welcome. You deserved it. You've been a good friend. Just don't blow it up before I get to see it in action."
Matthew chuckled, his usual sarcasm slipping back into his voice. "Well, with the amount of tech I've crammed into that thing, I might accidentally do that." He leaned forward, pulling out a tablet. "Anyway, check this out," he said, showing the team several blueprints and schematics on the screen. "I've been working on some new projects. Just need the funds for materials, and I think I could make something pretty amazing."
Logan looked over the plans, nodding thoughtfully. "You know I'm good for it, right?" he said with a small smirk. "I've made a quarter of a million after working as a mercenary for the Valdez Cartel. Took them down with Elsa, but I won't go into the details ... not that it matters anymore."
The team fell silent for a moment, their eyes wide at the mention of the Valdez Cartel. They knew Logan had his hands dirty in dangerous business, but this—this was different. Matthew recovered first, shaking his head. "You've done more than enough, Logan," he said firmly. "The van alone is more than I could ask for. I'll figure something out on my own. I don't need to rely on you for money."
Jessica chimed in, her voice calm yet confident. "Actually, I might have an idea." She leaned forward, catching everyone's attention. "There's a way to make money fast, a real big payout. The underworld has a whole underground death sport network. It's brutal—killing, weapons, explosives, the whole shebang—but the winnings are massive. A million or more for just a few games. I can get us in."
The table went quiet for a moment as the group processed her words.
"How do you know about this?" William asked, his brow furrowing in suspicion.
Jessica hesitated for only a second before answering. "My father's a big deal in that world. He's a respected mystical shifter in the upper echelons of the organization."
The rest of the team stared at her in disbelief, their eyes wide with shock. Matthew wasn't as surprised—he had already known this information, as Jessica had confided in him during one of their quieter moments. Still, hearing it out loud was a different experience for the others.
"So, your father's involved in all of this?" William asked, his voice soft but with a hint of skepticism. "And you never told us?"
Jessica shrugged nonchalantly. "I didn't think it was relevant. It's not something I like talking about. But, yeah, it is what it is. If you guys want in, I can make the introductions. But I'll warn you—once you're in, you're in. There's no backing out."
Matthew nodded, clearly considering the offer. "How about we look at some other options first? We could do this... but let's make sure we have everything lined up."
The conversation shifted then, as William brought up another important point. "We also need a place to stay. A safehouse. Somewhere we can all be together, somewhere we can plan without worrying about being attacked or watched. We can't keep living in our parents house with the upcoming war forever."
Logan nodded in agreement. "We need somewhere secure. Somewhere we can focus on getting ready for whatever's coming next."
Jessica leaned back in her chair, her expression serious now. "I might be able to help with that too. I have some contacts, but it depends on how much we're willing to pay."
Logan looked at his team, feeling a mix of pride and relief. They were all willing to fight for their futures, together.
"Alright," he said, finally breaking the silence. "Let's move forward. We've got options, we've got plans, and we've got each other. We just need to be prepared for what's coming."
The rest of the team nodded in agreement, a sense of camaraderie and purpose settling between them. They had come a long way since those early days in the academy, and now they were ready to take on whatever came next—whether it was underground death sports, war, or the looming threat of alien forces.
And they would do it together.
---
The room fell into silence after Logan's revelation. The idea that he had millions apart from the quarter a million stashed away in a hidden warehouse was shocking enough, but what really sent the team into stunned disbelief was the realization of how he had earned it.
Matthew leaned back, arms crossed, a mixture of curiosity and wariness in his gaze. "Alright, Logan... What the hell were you doing before you got into the academy? Because this—this isn't normal. A guy our age doesn't just have millions lying around unless he's been knee-deep in killing, assassinations, and all kinds of shady shit."
William, usually composed, rubbed his jaw and let out a low whistle. "Damn, man. You were out there assassinating people while we were just... you know, living our lives?" His voice wasn't judgmental, just surprised. "And when I first saw you at the academy, you looked like a quiet loner who barely talked to anyone. I thought you were just another student trying to get by. Turns out, you making making more money than half the mercs in this damn city."
Jessica, who had always been confident in her knowledge of the underworld, found herself staring at Logan as if seeing him for the first time. "So, while I was going through my usual academy life, you were out there working for cartels? You were actually... part of a criminal empire?" There was no disgust in her tone, only an edge of disbelief.
Logan met their gazes evenly. He had expected this reaction.
"I did what I had to do," he said simply. "You all know a man needs to survive, and the Salvador cartel I was working under was where my dad works.I wasn't just some mercenary taking odd jobs—I was being trained for something bigger. I took down the Valdez Cartel, piece by piece. I made my money through contracts, hits, smuggling jobs, and high-risk missions. It wasn't pretty, but it got me here. And I don't regret it."
The weight of his words settled over them, heavy and undeniable.
Just as the tension thickened, Elsa's voice cut through the silence. "He's still the same Logan we know." She looked around at the team, her expression calm and unwavering. "Nothing's changed. And no matter what he's done, I would never leave him."
That seemed to break the weight pressing on their shoulders. Logan wasn't sure what he had expected—judgment, maybe even disgust—but instead, the team processed the truth in their own way.
Matthew let out a deep breath and shook his head with a smirk. "You know what? Whatever, man. We all have dark pasts. I'm not about to throw stones in a glass house. I've done some shady shit too, just not at your level."
William was next to recover, a small grin playing at his lips. "Well, if anything, this just proves you're the best guy to have on our side. I'm with you all the way."
Jessica leaned back and crossed her arms. "Honestly? It doesn't bother me. I grew up in the underworld. My father's a high-ranking shifter in the underground, remember? I've been exposed to that world my whole life. This just makes you even more interesting."
Logan felt a tension he didn't even realize he was holding leave his body. They accepted him. They didn't fear him, they didn't hate him. If anything, their trust in him remained unshaken, if not even stronger.
Matthew cracked his knuckles. "Well, now that we know you're secretly loaded, we should probably figure out our next move. You said you have a warehouse full of cash, right? That means we can secure our safehouse and get our gear in order. No need for any desperate money-making schemes just yet."
Logan nodded. "Yeah. The warehouse is secure. I'll take us there soon so we can figure out our setup. We're going to need a base of operations if we're going to handle what's coming."
Jessica smirked. "Damn right. A safehouse, elite gear, and a squad of mercs ready for anything? Sounds like we're setting up to be legends."
Elsa smiled, resting her hand on Logan's. "Then let's make it happen."
With that, the tension was gone, replaced with a renewed sense of purpose. Logan's past wasn't going to drive them apart—it had only made their bond stronger. Whatever came next, they would be ready.