Avara POV
"Is there a reason you're waking me up at the crack of dawn?" I mutter, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
Simon crouches, pulling a stainless steel case from a hidden compartment. With practiced ease, he flips open the latches, revealing an assortment of specialized gadgets—tiny, intricate devices I don't even have names for.
"Alright, 007," I say, raising an eyebrow. "What's all this?"
"Listening devices, signal jammers, and a few defensive tools that might come in handy. And I'm going to teach you how to use them."
"Spycraft for dummies?"
His lips quirk in amusement, and he tosses me a quick glance before returning to his work. My eyes drop to the unmistakable shape of a gun tucked into his waistband. I can't stop staring, and when his gaze follows mine, the realization hits him. With a casual tug, he pulls the hem of his shirt down to cover the weapon.
"Can't be too careful," he says lightly, though the weight of his tone suggests otherwise.
