y Stepdad Mocked Me and Said “Get a Real Job” Before Snatching My Phone and Accidentally Answering a Critical Security Call. Minutes Later, a Tactical Team Smashed Through Our Windows—and He Finally Learned What I Really Do for the Pentagon Every Night…

An immediate deployment order for P-8 Poseidon submarine-hunting aircraft needed authorization.

Now.

Keeping my expression neutral, I began entering clearance codes at lightning speed while pretending to listen to the ongoing Thanksgiving conversation.

Across the table, Rick was already several beers into his annual holiday lecture.

“You know what the problem is nowadays?” he boomed, waving a half-empty bottle dramatically. “Back when I was in the military, we had discipline! Real discipline!”

I kept typing.

Authorization sequence Charlie-Tango-Niner.

“Not like this generation,” Rick continued loudly. “Always staring at screens and pushing buttons all day. Nobody even knows what you do, Kira.”

“Yes, Rick,” I replied absently.

My thumbs never stopped moving.