Recruiting the Ghost – Liam Miller's Vow
After receiving the urgently shipped treatment from Korea, we hopped into Jacob's pickup truck and headed to the hospital where Liam Miller's mother was staying.
"Does Liam know you well?" I wanted to avoid another pistol-in-the-gut situation like last time.
"We've run a few ops together. The second he sees my face, he'll have plenty to say."
Thank God. Honestly, I had zero interest in reliving that belly-gun nightmare.
'Athena, how do we get Liam's mom out of the hospital?'
Hack the hospital network and change her status from improving to critically worsening. Fake it so it looks like she's terminal and the family wants her to spend her final moments comfortably at home.
I'd been bracing for some spy-thriller extraction, but this sounded way simpler.
We chatted idly with Jacob for about fifteen minutes before a massive hospital loomed into view.
"Go in first, explain the situation to Liam, and call me when you're done."
"Got it, Boss."
I sent Jacob ahead and zoned out in the lobby for a bit when his text came through.
I checked the message, opened the room door, and there he was—a guy eyeing me with total distrust.
"Liam, this is the Boss I told you about."
Liam scanned me up and down. Early-20s Asian kid. To him, I probably looked like some punk trying to scam him out of his parents' lives, not a savior.
"...Boss. Honestly, if it weren't for you vouching, my fist would've been the first thing flying."
"Don't sweat it. Hell, I grabbed his collar and shoved a gun in his gut first. I get it."
Liam let out a long sigh and explained his mom's condition.
"Stage 4 pancreatic cancer plus Alzheimer's. Modern medicine can't touch it. And this kid says he can fix her?"
Without Jacob, I'd probably have a pistol in my gut right now too.
"Modern medicine? No way. But my tech? Absolutely."
To avoid provoking him, I slowly pulled the syringe from its envelope in my inner pocket.
"This wipes out cancer cells at the cellular level and rebuilds the damaged neural networks in her brain. You just said it yourself—your mom's got no hope."
I hadn't meant to poke the bear, but I could see his eyebrow twitching.
Fuck... this guy's scary as hell.
"So give me a shot. Jacob wouldn't vouch for a scammer over something like this."
Maybe seeing Athena convince Jacob had me calmer than I felt, but the words came out steady. Dropping Jacob's name did the trick—Liam's face twisted in conflict. He'd know about Ethan's situation, so that name hit hard.
After clenching his fists in agony, Liam finally agreed.
"Your face looks way better than his did. That's why I'm trusting you."
Jacob grinned.
"Smart move."
With permission granted, I immediately handed control to Athena. One slip-up here, and I'd be dead—no way I was risking that myself.
Athena administered the injection, and about ten minutes later, Liam's mom opened her eyes.
"Liam... my son?"
Her voice was raspy, cracked from disuse. Liam froze at the sound, then grabbed her hand.
"...Mom? You recognize me? Who am I?"
"Who else but my son, Liam Miller? Aigoo, are you eating properly?"
Tears burst from Liam as he bowed his head and sobbed.
"...Jacob. Time to get us out. Block the door—no one in."
"Yes, Boss."
I watched Jacob step out and stand guard.
"Liam, no time for tears. We need to bail ASAP. I've faked her records as terminal decline—family wants final moments at home comfortably. Go sign the discharge papers."
He wiped his eyes, thanked me profusely, and left the room. Not even ten minutes later, he was back.
"Papers signed. Ready to go?"
Like Jacob, Liam's attitude flipped to respectful in seconds.
"Yeah, wheelchair's set. Wheel her out, and we're done."
We got her into the wheelchair and slipped out of the hospital.
'All cleaned up?'
Yep, processed as home hospice discharge. Delete from the database in a week, and it's gone forever.
Perfect. Cleaner than with Jacob—no yelling required.
Once Liam loaded his mom into his car, we peeled out of the hospital grounds.
Thirty minutes later, we pulled into a quiet village.
'This the place his parents lived?'
Yes, wrap it up here.
We stopped in front of a cozy, everyday house straight out of a drama. I watched Liam help his mom inside, then waited outside.
Sitting on a chair by the door with Jacob, enjoying the view, Liam emerged.
I half-expected him to drop to his knees like Jacob, but he stared straight at me. Then he pulled something from his pocket.
Shit, it looked like a gun—I tensed—but it was his dog tags.
"This is everything to me. Haven't taken it off since enlisting."
His voice was low, firm. No kneeling like Jacob, but he locked eyes without flinching.
"Sorry for calling you a punk earlier."
I'm no saint, but I wasn't gonna hold a grudge against a guy on the edge.
"Water under the bridge. I don't hold desperate words against people."
Recognition hit, and I fought back a grin, playing it cool.
"What I want is loyalty. Unwavering loyalty—no betrayal. Can you give that?"
"Compared to the grace you've shown? Piece of cake. My life for yours."
No dramatics like Jacob, but clean and solid.
"Good. I'll swing by tomorrow afternoon. Spend time with your folks till then."
We set a time, and I headed back to the lodging.
After lunch, I dropped by Liam's. He was dressed casually.
"What's my job, Boss?"
Calling me Boss already. Guess between him and Jacob, that's the fixed title now.
"Not killing anyone or starting wars right off. I'm from Korea, and I need protection there."
I laid out the gig and situation simply. He nodded.
"Bodyguarding and security. Perfect for ex-Delta."
I handed him the same wireless earpiece as Jacob's.
"Not just basic guarding, Liam. I don't flash my stuff, so it's quiet most days. But with my tech? Expect off-the-books ops when shit hits the fan."
As I finished, Athena chimed in through his earpiece.
Nice to meet you, Liam.
"Who's this?"
No freakout—calmer than expected. Who'd guess AI anyway?
"My custom AI. She handles intel—treat her that way."
He fiddled with the earpiece, fitted it, smirked, and replied.
"I've danced outside the law before. Just more of the same. Trust me with it."
Definitely different vibe from Jacob. Snarky, maybe?
"Good. Besides you and Jacob, two more to recruit."
"Four total? Perfect size—not too conspicuous. Matches what you want."
"Spot on. Their stories mirror yours, but they've got body issues. I want you two to handle convincing and bringing them in."
Great chance to test their skills. Plus, after the packed schedule, I was beat.
"Sending their info to your phones. Decide who approaches who."
Phones buzzed instantly.
Liam glanced at his and asked Jacob.
"Boss tip you off on this?"
"Nah, Boss dug 'em up."
Liam's brow furrowed.
"...Our security that hackable?"
"Guess the Boss is just that good."
They bantered a bit, then decided.
"I'll take Carlos. More my speed than yours."
He knew Carlos well—sounded casual.
"Fine. Eric Vance is mine."
Done deal.
"Sorted?"
"Yes, Boss. Liam on Carlos, me on Eric Vance."
Crisp decision—mood booster.
"Liam, you got a crypto wallet?"
"One, yeah."
Whew—not starting from scratch.
"Use it?"
"Yeah, not heavy, but I know my way around."
No tutorial needed.
"Liam, Jacob—sent 500k USD each. Use for whatever this needs. More if short, just holler."
A cool million dropped, and their faces lit up.
"This covers gear easy. Thanks."
"Alright, plan set—get to it. Report via earpiece, not direct contact."
Finally, things rolling without me. Auto-hunt engaged.