I woke up groggily, rubbing my eyes. "What's going on?"

Layla took a deep breath before speaking. "Alex, we need to talk to you about your father."

My expression changed from sleepy to alert in an instant. "What about him?"

Rachel stepped forward, her voice gentle. "We've discovered that Phoenix, your father, is alive."

My eyes widened, and I sat up straight, as if punched in the gut. "What? That's impossible."

Rachel nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy for me. "We know it's a lot to take in, but we have evidence. He faked his own death to protect you and SHADOWS."

My face went through a range of emotions....