“Aria, no.” Dad turned to face me, tone firm and expression firmer. “We have no idea if they’re acting alone. You could be taken completely off-guard. It’s not happening.”

Frustration welled up inside me, but I knew this was how the conversation would go.

“I know you want to help,” Dad added softly, pulling me in for a gentle hug. “But we just don’t have enough information. They have the element of surprise, and until they don’t—”

“Well, what if they didn’t?” ...