Annika turned and looked at him. “That’s exactly it! But they only accept one pair of eyes. Edward’s.”
A hushed silence fell over the room as everyone soaked in the information. Matteo broke it when he stood and said, “Okay. Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, just what are you guys proposing? Because it sure sounds like a?—”
Before he could finish, Stryker and Harrison both interrupted, speaking together as they grinned.
“A data heist!”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Annika couldn’t believe what she’d heard.
She and the others listened for over an hour while Harrison and Stryker had detailed their plan. At first, she thought had thought it impossible. They were talking about breaking into a compound, gaining access to an underground lair, and stealing data from the richest—and arguably most powerful—man on the planet. Stuff like that only happened in the movies.
But as Daddy carried her upstairs for bed, she remembered that made sense because Stryker and Harrison had “movie brains.” They thought in those terms. In their world, this could happen.
She was starting to catch their optimism.
Could she finally be free of Edward Marlot? Even though she was safe in the mansion with Matteo, Marlot’s presence still loomed heavy over her. She couldn’t live her entire life that way.
And more importantly, she didn’t want Daddy and her new friends to be in danger because of her.
But things often didn’t work out in real life the way they did in the movies. The plan would require her to be in harm’s way, too. The part that bothered her the most, though, was knowing her friends would be in danger.
Though was Matteo ever truly in danger?
Annika had the suspicion Matteo could face anything and come out just fine.
Armies could charge him. Enemies could storm from every direction. Somehow, Daddy would prevail.
And he’d keep her safe.
But she couldn’t ask that of him forever. It there was a chance she could finally be free of Edward Marlot, shouldn’t she take it?
She just wished there was a way to do it without putting her friends in danger.
Tonight, it was all too much to think about. She was exhausted and signnaled as much with a loud yawn and stretch just as Matteo deposited her gently on his bed.
Now that she was on the bed… perhaps they could…
Her eyes might be too heavy for that.
“You need to get some rest, little girl,” she heard Daddy say.
Thoughts of being in his arms kept flickering in her mind. They needed to finish what they’d started earlier.
“I’m not tired, Daddy.”
Okay, that was a lie, and they both knew it. But it was worth a shot.
“Nice try, little one. You need to lay down, close those pretty eyes, and go to sleep. It’ll be morning before you know it.”
Annika opened her mouth to protest once more, but she couldn’t even remember what she was going to say.
Her eyes were closed. She was out before her head even hit the pillow.
The following morning, she awoke to find herself nestled tightly in Matteo’s arms.
Having his muscles pressed against her felt wonderful.
