I pull up the full database, filtering by the encryption signatures we identified. Screen after screen of data flows past—transactions, authorizations, routing protocols, all disguised as ancient Roman cipher analysis.
“Look here.” My excitement overrides my self-consciousness as the full picture becomes clear. “This isn’t random. Every transaction is systematically coded using historical cipher fragments as camouflage. They’ve turned our entire academic research project into their private banking system.”
He leans closer, studying the data with frightening intensity. “How much money are we talking about?”
“Hundreds of millions… Billions maybe.” I point to the transaction amounts embedded in the code. “And it’s not old data—these are active, real-time financial operations. Phoenix isn’t just an AI that kills people. It’s a financial empire unto itself.”
He moves around to see the screen better, standing beside my chair. The change in angle puts his face inches frommine, and I catch myself staring at the strong line of his jaw, remembering how it felt against my skin.
“Someone is using Phoenix to launder money on a massive scale.” I scroll through the data, numbers streaming across the screen.
Cooper goes very still. “Show me the dates.”
I filter the data by timestamp. “This week. Yesterday.”
“Jesus.” He straightens, running a hand through his hair.
I stare at the screen, data flowing past in neat rows of numbers and codes that represent death sentences. “I have access to Phoenix’s financial infrastructure.”
“Fascinating,” Cooper says, and despite everything, there’s a hint of admiration in his voice. “Smart woman.”
Heat floods my cheeks at the compliment. “Most people find my work boring.”
He looks at me then, really looks at me, with an intensity that makes my breath catch. “There’s nothing boring about you.”
Before I can respond, his hands frame my face, thumbs brushing across my cheekbones. The kiss is sudden, fierce—celebration and pride and something deeper all rolled into one claiming press of his mouth against mine.
I melt into it, into him, my hands fisting in his shirt as he kisses me like I’ve just handed him the keys to the kingdom. Which, I realize dimly, I may have done.
“You just?—”
The sound of vehicles outside cuts him off. Multiple engines. The distinctive rumble of large SUVs moving down the street.
Cooper’s entire demeanor changes in an instant. He moves to the window, staying below the sight line, peering through a gap in the blinds.
“Shit.”
“What is it?”
“Three vehicles. Professional formation. They found us.”
Ice fills my veins. “How is that possible?”
“Doesn’t matter.” His voice is pure command now, all traces of our earlier intimacy buried under tactical necessity. He points to the flash drive on the table. “Pull that and shove it in your bra. It was safe there before.”
Despite everything, I let out a startled laugh. “Seriously?”
“Dead serious. Best security system you’ve got.” His mouth quirks in the ghost of a smile even as he grabs the go-bag. “Pack up. We move in sixty seconds.”
I close the laptop with shaking hands, my mind racing. “Cooper, what if what I decoded isn’t just communications? What if it’showthey fund operations? What if I discovered Phoenix’s financial nervous system?”
He pauses in his weapons check, looking at me with something that might be respect. “Then you’ve found something worth killing for.”
Car doors slam outside, echoing down the street. Multiple sets of boots hit pavement.
Cooper’s jaw clenches as he counts. “Nine. Maybe twelve.” He looks at me, and something shifts in his expression. “We’re not running this time.”
“What do you mean we’re not running?”
