ME:She’s good. Smart. Knows her code like I know a hoist cable. Someone used her credentials last night while she was off-base. We’re tracking it.
NASH:internal?
ME:Maybe. Or a contractor breach. We found a breadcrumb.
MACK:gimme a name and an address. muffins incoming.
BANKS:I volunteer to bring flowers
JACE:Riley, right?
ME:Willow. Yeah.
There’s a beat of silence. They can smell what I’m not saying. I didn’t give them much, but they already know.
NASH:pretty?
MACK:smart pretty or ruin-your-life pretty
SIN:both is lethal
BANKS:he’s being quiet. it’s both.
JACE:describe her like we’re blind and shallow
COLT:do not.
I don’t respond.
But I think it?—
Pretty like the first warm day after a hard winter. Like the feeling of breath after being underwater too long. Her eyes are blue, but not soft. They cut and spark. And when she laughs, it knocks the wind out of me because I didn’t realize I missed that sound.
Instead, I text:
ME:focused. fast. hands steady under pressure.
NASH:yeah. just googled her. she’sdefinitelyhot.
MACK:you’re done for
SIN:proud of you, brother
BANKS:get her number in case you die
COLT:shut up. protect her.
The bay door buzzes. One of the techs waves me in. Time to test Riley’s locked code build. I text one final line before walking inside.
ME:test range in 20. She's running the demo. I’ll keep her behind my shoulder.
COLT:good.
NASH:don’t let command eat her alive
MACK:punch anyone who raises their voice
SIN:kiss anyone who deserves it
