And now… they were here for her.
She looked up at Nikos.
At the man who had walked into her life like a storm—bossy, demanding, but who had stayed.
The tightness in her chest shifted. Soft and seismic.
I’m in love with him.
The realization hit her like lightning. Fierce. Unapologetic. Pure.
Not because he saved her.
But because with him, she could stop running.
If anyone ever tried to take him away, she’d scorch the earth to keep him safe.
He must have felt the shift in her emotions, because his gaze sharpened.
“Hey,” he murmured, brushing a curl behind her ear. “You okay?”
She nodded, her voice thick with unspoken emotion.
“I am now.”
Cosmos Raines Industries, Houston, Texas Headquarters
The scent of freshly brewed coffee reached him before the door to the CRI Office fully slid open with a hydraulic hiss.
Oh, hell yeah!
Cosmos stepped inside, nodding to Avery, who sat back in a chair beside the central console where RITA’s holographic form shimmered in high-definition clarity. The AI stood poised and polished in her designer black pantsuit, her arms folded, her sharp eyes glowing with layered data feeds scrolling across her irises.
Avery raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you give up coffee?”
Cosmos beelined for the pot. “Only when Terra’s around,” he muttered, pouring a cup like it might save his life.
Avery chuckled, the sound dry. “You aresowhipped. You know the second you kiss her, she’ll know you cheated.”
“Yeah, well, tell me how Core is going to react when he realizes you’re working here instead of on Baade,” he replied with a grin,taking a sip.
He turned to face the room, still savoring the warmth when his eyes narrowed on RITA. She was glowing—literally, a subtle amber sheen beneath her usual blue-white shimmer—which told him she was pulling some maximum power in whatever she was researching.
That wasn’t good.
“Alright, RITA. What’s so damn important you had to wake me up through yourtwin?” he asked, giving her a pointed look over his cup. “Terra was not amused.”
RITA arched one sharp brow. “According to RITA2, you and Terra weren’t sleeping. You should get more rest, Cosmos. Sleep is essential for men your age.”
He grunted. “I’m notthatold. What was so important?” he repeated.
RITA turned toward the floating screen and flicked her fingers. The display exploded with scrolling data: IP logs, access flags, heat maps. She didn’t need to explain; he saw the patterns immediately.
“Kallistratos Security Systems?” he asked, frowning. “What the hell are they doing poking around my archives?”
Avery leaned forward, her frown creasing her forehead. “Who?”
“KSS,” RITA confirmed. “They’ve made several inquiries into CRI’s closed files—encrypted layers, buried deep. They aren’t just curious. They’re methodical. Focused.”
