David blinked. “Yeah, I’ll take one.”
Nick grunted his agreement as they stepped into the corridor, the tension peeling off them like damp shirts.
The hallway was narrow and dimly lit, the modern LEDs lowered to night settings, throwing long shadows on the scuffed tile. The air tasted like industrial cleaner and a hint of oil from the maintenance closet. Zach propped a shoulder on the far wall and crossed his arms, switching gears now that they were out of earshot.
“I sent his prints off to Ghost.” The clipped quality of Zach’s voice emphasized his total focus. “If that guy’s ever had a uniform, it’ll show. He moves like someone who’s trained, but not elite-trained. Could be ex-military, but no special assignments. He didn’t even twitch when I got close.”
Nick snorted. “Zach, no one hears you coming. That’s a terrible yardstick to use.”
Zach glanced at him, one brow lifting, a smirk teasing the corner of his mouth.
“You know what I mean. Instinct should’ve flared. An edge, some old training kicking in. This guy? Might’ve been good once. Now he’s just lucky.”
“Or desperate,” David added, the lingering tingle of adrenaline buzzing behind his fingertips. “Desperate gets stupid fast.”
“You say that like you weren’t the one hand-delivering a glowing trail right to his doorstep,” Nick said dryly.
David grinned, satisfied. “It worked, didn’t it?” He shifted his attention back to Zach. “You said your guy will hit back soon?”
Zach’s phone vibrated. All three of their heads turned toward the sound. He pulled it free, eyes flicking across the screen.
“Dylan Wilson. Thirty-two. Former Army military police. Dishonorably discharged four years ago. No outstanding warrants, but not squeaky either.”
His fingers moved fast, thumbs flying over the glass as he replied. The screen’s glow lit the rigid lines of his face, from thestrong plane of cheekbone to clenched jaw. Then he slid it back in his pocket.
“Ghost is digging into his digital trail now,” Zach raised an eyebrow toward David. “But in case he hits a wall, think you can get into Wilson’s offline records? Stuff that’s not supposed to be public?”
David’s blood quickened the way it always did in response to a challenge. He nodded, eyes narrowing as the cogs turned in his head.
“If he’s got stored data anywhere—even deep, cold storage—I’ll find it.” His voice hardened. “We’ve got a loose end, and I want to know who tied the rope.”
He continued silently, ensuring no one overheard.I’ll look as soon as we’re done here. I was going to wait until we finished with Wilson. But you need to know—Lena’s more than just… Lena. She anchors me. She works like a battery for my talent. Touch her? I get a boost, a massive one. Just being in the same room cuts the backlash to nothing.
David slumped against the wall of the hallway, the static hum of adrenaline still sparking in his limbs. The thought had been clawing at the back of his mind since Lena clasped his hand in the server room—an electric clarity that sharpened his focus and left no echoing hangover like usual.
Now he said it out loud. Well, sort of.
Nick straightened.That’s…
A liability if she gets caught up in something,Zach finished grimly.
Yeah,David said.But also—potentially valuable. Nick, remember when your range blew wide for the first time? You were sitting in Lena’s office.
Nick blinked, processing.Holy hell. I thought it was me.
David nodded.Might not have been. I think she amplifies abilities. I think that’s why you peaked then.
Nick gave a low whistle through his teeth.Well. Make sure not to piss off the one person who can turn you into a functioning supercomputer without the nosebleeds and blackouts.
David grinned, quick and feral.Wouldn’t dream of it.The smile faded into something quieter, more certain.I have every intention of keeping her, amplifier or not. She’s mine.
Zach’s mouth curled upward at one corner. He didn’t say anything, but the approval in his eyes said it all—acceptance without judgment, the only way warriors gave it. Nick gave David a quick nod, his usual sarcasm dialed into something genuine. They’d seen it—long before David admitted it. But it felt good to say it out loud. Solid. True.
“All right,” David said, sliding that steel resolve into his voice. “Let’s talk to our buddy Wilson.”
The three of them moved—efficient, synchronized, all residual lethality hidden under smooth motion. Their boots struck the tile in a rhythm that echoed down the corridor like a countdown.
Zach openedthe door without ceremony and strode through, taking his place in the bare interrogation room like he’d been born in it. He crossed to the far wall and leaned against it, his presence enough to color the air with threat. The bright light glinted off the lethal blade strapped to his leg and the throwing knives on his chest.
