"Theupload is at ninety-eight percent," he murmurs, the low rumble vibrating through the steel floor and straight into my thighs. "Onceit hits a hundred, the algorithm will chase its own tail for weeks.Webought time."
"Webought survival,"Icorrect.Standingup stretches out the tight coil in my spine, giving the buzzing energy under my skin somewhere to go.Mylegs wobble, betraying the heavy ache pooling between my thighs. "Nowwe wait for theFedsto realize they’ve been chasing a phantom."
"Wewait," he agrees, closing the distance by a single stride.Thesmall space turns that simple movement into a declaration of war.
Thickair crackles around us, charged with heavy static.Thetension becomes a physical weight, pressing the air from my lungs.
Skinand muscle remember the bruising grind of his hips pinning me against the cabineta few hours ago.Thephantom pressure of his hard cock remains branded on my stomach.Stoppingtook immense discipline.TheTreasurerbalances the books.TheTreasurerdoesn't make mistakes.
Lookingat him now, blown pupils and a jaw clenched tight enough to snap iron tell a different story.Disciplinewon't hold much longer.
"Elias,"Iwhisper.
Anotherheavy boot steps forward. "Mia."
Thenthe world ends.
Adull thump resonates from the ceiling through miles of dirt and concrete above us.Theunmistakable shockwave of an explosion shakes the floorboards before a second blast hits.Rapid-fire pops of automatic gunfire filter down the ventilation shafts in muffled succession.
"Siege,"Eliasbarks.
Thelights die entirely, cutting off my response.
Pitchblackness slams into the room, creating an absolute void.Thesteady vibration of the processors cuts out, quickly replaced by the high-pitched whine of backup generators kicking into gear.Overheadbulbs remain entirely dead.Eerieblue shadows stretch from the dying glow of my laptop screen before the monitor flickers into nothingness as the lockdown protocol severs external power.
"Elias?"Mythroat constricts, my lungs seizing as the air turns to lead.Reachingout, my fingers grasp only empty space. "What’shappening?"
"Staystill."Thedeep command echoes off the surrounding walls.
"Ican’t see anything."
"Iknow."
Thedistinctive snick of a latch opening precedes the heavy rustle of fabric.Asoft whine of electronics powering up pierces the heavy silence.
"Talkto me."
"Costa," he spits. "Hittingthe compound triggered theVault’ssecurity protocol.Theheavy doors just sealed us in.Wehave no power and zero exits until the threat is neutralized."
Mypulse hammers a frantic rhythm against my ribs.Menwith automatic weapons are tearing apart the floors above us.Theheavy metal box surrounding us is our only defense.
"We’reblind,"Imanage to force out through trembling lips.
"Youare,"Eliascounters. "I’mnot."
Allmovement stops.
Invisibleheat radiates from his moving form.Thepacing transforms into a predator's stalk.Bootsteps land softer against the concrete, perfectly controlled.
"Whatdo you mean?"Iask, backing up until my hips connect hard with the edge of the steel worktable.
"Nightvision," he murmurs right in front of my face. "Standardissue for theVaultemergency kit.Mysight is perfect,Mia."
Theskin along my spine tightens into rigid gooseflesh.Hisaugmented gaze tracks the rapid rise and fall of my chest.Hecan read my dilated pupils, uncovering the desperate hungerIhaven’t been able to hide for the lasttwenty-six hours.
"Isthat fair?"
"Fairnessis irrelevant."
