"Weprotect what's ours."
Shegoes entirely quiet.Mygaze locks onto her profile.Shereads the intimate story of my family hidden within the raw numbers, clearly seeing the way we bleed forPineValley.Mostexternal auditors strictly hunt for fraud, whereas she relentlessly searches for the beating heart of the entire club.
"Andyou?" she asks softly, keeping her eyes glued to the screen. "Whotakes care of you?"
Myheavy tool stills abruptly against the metal bracket.
"Ihandle myself."
"Isthat why your personal expenses sit at absolute zero?"
Myentire body goes rigid. "Youlack authorization to access member files."
"Huntingfor a mole requires full access," she argues. "Yourfile shows up completely empty.Zerorent, food, or entertainment.Youonly list tool purchases and massive savings."
"Isleep at the compound and eat at the mess hall.Entertainmentremains completely unnecessary."
"Everyoneneeds something," she whispers.Shespins the heavy chair around again. "Whatexactly are you saving for,Elias?Asmall fortune sits untouched in your high-yield account."
Myeyes drop to the small steel ring resting on my table.Ihave tried to forge the piece for years without finishing it, leaving a simple loop of raw iron waiting for completion.
"I'mstockpiling for a rainy day,"Ilie flatly.
"Amassive blizzard currently rages outside," she points out.
"Samedifference."
Shestands, stretching her arms high above her head.Thepink cardigan slips down one shoulder, exposing the thin fabric ofher shirt.Thefaint outline of her ribs shows through the cotton, revealing a frame that looks like it belongs to a woman who runs on caffeine and forgets to eat.
"I'mhungry," she announces.
"MREssit in the corner."
"Irefuse to eatMenu4:PorkRib,Boneless.Thatqualifies as a crime against humanity."
"Itfunctions as fuel."
"Itresembles sad plastic meat."Shewalks over to my workstation, deliberately invading my personal space.Herhip leans casually against the edge of the heavy table. "Areal kitchen exists upstairs."
"Lockdownprotocols remain in effect,Mia.TheVaultstays permanently sealed."
"Youdemanded seventy-two hours of intense labor.Withoutreal food, my brain shuts down entirely, guaranteeing you never find your mole."
Sheactively negotiates the terms of her confinement.Shuttingher down should be automatic.Myposition asTreasurermeansIhold the purse strings and control all access keys.Yether piercing green eyes stare directly into mine, the pink cardigan slipping further down her delicate shoulder.Theintoxicating scent of grapefruit rapidly clouds every ounce of my logical judgment.
"Whatdo you want?"Igrind out, exhaling a heavy breath.
"Asandwich.Ideallyfrom that bakery you currently subsidize.Auditingtheir flour requires a proper taste test of the final product."
Seven.
"LeavingtheVaultremains impossible, butBlakecan deliver something to the secure drop box."
Abrilliant smile illuminates her entire face. "You'ddo that?"
"Ineed your brain fully functional."
"Sure.Functional."Shesmirks. "Thankyou."
