“We need confirmation,” I say. “Direct. Not filtered. Not intercepted.”
Ethan studies me for a second.
Then gives a short nod.
“Then we lock this down,” he says. “All the way.”
Jase shifts beside me. “Meaning?”
Ethan’s gaze sharpens.
“Meaning we don’t just protect the data,” he says.
His eyes flick between us.
“We protect the two of you.”
The weight of that settles hard.
Because if Delta Five is saying that—
Then this is bigger than we thought.
Bigger than corruption.
Bigger than money.
This is control.
At the highest level.
And now—
We’re standing right in the middle of it.
Jase’s hand brushes mine briefly.
Not soft.
Not hesitant.
Solid.
Grounding.
I don’t look at him.
Don’t need to.
I already know.
We’re not backing down.
Not now.
Not ever.
Ethan steps back, already shifting into command mode.
