“You opened a Level Omega channel,” he says. “Do you have any idea what that triggers?”
“I do,” I snap. “Which is why we used it.”
His gaze locks onto mine.
Sharper now.
“Then you should also know,” he says, “that it doesn’t just alert the people you want.”
Cold slides down my spine.
No.
No, I knew that.
I did.
But hearing it like this—
Different.
“What are you saying?” Jase growls.
Daniel’s jaw tightens slightly.
“I’m saying,” he replies, “you just told every compromised system in the network exactly where to look.”
Silence slams into the room.
Heavy.
Real.
Ethan’s expression darkens.
Jonah swears under his breath.
Cal shifts closer to the door.
“Which means what?” Jase presses.
Daniel doesn’t look away from me.
“Which means,” he says quietly, “this wasn’t the only team coming.”
And right on cue—
Outside—
Headlights cut through the storm again.
Two vehicles.
Faster.
More aggressive.
My stomach drops.
