Therealization of the location hits my tired brain. "Dominic'sgrandfather referred to theEasternCliffas the 'family soul' in his old journals.DominicandLuciaspent every summer here as children.Hisgrandfather told him aCostaholding theCliffcould never be truly defeated.It’shis sanctuary,Daniel.Hittinghis servers here equates to trespassing on sacred ground.Hewill absolutely snap."
Myfinger trembles over the monitor glass, indicating a smaller, cooler cluster of heat signatures. "Thecells.Kevinis locked in there."
Danielcaptures my hand to stop the tremor.Heinterlaces his fingers tightly through mine, his massive palm engulfing my grip. "Wefound him,Kaila.Thatcompletes step one."
"Steptwo requires getting him out,"Iwhisper, staring at the fortress on the screen. "Thatplace looks like a bunker."
"Steptwo falls strictly under my job description," he replies. "Youact as the eyes, andIhandle the violence.Youpoint, andIshoot."
Heturns his chair to face me fully.Theblue light from the monitors casts sharp shadows across the harsh angles of his jaw.
"Youdid good today," he remarks. "Standingup toLogan.Mostpeople piss themselves."
"Iwas too busy trying not to vomit."
Alow chuckle rumbles deep in his chest. "Youfit here,Kaila.Youfit perfectly."
"Idon't fit anywhere,"Iargue.Istare at the monitors to avoid the heavy weight of his gaze. "I’ma glitch.Ibreak things."
"Thenbreak things,"Danielmurmurs.Hishands clamp over my hips, pulling me firmly between his thighs as he sits.Hecages me against the edge of his chair, pressing his solid warmth against my stomach.Mylungs seize. "Breaktheir walls.Breaktheir encryption codes.Justdon't break your promise to stay put."
"I'mnot going anywhere,"Ibreathe out.
Hedoesn't let go.Danielleans in, cupping the back of my neck to drag my face down to his.Histhumb presses a heavy brand into my jawline.Hismouth crashes down on mine, stripping away every coherent thought in my brain.Hereplaces my logic with absolute chaos.Hetastes like dark coffee and rough tobacco.Imeant to pull away, but my fingers tangle in the thick fabric of his shirt to drag him closer.
Danielgroans into my mouth, releasing a low, primal sound that vibrates straight through my teeth.Histongue parts my lips, sweeping inside to take complete ownership.Hebrands me with a starving desperation.Everythrust of his tongue, every harsh scrape of his stubble against my chin, seals a brutal claim over my body.
"Mine," he mumbles against my lips, his hot breath washing over my skin. "Everybit of you,Ghost."
Myknees finally buckle under the sheer drop in adrenaline.Danielcatches me effortlessly, scooping me up against his chest.Ibury my face into his shoulder, breathing in the scent of his leather cut as he carries me out of the server room.Thesteady,hammering rhythm of his chest lulls me under, leaving me entirely at the mercy of the man who just marked me as his own.
4
DANIEL
Thered light on the server tower thrums, a slow, dying rhythm.
Mygaze shifts from the hardware directly to the woman.
Kailasleeps in my chair, her head pillowed on her arms, face turned toward the wall of monitors.Theblue glow of the screens paints her skin in ghostly hues, highlighting the dark circles under her eyes and the rigid line of her jaw that holds fast even in sleep.
Herframe appears small against the oversized leather.Fragiledoesn't apply to her, though.I'veseen her dismantle a firewall with the exact violenceShaneuses to break a jaw.
Myhand flexes at my side.Theurge to touch her sits heavy in my chest, a tightening completely separate from the shrapnel scar on my ribs, entirely focused on the hacker currently drooling on my mechanical keyboard.
Mine.
Theclaim echoes in my skull, bouncing around like a loose round in a metal drum.Irrationaland dangerous logic dictatesIstep back.Loganwould call her a liability.Lookingat the curve of her neck, exposed by the messy bun tied up three hours ago, logic completely evaporates.Keepingher breathing consumes me.Sheremains the only person on this godforsaken mountain who speaks my language.
Myboots make no sound on the industrial carpet.Asteady drone of cooling fans fills the loft.Downstairs, the clubhouse sits empty, the brothers crashed out or on patrol.
Reachingout,Ihover my fingers over a stray lock of hair fallen across her cheek.
Themonitors suddenly flash red.
Ajarring, dissonant alarm blares through the ceiling speakers, accompanied by a blinding strobe.
Kailajerks awake.Shegasps, hands flying to the keyboard before her eyelids fully part, driven entirely by raw survivalist instinct.