"Ijust did."
"ButDaniel, you're aNomad.You'rethe club'sTracker.Youdon't have attachments or permanent roots."Shetaps the monitor edge. "Thispermanently grounds you.Itputs you directly on the grid.Ifanyone digs forKailaGunnar, they pull upDanielGunnar.Theyexpose you."
Ireach out, tucking a tangled lock of dark hair behind her ear before letting my heavy thumb trace the rigid line of her jaw. "Iknow."
"Why?"
"BecauseI'mdone running."
Turningmy back to the terminal,Icross the room and slam a heavy palm against the wall intercom, buzzing the main floor.
"Logan."
Theworn speaker crackles with static. "Yeah,Tracker.We'reclear down here.What'syour status?"
"Threatneutralized,"Ireport. "Thedigital footprint burned to ash.Ineed a favor."
"Nameit."
Ilook back atKaila.Herlips part, her chest rising and falling in deep, uneven pulls of air.Hergaze locks onto mine, shedding the panic for a raw, open vulnerability that feels dangerously like home.
"Updatethe official club roster,"Iorder into the mic. "Removemy name from theNomadlist."
Deadair fills the line.WhenLogan'svoice finally returns, the pitch drops a full octave. "Yousure about that, brother?Onceyou ground yourself, you stay anchored.Youtake a permanent post at this table, and you hold the line."
"Iknow."
"Youmaking this play for the girl?"
Ihold her wide-eyed stare. "Yeah.I'mclaiming the post for myOldLady."
Kaila’sbreath hitches violently, her fingers trembling as she grips the edge of the desk.
"Understood,"Loganreplies.Adark sense of approval laces his tone. "Welcomehome,Daniel.We'llpull out a chair for you.Chaptermeeting at zero nine hundred."
"Copy."
Irelease the button.Thethick silence in the loft buzzes with raw, frantic energy.
Pushingaway from the monitor,Kailaforces herself to stand.Herthighs tremble visibly through her tactical pants.Shenavigates the tangle of thick wires and empty aluminum cansscattered across the floorboard until her boots stop inches from mine.
Theoversized black t-shirt dwarfs her frame, yet the burning heat in her gaze commands the entire room.
"Yougave up your freedom," she whispers.
"Itraded it."
"Forwhat?"
"Forsomething better."Isnare an arm around her narrow waist, hauling her flush against my chest.Thesolid impact of her body hitting mine slams through my system like a hard drug.Ineed the friction to prove she actually survived the chaos. "Aphantom is nothing but a shadow,Kaila.Irefuse to be a shadow anymore."
Herpalms flatten against my sternum.Thesteady, heavy thud of my pulse hammers directly against her fingertips.
"You'restuck with me now," she whispers into the space between us. "Digitallybound in every single way that matters."
"Thatwas the plan."
Tuckingher face into the curve of my neck, she lets out a broken exhale.Thescalding wetness of her tears bleeds directly into my collar. "Thankyou.ForsavingKevin, and for doing this."