They stay like that, the buzz of the Dragoon’s Rest sign overhead and the murmur of Shreveport drifting up from below.
At last, Kane breaks the silence against his ear. “If all goes according to plan, this war ends tonight.”
Rafael pulls back with a frown. “Tonight?” He hoped they’d have more time—tonight and before whatever attack they have planned against Athena starts.
Now, unease stirs in his gut. Is Kane leading a battle? Will they all come home? Is Athena already closing in?
Kane frowns. “As much as I want to stay here with you…we need to move fast—before I lose the upper hand.”
Theupper hand.
That means they have a chance. He wants to ask for more details, but sometimes, not knowing is for the best.
“Okay.” His gaze falls, only for cool fingers to tilt his chin up.
Their eyes lock again, his tight with worry, Kane’s unyielding. “By tomorrow,” Kane says, “this will be behind us.”
He wants to believe Kane, needs to, and after what they’ve been through together, Rafael does.
42
Chapter 42 - Kane
Kane stands beneath the towering Lux Systems building, its blue neon logo buzzing above the entrance.
For now, the future office sits vacant, set to open in a few days. Perfect neutral ground for a meet, if Echo’s press rat came through. Inside, security is minimal, with a scatter of sensors and skeleton enforcers patrolling the upper floors. Outside, a few corpo drones hum nearby. Nothing worth raising an alarm.
Midtown rush hour murmurs in the distance, but here, traffic is thin. A few HOVs drift overhead, pedestrians funneling toward the nearest stop at ground level. No one gives Kane or any of them a second look. This close to Shreveport, they barely register—even with weapons and armor.
He glances at the crew. Coda’s fingers fly over a keyboard only he can see. Kane doesn’t ask for updates.
At his side, Echo checks her wristlink. Wren mutters into her comm while Pixie tightens the straps on her harness.
All their life signs are steady in Kane’s HUD, a testament to their days of planning.
Still, tension coils in his hands.
Everyone’s future rests on tonight. Especially his.
Coda cuts in. “All clear.” He peers at Kane through his goggles, expression blank.
Kane nods. “Let’s move.” Adjusting his vest, he marches toward the building with his lieutenants behind.
At the front door, a robotic voice crackles from the corpo security panel. “Scanning in progress.”
He stiffens.
Blue light washes over them, followed by a series of beeps. The lock disengages with a click.
“My contact delivered, as usual,” Echo mutters. Kane’s already moving through the opened door.
A spotless corporate lobby stretches out before them, walls flashing with Lux Systems ads and hologram AIs looping canned greetings.
Kane’s attention snaps to what doesn’t belong: two armed mercenaries beside a collection of lock boxes. Beyond them, seven Natural Order members wait by the elevators in their signature robes, unarmed.
The male mercenary levels his rifle at Kane and his crew. “Weapons.”
His lieutenants freeze. Kane starts to disarm, and the others slowly follow suit. This was the agreement, their only face-to-face access with Athena.