Page 101 of Knight

"Among others." He glances at Michael. "Your brother's skill with neural networks made him valuable. They needed both of us—my experience with system architecture, his ability to create adaptive code."

Michael stirs at that, his voice stronger now that fluids are helping. “They knew exactly what they wanted. Specific targets.Specific systems. But they needed it to look like normal network traffic until it was too late.”

Eva's hands still where she's adjusting the IV drip. "That's why they took you?"

"That's why they took both of us." Victor's tone carries none of his usual arrogance. "They had the targets, but they needed someone who could build something undetectable. And someone who could make it adapt faster than security protocols. But it wasn’t enough. They needed a third person."

The implications are huge. "Me.”

“You. I couldn’t tell you outright, but since they were going to target you with the virus, I knew I could hide information inside it. Their plan was to use Michael’s sister to get to you.”

“I was tasked with building a program to build a relationship with her, which would in turn, bring her to you. The plan was to drive you out of that fortress you call a home, where they could pick you up.”

“How did you figure out my access codes?”

He snorts. “You’re not as unpredictable as you think you are. Hacking into your security feed was all I needed to see you tapping the codes in. From there, it was timing. They’ve been monitoring you daily for weeks, waiting for the perfect moment.”

My own paranoia used against me. Fuck’s sake. “How many targets?"

“More than just Horizon Tech.” Michael sits up straighter, his strength returning. “They wanted something that could spread through connected systems without triggering alerts. Something that could establish deep access before anyone realized there was a breach.”

Eva steps back, moving to the kitchen counter, her hands shaking slightly as she sorts through the medical supplies. I follow her.

"You should rest." My voice drops lower, just for her. "You've done everything you can for now."

"Have I?" She turns to face me, and she’s close enough that I can see the exhaustion in her eyes. "We got them out, but what about the people behind this?” There’s no denying the stress in her voice, the fear. “They're still out there. Still planning whatever they wanted that code for."

My hand lifts, fingers brushing her cheek. She leans into the touch, eyes closing for a second.

"We'll handle it. But not tonight. Not until they've rested, and we know exactly what we're dealing with."

The sound of the garage door announces my brothers' return. Eva steps back, but something in her expression tells me this conversation isn't over.

"Vehicles are clean." Bishop enters the kitchen, his gaze flicking briefly between me and Eva. If he noticed our proximity, he wisely chooses not to comment. “No one followed. We’re secure for now.”

"Get some sleep.Realrest, not just a nap between crises.” I point to the door. “There are bedrooms down the hall."

She glances at Michael, but he waves her off. "Go. I'm fine here. The IV's helping."

Victor watches the exchange with the kind of intensity that makes me itch. I meet his gaze, daring him to comment.

He doesn’t. He just nods. "Sleep would be good. For all of us."

I watch Eva disappear down the hallway, everything in me wanting to follow. To make sure she's safe. To guard her rest like I've spent the last few days guarding her life.

But we have work to do. Plans to make. An organization to deal with before they can regroup and strike back.

And I really need to stop thinking about how perfectly Eva fit against me during our escape.

Any time now …Really.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

Evangeline

The morning sunstreams through the safehouse windows, highlighting a scene that feels almost absurdly normal. The four of us are gathered around the kitchen table, remnants of breakfast pushed aside while Knight works at his laptop. Michael leans back in his chair, some color finally returning to his face, though the dark shadows under his eyes hint at the hell he’s been through.

"Start from the beginning," Knight says without looking up from his screen.

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