Page 36 of Knight

The sounds beyond the door change, sounding like the time an old laptop I owned died—a terrible, grinding noise right before the screen went black forever. Knight actually flinches at that one.

“Get up.” The look on his face tells me not to argue. “You’re coming with me.”

“In there?” I look at the door. “I thought?—”

“Yes, because I absolutely want you in my workspace right now. This is definitely how I planned to spend my evening. Babysitting someone who thinks ctrl-alt-delete is advanced programming while my systems are under attack.” His hand wraps around the top of my arm.

I try to pull away. “I don’t want?—”

“What youwantstopped being relevant the second you carried his message into my home.” He drags me toward the door. “Right now, you’re either part of his plan, or you’re going to help me figure out what that plan is. I know, please try to contain your enthusiasm.”

“How can I possibly help you? I don’t knowanythingabout computers or the person you’re talking about.”

“Thank you for that stunning revelation. I never would have guessed from your suggestion to unplug everything.” His grip tightens. “But you know something about being manipulated by Victor Nash, even if you didn’t know that’s who was pulling your strings. And right now? That’s worth more to me than your clearly extensive technical expertise.”

The door opens to reveal a room that looks like NASA mission control had a baby with a Best Buy. There are screens everywhere, lights flashing, things beeping and whirring and making noises I’ve never heard before. Knight shoves me toward a chair, with way more force than I feel is necessary, and I fall into it.

“Try not to touch anything, I’d hate for you to accidentally launch any missiles.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I’m not joking. Now sit there, shut the fuck up, and try very hard not to make things worse than they already are. Though, I’m not really sure how you could, short of suggesting we try unplugging things again.”

“I was just trying to help!”

“Don’t.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Knight

The virus is spreadingthrough my systems with brutal efficiency. Each line of corrupted code holds Victor’s distinct signature. I’d recognize his work anywhere. It’s elegant and clean, every single aspect designed to adapt and evolve. The same techniques he taught me are now being turned against my own security. And I have no idea how orwhy.

“Fucking hell!” I slam my hand against the desk as another defense parameter fails. Beside me, Glitch jumps at the sound, but she doesn’t say a word. She’s been quiet for the past forty-five minutes. I’m sure she’s overwhelmed by the chaos of alarms and scrolling errors covering my monitors that only I can read. The constant cascade of red warning messages bathes the room in an ominous glow.

I initiate another containment protocol, completely aware while I’m writing it that it won’t be enough. The virus is learning from each attempt I make to stop it. It’s using my own patterns to predict my next move. Each corrupted system becomes a new vector of attack, as it turns my security measures against me.

“Come on, you bastard.” My fingers fly across multiple keyboards, while I try to isolate infected systems. “Show me what you're really doing.”

The attack pattern shifts, moves to targeting my auxiliary networks.Smart. Take out the backup systems first, which will limit my options for recovery. It’s what I’d do, which means Victor must have been studying my work. Learning how I’ve changed over the years, and finding ways to counter every fucking defense I’ve built.

A power surge makes the lights flicker. Beside me, Glitch makes a small sound, but stays quiet.

Good, I really don’t have the time or the required caffeine intake to deal with hysteria right now.

The virus is spreading faster than I can throw containment measures at it, adapting to each new firewall like it was designed to specifically targetmysystems, my coding.

Which … of course it fucking was.

A new pattern emerges in the code. My fingers drum against the desk. It’s familiar. Something that shouldn’t be possible.

“Son of a bitch!” It all becomes clear as another system goes dark.

The virus isn’t just attacking my network. It’s rebuilding it. Changing core protocols, and rewriting security parameters.

Victor isn’t trying to destroy my systems. He’s trying to take them over.

“You. Absolute.Fucking. Psychopath.” The words escape through gritted teeth while I reroute power from compromised systems. Each move I make feels like I’m trying to hold back a flood with a paper cup … with a fucking hole in it.

---