Page 77 of Knight

I should argue. I need to keep my distance. There are a thousand reasons why this is dangerous.

But I don’t move away, and I don’t let her go. Instead, I kiss her again, softer this time but no less intense. Because she's right. I can't control everything. Can't predict every variable. Can't keep fighting this pull between us.

And maybe that's exactly what Victor knew would happen when he chose her to breach my defenses.

I just hope being right about my weakness doesn't get us both killed, because right now, with her pressed against me, with the taste of her still on my lips, with her real name hanging in the air between us, I'm not sure I care.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Evangeline

The workspace feels smaller somehow,charged with everything that just passed between us. But he's already pulling away, putting distance between us, like he thinks he can physically separate himself from what just happened.

"I need coffee." He stands abruptly, walking out of the room. "Andyouneed to understand exactly what you're getting into here."

The coffee maker gurgles to life seconds later, its familiar sound at odds with the tension hanging in the air. I walk to the door and watch while he makes drinks.

"The only way to manually override their systems is through direct access." He doesn't turn around. "Which means we need a way past security protocols, key cards, biometric scanners."

"You make it sound impossible."

"Nothing is impossible." He finally faces me, and holds out a mug. "Just dangerous. And expensive."

"How expensive?" My stomach tightens at the word. Even with my savings, I doubt I have enough to help with whatever he needs.

"Information is currency." He takes a long drink, and walks back into his workspace. "We need access to restricted areas,security protocols, the kind of data that doesn't come cheap. And no, we can't just buy it. Money leaves trails."

"Can't you just ... hack it remotely?" The words feel awkward on my tongue.

"Their mainframe is air-gapped."

I frown at the term, trying to make sense of it. I’ve never heard it before. He sighs.

"It means their secure systems aren't connected to any outside networks. We need someone with physical access to them."

“Doesn’t that mean the virus can’t get in?”

“It’ll be delivered some other way. Probably an email attachment. That’ll put it in the network, from there it can spread and find the secure systems.”

"So, what do you have to do? Bribe someone who works there?"

"No." His expression hardens. "We need leverage. We need to find someone with a secret, or in a situation we can use. Something that will make them help us whether they want to or not."

I stare at him in disbelief. "Blackmail? You want to blackmail someone?"

"I need to find someone with enough pressure points to be useful." He sets down his mug. "Someone whose cooperation we can ensure."

I push away from his desk. "Absolutely not."

"You haven't even heard?—"

"I don't need to hear anything else." My voice rises. The mere thought of forcing someone to do something makes me sick. "You want me to help youmanipulatesomeone. To destroy their life like mine was destroyed. To make them trust us just so we can use them."

"If you have a better suggestion, I'm all ears." Sarcasm drips from every word.

"There has to be another way in." I pace the small space. "Security guards. Cleaning staff. Someone we could pay?—"

"Guards are vetted. Cleaners don't have system access. And money leaves trails that get people killed." His eyes follow my movements, his tone becoming increasingly short. "You think I haven't already considered every angle?"

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