Page 79 of Hunter's Game
“Then we use it against him,” Katherine said sharply. “Sarah left everything we need—not just evidence of his crimes, but knowledge of how these devices really work. Why do you think she was so interested in certain pieces?”
Understanding dawned. “She wasn’t just tracking his operation. She was learning how to use the technology herself.”
“To fight him.” Katherine nodded. “And now we’re going to finish what she started.”
“Using his own gathering against him,” Hunter said, his eyes darkening with dangerous intent. “All those powerful people in one place...”
“While we reshape things in ways he never expected.” Eden smiled. “But we’ll need help. The timing must be perfect.”
“Already handled.” Katherine showed them her phone—messages from Darkness confirming positions around the city. The Blind Jacks had spent two weeks building their own network, preparing for this moment. “Everyone’s in position. Just waiting for our signal.”
Eden felt her training kick in, awareness sharpening as connections formed faster than conscious thought. This time, she embraced it deliberately, knowing Katherine was doing the same.
“Well then.” She turned in Hunter’s arms. Trust forged through shared danger and mutual respect had created a connection that transcended professional boundaries and crossed into something much deeper than she could have ever anticipated. The “L” word danced on the edges of her thoughts, but she shoved them back in favor of more pressing matters.
She looked up at him, letting him see her determination. “Ready to crash a party?”
His answering smile made her heart race despite everything. “Born ready, baby.”
The casual endearment carried layers of meaning—commitment to both the mission and toher, regardless of cost. His eyes told her everything words couldn’t—that whatever happened, they would face it together. And the kiss she rose up and placed on his lips communicated the same sentiments—if not more.
They made final preparations, moving with practiced efficiency. Hunter’s hand would find the small of her back as they moved through the room, each touch electric even through layers of silk and hidden armor. When their eyes met, Eden felt understood, felt cared for, in ways no one else had ever managed.
The sun set over Moscow, painting the skyline in fiery reds and deep purples. Eden watched darkness claim the city, Hunter’s solid presence beside her a reminder that she wasn’t facing this alone.
Tonight would change everything. They would either master Alexander’s technology or be destroyed by it. The mission would succeed or fail based on split-second decisions and perfect timing.
But for the first time since finding her mother’s body, Eden wasn’t just fighting against something. She was fighting for something—for justice, for truth, and for the future taking shape between her and Hunter. A future neither had dared imagine until now.
The war was entering its final phase, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. But as Hunter’s hand found hers, fingers intertwining with quiet strength, Eden felt ready for whatever came next.
After all, some connections were stronger than technology. Some partnerships more powerful than any system. And the bond between Eden and Hunter? That was something Alexander Mitchell had never accounted for in all his calculations.
Time to show him his biggest mistake.
Eden’s instincts were on high alert as she moved through Alexander’s gathering, each step bringing her closer to either victory or disaster.
The penthouse ballroom showcased pure wealth and power—crystal chandeliers illuminating polished marble floors where government ministers and corporate leaders mingled. Everyone positioned strategically, their casual stances hiding constant vigilance. At the center stood Alexander Mitchell, commanding attention like royalty.
“Alexander’s gathered quite the crowd,” Hunter whispered as they danced, his hand warm against her bare back. Despite his combat background, he moved gracefully, each step maintaining perfect positioning while appearing completely natural.
Eden felt his controlled tension—the alertness in his shoulders as he monitored the room, the pressure of his hand at her waist. Yet his eyes still held warmth when they met hers, making her heart beat faster despite the danger surrounding them.
“I count at least thirty private security contractors,” he added.
“Forty-three,” she corrected, letting him spin her to survey the room. “Plus, whatever others he’s hidden. Alexander never takes chances.”
“Speaking of chances.” His hand tightened slightly as they passed one of the display cases. “You feel that? The devices are responding—the signal gets stronger when you or Katherine approaches.”
Eden had noticed it too—the technology responding to their proximity. “The sensors are definitely reading our DNA.”
“Which makes our plan even more dangerous.” Hunter pulled her closer than the dance required, his eyes darkening with concern. “Are you sure about this?”
Eden met his gaze, letting him see her true feelings. “About using technology we barely understand? Not even slightly.” Her smile matched his intensity. “About trusting you when everything falls apart? Absolutely.”
He kissed her, brief but fierce. The public display served their cover but communicated something much deeper—trust. Where Eden had once used physical contact purely for tactical advantage, with Hunter it had become something that strengthened rather than compromised her.
When they separated, their shared look conveyed everything words couldn’t.
