Page 18 of Forbidden Access

This time there was nothing gentle about it. His lips pressed into hers firmly, confidently, as if he was determined to prove something. His hands traveled up her back, his fingers splaying over her skin, sending a rush of heat through her body. Thorn’s breath hitched, and for a moment, she forgot where they were, what they were doing. It was just them, locked in a kiss that felt far too real.

“That’s it!” yelled Amelio.

Damian released her, stepping back with a controlled calm that belied the intensity of the kiss. Thorn stood there, staring at him, her mind racing. Holy friggin’ smoke. What was that?

His eyes met hers, burning with an intensity that made her breath catch. But he didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned and marched back to the house, leaving her standing there, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Thorn was still rooted to the spot when the voice in her earpiece made her start. “Are you done with the photographs yet? We’d really like to get you away from the perimeter and back into the house.”

Shit. Had they seen the kiss? Then she let out a slow, measured breath. It didn’t matter if they had; it was planned. The photographer had literally ordered them to do it. She touched her ear. “Roger that.”

At Amelio’s questioning look, she cleared her throat. “I mean, thank you, Amelio. That was perfect.”

He grinned and put the cover on his camera lens. “You’re welcome. You two make such a perfect couple. I just know you are going to be very happy together.”

CHAPTER 7

Thorn had barely recovered from the photoshoot when Anna’s urgent voice crackled in her ear, sending a jolt of adrenaline through her. “Thorn, we have an unidentified object flying over the property. We think it’s a drone. It could be carrying an explosive device. Better get to the saferoom, stat.”

Holy crap.

Drone attacks weren’t common in San Francisco, but the world Damian was mixed up in wasn’t exactly normal. Who knew what these people were capable of?

She didn’t waste a second, barging into Damian’s study. His head jerked up, eyes wide with surprise. “We’ve got to get you to the safe room,” she ordered.

He stood immediately, but confusion flashed across his face. “Why?”

“I’ll explain once we’re there. Now move.”

He grabbed his laptop, but she barked, “Leave it!”

“No way.” He tucked it under his arm and followed her out of the study. They sprinted down the corridor toward the kitchen, the sound of distant gunfire reaching their ears.

“Is that… gunfire?” Damian asked incredulously.

“Yeah, it’s a possible drone attack.”

“Shit.” His eyes widened.

They didn’t stop running until they reached the utility room. Thorn opened the door to the saferoom, ushering him inside before sealing the reinforced door behind them. It hissed as it locked into place, isolating them from the outside world.

“We should be safe here,” she said, her breathing heavy as she scanned the small room. It was well-equipped with essential supplies: a first aid kit, satellite phone, and enough provisions to last several days. The air was cool, filtered through a built-in ventilation system, and the console on the wall displayed security feeds from around the property.

Damian leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. “What happened?”

“Not sure yet, but we’re staying put until we get the all-clear.” She moved closer, her instincts still on high alert. “Anything like this happen before?”

He shook his head, the tension in his face evident. “No. I guess they’re getting desperate.”

“Why do you have such an elaborate setup in your basement?”

He hesitated, his eyes darkening with memories. “To protect my work. I’ve been developing this upgrade for years, mostly in secret. Only a few of my top developers knew about it. But once it was ready, I let something slip to someone outside my inner circle, and rumors spread. Not long after, I started noticing strange cars following me, hearing noises on my phone.”

“That’s when the FBI got involved?”

He scoffed. “They actually came to me. They’d picked up chatter from some bigshot mafioso about my work. They offered protection in exchange for my cooperation, but I denied everything. If I’d confirmed it, I’d have snipers after me in the street.”

Thorn crossed her arms, studying him. “Which is pretty much what’s happening now.”

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