Page 25 of Unbearable Player

As the door swung open, Reid and Brianne exchanged a look of surprised relief. They stepped inside, and Reid’s senses were immediately attacked by a cacophony of sights and sounds.

The warehouse’s interior was a far cry from its drab exterior. The vast space was filled with row upon row of high-tech gaming setups, each occupied by intensely focused gamers. Massive screens lined the walls, displaying various games in progress. The air hummed with the sound of hundreds of computers running simultaneously, punctuated by occasional shouts of victory or groans of defeat.

“Holy motherboard,” Brianne whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. “This place is incredible.”

Reid had to agree. Despite the potential danger, he couldn’t help but be impressed by the scale and sophistication of the operation. “Remember why we’re here,” he murmured, placing a hand on the small of Brianne’s back to guide her through the crowd.

As they made their way deeper into the facility, Reid’s eyes scanned for any sign of increased security or restricted areas. Meanwhile, Brianne engaged in animated conversations with other cosplayers, her natural charm and gaming knowledge allowing her to blend in seamlessly.

“Oh my god, is that a limited edition Starforge blade?” a nearby gamer exclaimed, pointing to a prop attached to Reid’s costume.

Reid blinked, momentarily thrown off guard. “Uh, yes. Yes, it is.”

The gamer’s eyes lit up. “Dude, that’s so cool! Can I get a picture?”

Before Reid could respond, Brianne swooped in. “Sorry, we’re actually running late for a panel. Maybe later?”

As they moved away, Reid shot Brianne a grateful look. “Thanks for the save. I’m not used to this much... enthusiasm.”

Brianne grinned. “Welcome to geek culture, big guy. Now, any sign of where they might be keeping my stuff?”

Reid shook his head. “Not yet, but there has to be a more secure area somewhere. Keep your eyes open for anything that looks out of place.”

As they continued their search, Reid admired how well Brianne handled herself. She moved through the crowd with ease, her knowledge and experience allowing her to engage in conversations without raising suspicion. More than once, her clever diversions kept them from being questioned too closely about their presence.

They were making their way past a row of virtual reality setups when Reid’s heightened senses picked up on something. A faint, rhythmic beeping that seemed out of place amid the chaos of the main floor.

“Brianne,” he murmured, leaning in close to her ear. “I think I’ve found something. Follow my lead.”

He guided her toward a nondescript door partially hidden behind a large promotional banner. As they approached, Reid could see the outline of a keypad next to the handle.

“Well, that looks promising,” Brianne whispered. “But how are we going to get past that lock?”

Reid smirked. “Leave that to me.”

Using his bear shifter’s enhanced hearing, Reid listened closely to the subtle differences in the keypad’s tones as a person entered the code. It took a few tries, but eventually, he was able to discern the correct sequence.

“Impressive,” Brianne said as the door clicked open. “Remind me never to try keeping secrets from you.”

As they slipped through the door, the noise of the main floor faded away, replaced by an eerie silence. They found themselves in a dimly lit corridor lined with doors.

“Okay, this definitely screams ‘secret evil lair,’” Brianne quipped, though Reid could sense the underlying tension in her voice.

“Stay close,” he murmured, his protective instincts flaring. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to get Brianne to safety, but he knew she wouldn’t leave without her prototype. And if he was honest with himself, her determination was one of the things he admired most about her.

They moved cautiously down the corridor, Reid’s senses on high alert for any sign of danger. Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching from around the corner.

TWELVE

Without thinking, Reid pulled Brianne into an alcove, pressing her against the wall and shielding her with his body. Their faces were inches apart, and Reid could hear Brianne’s heart racing.

“What-” Brianne started to ask, but Reid placed a finger to her lips, silencing her. A moment later, two men in security uniforms walked past their hiding spot, deep in conversation.

“...still can’t crack the encryption,” one was saying. “Boss is getting impatient.”

“Give it time,” the other replied. “That game’s got some serious protection. But once we break it, it’ll be worth millions on the black market.”

As their voices faded, Reid felt Brianne relax against him. He became acutely aware of how close they were, of the warmth of her body pressed against his.

---