Page 41 of Unbearable Player

“Reid Parker,” the man drawled. “I must say, I’m impressed. Not many could have tracked us here. And you brought the lovely creator herself.” His eyes slid to Brianne, who glared back defiantly.

Reid’s muscles tensed, ready for a fight. He could take these men, he knew, but not without risking Brianne’s safety. His mind raced, searching for a way out.

“I’ll make you a deal,” the leader continued, his tone casual as if discussing the weather. “Hand over the girl and her access codes, and we’ll let you walk out of here. No harm, no foul.”

A low growl rumbled in Reid’s chest, his bear nature surging to the surface. “Not a chance in hell,” he snarled.

The leader’s smile widened, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

With a snap of his fingers, more men appeared, surrounding Reid and Brianne. The tension in the air was palpable like the moment before a thunderstorm breaks.

Reid’s hand found Brianne’s, squeezing it reassuringly. He met her eyes, seeing his own determination reflected back at him. Whatever happened next, they would face it together.

As the first attacker lunged forward, Reid’s world narrowed to a single focus: protect Brianne, retrieve the prototype, and get them both out alive.

NINETEEN

Brianne’s heart pounded as she faced the leader of The Glitchers. The warehouse thrummed with tension, the air thick with the scent of electronics and sweat. She locked eyes with the man who had stolen her dreams, her creation, and her future. His smug smile made her blood boil.

“Well, well,” the leader drawled, his fingers hovering over a keyboard. “If it isn’t the little game developer who thought she could play with the big boys. You’re too late, sweetheart. Your precious prototype is about to be ours.”

Brianne’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. She wanted nothing more than to wipe that smirk off his face, but she forced herself to stay calm. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” she retorted, her voice steadier than she felt. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

The leader’s eyes narrowed. “Oh? And what exactly are we dealing with? A nobody game writer and her security guard?” He glanced dismissively at Reid, who stood protectively at Brianne’s side.

Brianne felt a surge of determination course through her. This was her moment, her chance to prove she wasn’t just some pushover developer. She was Brianne Ellis, creator of Shadow Realms, and she’d be damned if she let these thieves take that away from her.

“You’re dealing with someone who knows that game inside and out,” Brianne shot back. “Someone who built failsafes you couldn’t even dream of. And trust me, you don’t want to see what happens when those kick in.”

The leader’s smug expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. But he quickly recovered, his fingers flying over the keyboard with renewed vigor. “Nice try, but your bluffs won’t save you now. In a few minutes, this prototype will be ours, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Brianne glanced at Reid, a silent communication passing between them. She saw the fury in his dark eyes, the tension in his jaw. She knew what was coming next, and despite the gravity of the situation, a thrill of excitement ran through her.

Reid’s body began to change, his form rippling and expanding. In mere seconds, the handsome CEO was gone, replaced by a massive brown bear. The sight still took Brianne’s breath away, even after everything they’d been through.

The Glitchers’ eyes widened in shock and fear. Some stumbled backward while others reached for weapons. The leader’s fingers froze over the keyboard, his face pale with disbelief.

Reid let out a thunderous roar that shook the very foundations of the warehouse. The sound reverberated through Brianne’s chest, filling her with a sense of awe and power. This was Reid, her protector, her partner, her mate.

As Reid charged the stunned group of hackers, Brianne sprang into action. She darted toward the nearest computer terminal, her fingers flying across the keyboard. Years of late-night coding sessions and countless hours of gameplay had prepared her for this moment.

“What are you idiots doing?” the leader screamed at his frozen team. “Stop them!”

But it was too late. Reid’s massive bear form bowled through the group, sending bodies flying. His claws slashed through equipment, his powerful jaws snapping at anyone who dared to get too close. The sound of breaking bones and terrified screams filled the air.

Meanwhile, Brianne delved deep into the system, her mind racing as she navigated through layers of code. She could see where The Glitchers had tried to break through her security measures, and a grim smile played on her lips. They had no idea what they were up against.

“You think you’re so clever,” she muttered, her fingers dancing across the keys. “Let’s see how you handle this.”

With a few deft keystrokes, Brianne activated a series of traps she had built into the prototype’s security system. Alarms blared, and error messages flashed across screens throughout the warehouse. The Glitchers’ hacking attempts crumbled in the face of her defensive algorithms.

“No!” the leader cried out, his face contorted with rage. “What have you done?”

Brianne couldn’t help the triumphant grin that spread across her face. “I told you, you have no idea what you’re dealing with. That prototype? It’s more than just a game. I’ll be damned if I let someone like you get their grubby hands on it.”

As she spoke, she continued to work, her fingers moving almost of their own accord. She locked down system after system, cutting off The Glitchers’ access and securing her precious data.

Across the room, Reid was a whirlwind of fur and fury. His bear form moved with a grace that belied its size, effortlessly incapacitating The Glitchers’ goons. Brianne caught glimpses of him as she worked - a flash of teeth here, a swipe of claws there.

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