Page 107 of Reckless: Corruption

Finn coughs again, harder this time, doubling over. The sound reverberates through his chest like something breaking. The deterioration I’ve been dreading all afternoon has begun. Aflash of genuine concern crosses Mona’s face before her usual chaos mask slides back into place.

“I’ll prepare injection. Very precise formula. Much specialized equipment.” She bounces on her toes, already calculating something behind those too-sharp eyes. “Need to retrieve components from secure storage location. Very carefully hidden. Much preparation already done.”

“After dinner,” Finn interrupts, straightening with visible effort. “Let’s just... have this. One normal thing before more needles.” His voice carries a quiet plea that makes my chest ache.

Mona pauses, head tilted as she runs calculations behind her eyes. “Acceptable timeline. Viral progression remains within manageable parameters for approximately three hours and seventeen minutes.”

“Such a comfort,” Finn mutters, but relief softens his features.

She bounces toward the house. “Will gather supplies. Very specialized components. Much preparation needed.”

“I really am feeling better,” Finn insists once she’s gone, though the patches of color high on his cheeks suggest otherwise.

Theo silently passes him a glass of water, his touch lingering on Finn’s wrist where his pulse beats visibly. “Let her help when dinner’s done.”

“Let her do her weird science,” I agree, remembering Alexander’s injections and the fire they set in my veins. “Meanwhile, I’m testing that battle unicorn.”

I peel off my cover-up, revealing the black bikini I found buried in one of the bags Aria packed. It’s nothing special, practical enough for actual swimming, but I feel suddenly self-conscious as conversation stutters to a halt around me.

Jinx lets out a low whistle. “Fuck me sideways, Glitch. Are you trying to give us all heart attacks?”

“Language,” Ryker scolds, but his eyes linger with unmistakable heat.

“What?” I glance down at myself. “It’s just a swimsuit.”

“Just a—” Jinx chokes on the words.

Theo smiles, slow and appreciative. “You look beautiful, piccola.”

“Very strategic,” Finn adds, his analytical gaze warming. “Maximum mobility, minimal drag coefficient.”

I roll my eyes to hide the flush creeping up my neck. “You’re all ridiculous.”

I look away at the pool water knowing it’s going to feel cold but at least it’ll calm the arousal pulsing through me. I run towards it and jump.

The water hits like a shock to the system—cool against sun-warmed skin, the chemical tang of chlorine sharp in my nostrils. It washes away weeks of tension in a single submersion. I surface with a gasp, hair streaming into my eyes just as Jinx cannon-balls beside me, the resulting wave washing over me again with enough force to push me back underwater for a moment. When I resurface, spluttering and laughing, even Ryker is smiling.

“Points for enthusiasm,” Theo laughs, dipping his feet in the shallow end. “Minus several for technique.”

A shriek cuts through our laughter as Mona belly-flops into the deep end with surprising grace. She surfaces, hair plastered to her head, eyes wide with what might be genuine joy.

“Hydrostatic pressure creates fascinating sensory input! Very stimulating! Much physics!”

It’s the most normal I’ve ever seen her.

Even Ryker eventually joins us, his careful control sliding as Jinx initiates what he calls tactical water operations but is really just an elaborate game of tag. For once, no one’s discussing Sterling or viruses or mission parameters. Just chlorine,sunshine, and the kind of laughter that makes your stomach hurt.

Finn stays at the edge, content to watch until Theo coaxes him into the shallow end. His breathing seems labored, but his smile looks real.

“Food’s ready,” Ryker announces eventually.

We collapse onto pool chairs, dripping and laughing. My eyes catch Finn’s, and something unspoken passes between us—an acknowledgment of this fragile moment of peace. His hand finds mine briefly, his skin too warm, but his grip stronger than yesterday.

That’s when the alarms start blaring.

The sound cuts through everything like a knife, high-pitched wailing that sends us scrambling. Ryker moves first, already sprinting toward the house with deadly focus, water still streaming from his shorts.

“Security breach,” Jinx explains unnecessarily, pulling me toward the doors. “Multiple sectors.”

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