Page 57 of Reckless: Corruption

“No time.” I grab Jinx’s hand, pulling him toward a maintenance corridor I spotted on Mona’s schematics. “This way.”

We sprint through narrow passages, the sound of pursuit growing more distant with each turn. The virus burns hotter with exertion, my breath coming in ragged gasps, but I push through. Finn needs these samples. The pack needs me functioning. Nothing else matters.

“Through here,” I direct, pushing open an emergency exit that should trigger alarms but remains silent—Mona’s work, no doubt.

The night air hits like a blessing and a curse, cool against my fever-hot skin but filled with the scent of more guards approaching. The Ducati waits where we left it, our escape just yards away.

“Almost there,” Jinx encourages, his arm around my waist supporting more of my weight than I’d like to admit. “Think you can parkour your way to the bike if I create a distraction?”

The question sends a flood of memories—sunset on the roof of the mansion, his patient instruction as I learned to move my body through space rather than just reckless abandon. The hours spent teaching me to fall safely, to roll with impact, to find footholds where none seemed to exist.

“What, you think one little virus can make me forget how to fly?” I manage a grin despite the exhaustion. “I’d be offended if I wasn’t so busy being awesome.”

His answering laugh carries that edge of feral delight that always sends electricity down my spine. “That’s my Glitch.”

We’re halfway to the bike when floodlights suddenly illuminate the area, turning night to artificial day. Vehicles screech to a halt, blocking our path as armed men pour out, weapons trained on us.

“End of the line,” a familiar voice calls. Alexander emerges from the lead vehicle, his perfect features twisted in cruel satisfaction. “Hello, sisters.”

My blood runs cold. “How did you?—”

“Tracker in the bypass device,” he explains, tapping his temple. “Mona’s not the only one who plans ahead.”

Beside me, Jinx goes deadly still, that particular calm that precedes his most violent storms. I place a hand on his arm—a warning, a request for patience.

“Jinx,” I murmur, “the samples. Get them to Mona.”

His gaze snaps to mine, understanding and refusal warring in his expression. “I’m not leaving you.”

“You have to.” I squeeze his arm. “Finn needs those samples.”

The struggle in his eyes would be beautiful if it weren’t so heartbreaking—his feral need to protect me battling with the strategic reality that someone needs to complete the mission.

“Give me the bypass,” he finally says, his voice dropping to ensure only I can hear. “It’s what they’re tracking.”

I hand it over silently, our fingers brushing in the exchange. Something passes between us—a promise, a connection deeper than words.

“Touching,” Alexander calls, his tone mocking. “But ultimately futile. You’re surrounded.”

I turn to face my brother, stepping forward to put myself between him and Jinx. “What’s the matter, Alexander? Daddy send you to clean up another mess?”

His jaw tightens—the first tell Mona identified, the one that says I’ve hit a nerve. “Always so clever. But cleverness won’t save you this time.”

I take another step forward, drawing his attention fully to me. Behind me, I can feel Jinx shifting, preparing for whatever crazy plan is forming in his mind.

“You know what your problem is, big brother?” I continue, channeling Mona’s calculated chaos. “You think you’re daddy’s perfect alpha, but we all know the truth.”

His eyes narrow. “And what truth is that?”

“You’re just another experiment. Another variable he’s tracking.” I tap my temple, mimicking his earlier gesture. “Did he tell you about the neural implant? About what it’s really for?”

Something unexpected flickers across his face—not just uncertainty, but a flash of real fear. For a split second, his hand moves toward his own temple, a gesture so unconscious he doesn’t seem aware of making it. I catch a glimpse of a tiny scar just below his hairline, barely visible in the harsh lights.

He’s not just afraid of what I might know—he’s afraid I might be right.

The vulnerability vanishes instantly, armor slamming back into place as he signals his men forward. Behind me, Jinx has edged closer to the shadows.

“You’re stalling,” Alexander realizes, signaling his men forward. “Take them.”

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