Page 15 of Eden and her Mercenary
We approached a heavy steel door at the end of the corridor. Declan punched a code into a keypad, then pressed his palm against a scanner. The door swungopen silently, revealing a spacious room that looked nothing like what I'd expected from a "panic room."
The walls were a soft blue, the floor covered in plush carpeting. Comfortable furniture was arranged in a conversational grouping, and a small kitchenette occupied one corner. Most surprising was the wall of windows that looked out onto an enclosed garden.
"Stella can stay here while you're at Prophecies," Wren explained. "I'll be with her the entire time."
I knelt beside Stella, who was investigating the nearest dog bed with cautious sniffs. "Will she be okay without me? She's been through so much trauma..."
"She'll be safe," Wren assured me. "And I have experience with traumatized animals."
Declan cleared his throat. "We should discuss the Prophecies situation. Ryker's already on his way here with the blueprints and security information."
I gave Stella one final reassuring pat before joining Royal and Declan at a table where a laptop was already set up.
"Based on what Ryker told me, you need to access their neurology lab and retrieve a neural mapping system," Declan said, pulling up what looked like a 3D model of a multi-story building. "The good news is, I have a contact inside Prophecies who's provided detailed information about their security protocols."
"And the bad news?" Royal asked.
"Their neurology lab is in the most secure section of the facility—Level 4 clearance, biometric access, and constant surveillance."
My heart sank. "So it's impossible."
"I didn't say that," Declan replied, a hint of professional pride in his voice. "I said it was secure. Nothing's impossible with the right planning and resources."
The door opened, and Ryker entered, carrying a laptop and what looked like several ID badges.
"Got everything we need," he announced, setting his equipment on the table. "Including this." He held up a small rectangular device. "Signal blocker. It won't stop the implant from functioning, but it should prevent them from tracking it while we're inside Prophecies."
"How does that help?" I asked. "Stella will be here."
"It's not for Stella," Royal explained. "It's for us. If the implant has any kind of radiation signature that we have become exposed to, they might have the facility rigged to detect it."
The reality of what we were planning suddenly hit me full force. "We're really doing this," I murmured. "Breaking into a military research facility."
"Second thoughts?" Royal asked quietly.
I looked over at Stella, who had finally settled on one of the dog beds, her eyes still watchful, but herbody less tense than before.
"No," I said firmly. "Whatever it takes.”
Chapter 6
Royal
Iwatched Eden's face harden with resolve, a fierce determination replacing the momentary doubt. Something twisted in my chest at the sight—admiration mingled with concern. This woman, who'd stumbled into my life less than twenty-four hours ago, was willing to risk everything for a dog that everyone else had given up on.
"Alright then," I said, turning back to the blueprints Declan had spread across the table. "Let's figure out how to get in and out without getting caught or killed."
For the next two hours, we pored over schematics, security protocols, and staff rotations. Declan's inside source had provided a wealth of information—everything from guard patrol schedules to the exact model of the biometric scanners protecting the neurology lab.
"The neural mapping system is kept in this storage room adjacent to the main lab," Declan explained, pointing to a small room on the digital blueprint. "According to my source, it's about the size of a microwave, but heavier—maybe thirty pounds."
"That's manageable," Ryker said, studying the facility's layout. "The real challenge is getting to Level 4 without setting off alarms."
Eden leaned forward, her finger tracing a path through the building. "What about this service elevator? Does it go to all floors?"
Declan nodded, looking impressed. "Good eye. It does, and it's less monitored than the main elevators. Staff use it primarily for equipment transport."
"We still need Level 4 access cards," I pointed out.
