Page 17 of Eden and her Mercenary
"With the right company, it might be." The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Our eyes met, and for a moment, the weight of the situation lifted. Then Stella stirred, yawning widely as she stretched, and the moment passed.
"You should get some rest before tonight," I suggested, standing up. "I'll check on the preparations."
Eden nodded, settling beside Stella on the plush carpet. As I left the panic room, I couldn't shake the feeling that regardless of how this mission turned out, nothing would be the same afterward.
Eleven hours later, we were parked in a nondescript van two blocks from Prophecies Biomedical. Night had fallen, bringing with it a light drizzle that blurred the streetlights and reduced visibility—perfect conditions for what we had planned.
Declan had come through with everything we needed: lab coats with Prophecies logos, security badges, fingerprint overlays, and even glasses with built-in cameras that would transmit our position back to the panic room where he and Wren wouldmonitor our progress.
"Comms check," Ryker said, adjusting the nearly invisible earpiece.
"Reading you loud and clear," Declan's voice came through, slightly tinny but distinct.
Eden fidgeted with her lab coat, her nervousness evident despite her determined expression. "How do I look? Convincing?"
With her hair pulled back in a severe bun and glasses perched on her nose, she looked every bit the focused researcher. "You'll blend right in," I assured her. "Just remember—confident strides, minimal eye contact, look like you've got somewhere important to be."
She nodded, taking a deep breath. "Let's do this."
We exited the van one by one, Ryker first, then Eden, then me, each of us walking separately toward different entrances of the facility. According to the plan, we'd converge at the service elevator on Level 2.
The rain intensified as I approached the west entrance, ID badge already in hand. Two security guards stood under the awning, looking bored as they processed the evening shift's departures.
"Evening," I said, swiping my badge. The reader beeped green, and I continued inside without breaking stride.
The interior of Prophecies Biomedical was all sleekwhite surfaces and recessed lighting—sterile and impersonal, with the faint antiseptic smell common to research facilities. I navigated the corridors according to the memorized floor plan, nodding professionally at the few employees I passed. Most were too absorbed in their own thoughts to pay me any attention.
"I'm in," I murmured, pretending to adjust my glasses. "Heading to the rendezvous point."
"Copy that," Declan's voice responded in my ear. "Ryker's already inside. Eden just cleared security."
I took the stairs to Level 2, avoiding the main elevators with their camera coverage. The service elevator was tucked away in a maintenance corridor, accessible through a door marked "Authorized Personnel Only." I swiped my badge, and the lock disengaged with a soft click.
Ryker was already waiting, leaning casually against the wall as if he belonged there.
"Any problems?" I asked quietly.
"Smooth sailing," he replied. "Though there's more activity than we expected on Level 3. Some kind of project deadline tomorrow."
Eden appeared a moment later, slightly breathless but composed. "I had to take the long way. There was a security sweep near the east entrance."
"They're looking for something specific," Declan'svoice came through our earpieces. "My contact says there's been increased security all day. Proceed with extra caution."
I pressed the call button for the service elevator. "Change of plans. We stick together from here on out."
The elevator arrived with a muted ding, empty as we'd hoped. Inside, Ryker pulled out the RFID cloner, keeping it concealed in his palm.
"Level 3," he said as the doors closed. "We need to find someone with Level 4 access."
The ride was brief and silent, tension mounting as we ascended. When the doors opened on Level 3, we were greeted by significantly more activity than the lower floors—researchers hurrying between labs, security personnel stationed at key intersections.
"Act natural," I muttered as we stepped out. "Remember, we belong here."
Chapter 7
Royal
