Page 73 of Shadowed Hearts: Frost
Ibounce on my toes, the cool mist collecting on my hair as we stand at the entrance to what looks like any other high-rise in San Francisco's Financial District.
The gleaming silver lettering that reads "Centurion Protection Group" might as well say "Secret Badass Headquarters" for all the nondescript corporate camouflage.
My fingers can't stop fiddling with the strap of my messenger bag. I've named it Millennium Falcon, because everything important deserves a name, and right now it holds three encrypted hard drives and my Star Wars notebook pressed against my chest like a shield.
"Holy shit," I mutter, counting one, two, three... seven visible security cameras, plus whatever's hidden behind the smoky glass. "This place isn't messing around."
Asher stands beside me, all coiled stillness. His dark gaze follows my fidgeting as my brain maps every escape route and camera angle around us. It's automatic for me, this constant data collection.
"Kade runs a tight ship." His voice is low as he pulls out a matte black keycard.
I can't help myself."That's quite the security setup." I point to the bronze wall fixture that doesn't match the rest of the decor. "Though most people probably miss the retinal scanner disguised as decorative art."
The corner of his mouth lifts slightly. "Good eye."
He swipes the card, places his thumb on the scanner. The heavy door slides open with a pneumatic hiss. My body trembles from head to toe at the sound, not exactly afraid but buzzing with a nervous excitement that makes my stomach flutter.
My brain is firing at light speed, processing every detail: the reinforced glass windows with condensation forming delicate patterns, the subtle hum of advanced electronics, the faint scent of gun oil and expensive coffee.
Beyond the entrance, I glimpse monitors and state-of-the-art equipment that make my tech-loving heart race. This is where Asher lives his other life. The life I wasn't supposed to know about until I hacked my way into it.
His hand touches the small of my back, warm and steady. That simple contact grounds me, slows my racing thoughts for just a moment.
"Ready to meet everyone officially?" he asks, his voice softening slightly.
I squeeze my notebook against my chest and run my tongue across my dry lips.
"As ready as I'll ever be. Though I'm pretty sure some of them already know me as that crazy girl who hacked your secure systems." My voice quivers slightly with nervous energy.
The elevator doors close with a soft whisper, enclosing us in sleek steel and glass. My reflection shows a woman trying desperately to look professional while fighting the urge to bounce on her toes. Forty floors up to the executive level.
The numbers on the digital display tick higher as Asher stands beside me, a solid wall of muscle and control.
"They don't bite," he murmurs, his eyes fixed forward.
"I'm not afraid of biting." My voice comes out more suggestive than intended, making heat rush to my cheeks. "I mean—"
"I remember." His voice drops lower, sending a flutter through my stomach.
The elevator doors slide open silently, revealing a sleek hallway of glass and steel. My brain immediately maps the space, calculating distances to exits, noting the barely visible security cameras embedded in the ceiling corners.
Asher's hand returns to the small of my back as we walk, that simple touch making hot sparks shoot up my back. The heat of his palm burns through my shirt, his gentle push moving me ahead.
"This place is impressive," I whisper. "Military-grade security disguised as corporate aesthetics."
"Focus, little bunny."
My heart skips at the nickname that used to annoy me. Before I can respond, we enter what must be the command center. An expansive room filled with monitors, tactical displays, and the low hum of serious people doing serious work.
And then I see him. Kade Mercer. The ghost himself.
He's even more intimidating in person than in the files I've compiled. Tall, with a powerful build and blue eyes that seem to catch everything. He walks with the confidence of someone who knows exactly how dangerous he is.
"Ms. Reyes." His handshake is firm but not intimidating. "Glad to have you joining us in person."
My words tumble out before I can stop them. "Your encryption protocols are solid, but could use upgrades against quantum attacks. I have suggestions."
Kade exchanges a look with Asher that I can't quite decipher, but there's mild amusement there. Asher's face remains impassive, but I catch the tiny lines appearing at the corners of his eyes.
