Page 8 of Shadowed Hearts: Frost
"¿Estás segura? Because your face is telling a different story."
I shake my head, trying to clear the image of his handsome face, his impressive physique. "I can separate personal from professional."
"Can you?" Maya gestures toward my screen, where I've unconsciously enlarged his photo.
"I'm setting up multi-layered searches beyond public databases." I change the subject, pulling up command terminals while absently reassembling a small electronics component. "Track his movements through GPS, analyze communication patterns, map potential connections to Paradise Elite clients."
"Just be careful, V." Maya examines the too-perfect military record on screen. "Men with backgrounds this clean usually have the dirtiest secrets. Y si está conectado con Steele, it's dangerous."
My laugh masks my excitement. "That's exactly why I need to know what he's hiding," I say, looking at his photograph one more time.
three
Asher
Afternoon light cuts through the reinforced windows of our conference room. I track each team member as they enter; each movement, each micro-expression revealing their mood before they speak a word.
Every member of the team takes their usual positions. I automatically map where everyone settles.
Kade controlling the room's focal point, Cole at his right for strategic counsel, Damian maintaining his preferred shadow position where he can observe without being fully observed.
The others spread out naturally. Xander sprawling across two chairs, Jax unable to sit still, Remy appearing relaxed while staying alert.
And I'm three seats down. The silence stretches until Kade plants his hands on the table, leaning forward.
"We've got a problem with Echo."
The room temperature seems to drop by ten degrees. My cortisol spikes, but I keep my face blank. Years of lying motionless for hours with a rifle have given me complete control over my physical reactions.
Kade hits a button, and the room darkens around us. The electronic blinds glide down over the massive windows, shutting out the world beyond. The space transforms in seconds, becoming more private.
A faint electronic hum fills the air as sound masking activates, creating a secure audio bubble around us. The digital displays glow brighter in the darkened space, casting blue light across everyone's faces.
Cole rises to his feet, his body language radiating control as he steps forward to take command of the presentation. His expression shifts from its usual stoic calm to something I've rarely seen—genuine concern mixed with grudging admiration.
"Remember I mentioned an elegant intruder who upgraded our security while poking around?" Cole swipes through cascading code structures on the primary display. "Turns out they've been a busy little bee."
"How busy?" Jax stops his drumming, suddenly alert.
"The kind of busy that makes me question my career choices." Cole's voice carries that dry humor I've learned to recognize as his way of processing serious threats.
"Echo didn't just hack our systems. They've been conducting physical surveillance."
My muscles tense fractionally. Physical surveillance changes everything.
"Define 'physical.'" Damian emerges slightly from his shadowed corner, voice carrying that dangerous edge that makes smart people nervous.
"Traffic cameras, building security systems, even parking garage feeds." Cole pulls up a map of the city with red dots scattered across it. "Our mysterious friend has been watching us. All of us."
He zooms in on specific locations, each one making my jaw tighten further.
"Jax's gym. Remy's medical supply runs. Xander's demolition training facility." Cole's tone remains conversational, but there's steel underneath. "Even accessed the security system at Asher's pad in Telegraph Hill today."
"Someone's been casing us?" Xander shifts in his chair, his usual easy demeanor sharpening. "Should I be flattered or concerned?"
Every eye in the room turns to me. I keep my expression neutral despite the heat rising in my chest.
"When?"
