Page 165 of Shadowed Hearts: Frost
I drop low, duck under his arm, hook my ankle behind his. My free hand pushes his elbow joint while I pivot. The combination isn't anything he taught me. It's just what happens when my thoughts zigzag everywhere at once.
Asher stumbles sideways. He doesn't fall, no…too trained for that, but his eyes go wide.
"Holy shit, that worked!" I bounce on my toes, pure excitement fizzing through me. "Did you see that? I totally just—"
Heat floods my chest when his expression changes. The cold calculation melts into something I rarely see.Approval.Real, genuine approval that makes my skin tingle.
"Work with your patterns, not against them." His voice is warmer now. He steps closer, hands adjusting my stance with gentle touches that send sparks up my arms. "Your mind makes connections mine doesn't."
"So I should just... wing it?"
"Smart chaos can beat predictable technique."
My chest swells with weird pride. My scattered brain is working properly for once.
It's useful.
Movement catches my eye. Kade leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching us.
"Not bad, Reyes." His nod of approval makes me stand taller. "Cross teach you that?"
"She taught herself," Asher says before I can answer. His hand still rests on my shoulder, warm and possessive.
Kade's eyebrow lifts. "Good. Remy needs you both. Something about medical personnel."
The conference room door slides open silently. A wall of digital displays shows medical certifications, hospital records, and—my breath catches—security footage of Kuya Migs treating me after the neurotoxin.
Remy stands by the main screen, green eyes assessing me as we enter. "You look better. Miguel's protocols worked well."
"He's good at fixing things." Pride and anxiety twist in my chest. I slide into a chair, fingers automatically finding the table edge, tapping out rhythms that match my racing thoughts.
"Your brother saved your life." Remy pulls up Miguel's credentials and background check. "We need someone we can trust when I'm in the field."
My fingers tap faster.Kuya Migs as part of CPG? Of Nightfall?My mind spirals through dozens of scenarios—his hospital job, our parents' questions, security clearances, whether he'd even want this mess...
Asher's hand covers my fidgeting fingers. The touch grounds me instantly, silencing the static in my brain.
"Miguel already knows too much to go back to normal life," I admit, the reality settling heavy in my stomach.
"The question isn't if he's qualified." Kade's intense blue eyes fix on me. "It's if we can trust him with everything."
I straighten, defensive fire sparking in my chest. "He's kept my secrets since I was twelve. Even from our parents."
Memories flash:Miguel finding my first hacking setup under my bed, covering for me during all-night coding sessions, bringing me food during three-day programming binges. Never once betraying me, even under Mom's interrogations.
"His medical skills are exceptional." Remy swipes through hospital reviews. "And he's familiar with our... situations."
Kade studies me. "You're certain about his discretion?"
"Absolutely." The word comes out stronger than anything else I've said. "Family loyalty means everything to him."
Asher's thumb traces small circles on my hand. The silent support makes my heart skip.
"Bring him in." Kade looks at me. "But you make the offer. He needs to hear it from you."
Twenty minutes later, I pace circles around the B3 medical facility while Kuya Migs examines equipment with professional interest
He runs fingers over surgical tools, peeks into cabinets stocked with drugs, stops at the diagnostic unit that looks like sci-fi medical equipment.
