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Kat’s sharp intake of breath hit Leo’s awareness. Her fingers clenched against his palm.

“NX-7782.” Her words barely reached him despite her closeness.She’d taken her burner from her pocket and subtly angled it, shielding it with the clipboard. Her fingers tapped the screen in quick succession, snapping a series of photos.

“What is it?” He kept his gaze locked forward.

She gave a fractional shake of her head. “Later.”

“I can confirm the immediate preparation for deployment. The broadcast is scheduled for during the London NATO summit.” Reynolds shuffled from foot to foot, his gaze darting all over the damn place. “Following on from this, we will proceed with expanding deployment at Test Zone Two.”

Leo fought the urge to storm down to the stage and shake the bastard by the neck.

“Using the ministers’ own devices as transmission points, the subtle influence should alter security assessments and policy decisions without detection. This test will allow us to take the product to market ready.”

“But the expansion we’re seeing in London during phase one suggests we don’t have full control of the broadcast range.” Theportly man flapped a large handkerchief against his forehead. “If this activates across all of central London during the summit?—”

The green suited woman jerked her head and two security agents moved in, each hooking one of his arms.

The portly man squawked as they marched him from the room. The door slammed loudly behind them as they exited.

What the hell?

“Dr. Smith’s concerns have been duly noted.” The woman scanned the room. “Anyone else?”

Silence settled like freezing fog.

Kat squeezed Leo’s fingers.

“Now.” Garner gave a nod of approval at the lack of dissent. “We need the final calibration data. Those of you on the signal modulation team remain for detailed instructions. Everyone else, return to your stations and prepare for deployment. I don’t need to remind you that this project remains classified at the highest level.”

People began rising, a muted churn of movement in the wake of the portly man’s forced exit. Leo stood, still holding Kat’s hand as they prepared to merge into the dispersing crowd.

Almost clear.

An authoritative voice cut through the buzz.

“Dr. Hughes.”

Kat froze mid-step.

Shit.Leo’s pulse slammed in his throat as he bumped up against her.

A tall man in a security uniform—dark beard, hawkish eyes—stood near the exit. His arms were folded, his gaze locked on Kat’s name tag.

“I don’t remember approving your clearance for today’s briefing.” His hand hovered close to the holster on his hip.

“We were pulled in late.” Leo lifted the stolen tablet. “Signal calibration audit. Dr. Reynolds wanted redundancy on?—”

“I wasn’t talking to you.” The man blanked Leo and paced closer.

Kat lifted her chin. “I was reassigned this week. Interim coverage.”

The guard arched a brow. “Hughes left earlier. Family emergency.”

Fuck. Not now. So close.

Kat’s eyes flicked to Leo.

Run.