Page 13 of Deadly Security Breach
“Since Ignis is here, we only have one lab tech right now. Walter and I decided the fewer people in the lab with this virus, the better.”
“Where is the lab tech now? Did he quit?”
“No, his name is Zafar. He’s on vacation. He’s scheduled to be out for another week. I’d try to call him, but he’s at a wedding in Poland. I’d rather wait and see if we can get a handle on this first.”
“Agreed. Does Mina have his information to do a background check?”
“Yes. I gave her that when we first connected.”
Iris rubbed the bridge of her nose and pushed her tablet toward Bec. “Would you send Mina the information while I get back to work on the system?”
“No,” Bec said, pushing the tablet back toward her. “It’s 3:00 a.m., and we’re both exhausted. Mina is in bed and won’t get the message anyway. We need to rest before we do anything else.”
“No time to rest,” Iris said, shaking her head adamantly. “We don’t know what Ace is going to do next. We must get control of this place.”
Bec squeezed Iris’s shoulder while she ducked her head until she found the woman’s eyes. “I trust you, Iris, with my life, but I also know how working tired can be more dangerous than taking a few hours to rest and then coming back to it.”
“Secure One, Danger.” They both jumped and turned to see Declan standing in the hallway. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, but she’s right. I was leaving the break room to bed down for a few hours of sleep when I overheard the discussion. Per Cal’s instructions, you are to get a few hours of sleep each day,” he said, lowering his brow at Iris. “You’ve been up for twenty hours. It’s time to grab a couple of hours’ rest so you can return refreshed. Otherwise, you’re just spinning your wheels.”
Iris sighed heavily. “Fine, but two hours. That’s it.”
Declan nodded once. “I can deal with that. Zac and I will start rotating shifts since Cal sent Mack and Efren over to cover. If you need us, we’re on the loading dock.”
“Got it. Thanks, Declan,” Bec said, standing and holding her hand out for Iris. She wasn’t sure if the woman would take it, but she yearned for that connection again. When Iris’s warm, soft skin slid across her palm, she had to take a deep breath to slow her racing heart.
“Will you show me where the loading dock is?” Iris asked as Bec led her through the cavernous workspace and into the hallway.
“You’re not going to sleep on the loading dock. You’ll sleep in my apartment, where it’s safe and comfortable.”
“But, no. I’m supposed to sleep with the team.”
Bec paused and turned back to the beautiful woman just as Iris pushed her glasses up her adorable pixie nose with her free hand. Rather than argue further, she snapped the walkie-talkie off her belt and pushed the button. “Declan?”
“This is Zac,” the voice said, and Iris huffed but didn’t say anything.
“Iris insists she should sleep with the team on the loading dock. I think she should be squirreled away safely in my apartment. What’s your opinion?” She released the button and raised a brow at the woman across from her, who now had her hand on her hip even if she was staring over her shoulder at the wall beyond them. Bec couldn’t decide if it made her look sassy, sexy or angry.
“If she can sleep in your apartment, that would be ideal,” Zac responded. “I’d rather she wasn’t this close to the action if something goes down outside.”
“You got it,” Bec said, releasing the button with a satisfied smile.
“Okay,” Iris said with a huff. “But I’d be fine on the loading dock.”
“Maybe, but this way, I can keep an eye on you. Something tells me if I let my guard down, you’ll be back at that computer typing away.”
When they stepped onto the elevator, Iris’s smirk told her that was her plan to a T.
* * *
IRIS GLANCED AROUNDthe small apartment while Bec was in the shower. Using the wordapartmentwas a stretch, if she was honest. It was the size of a hotel room with a queen-size bed, a small kitchenette, a two-person table and a nightstand. The bathroom off the main space was small but functional. Iris still couldn’t imagine working and living here day after day without a change of scenery. Her room at Secure Inc. was small, but she had the entire building and grounds to roam whenever she needed a break.
Bec walked into the room wearing lounge clothes that in no way showed off her physique but were still far more alluring than her white lab coat. Iris dropped her gaze rather than continue to stare. “Oh good, you got the bed turned down,” Bec said, rubbing lotion into her hands. “I was hoping you’d make yourself at home.”
“I made tea,” Iris said, pointing at the two mugs on the table. “It’s not my favorite, but coffee before bed won’t work so well.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Bec offered her a tired smile.
Iris walked to her and pushed her hair back off her face to check the cuts that peppered her skin from the attack. “I’m so sorry you went through that this morning. Are you sure you don’t need a doctor? Are you having any symptoms of a concussion?”