Page 122 of Neon Flux

Tex shot me a warning glance, but Levi merely smiled—a perfect, practiced expression that never reached his eyes.

“Curiosity, primarily,” Levi replied. “It’s not often we encounter someone with her particular…talents.”

I did not like that. I didn’t like Levi getting near her, seeing her. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that Eon was exceptional—and POM had a tendency to sink its claws into people like that. Especially Levi, whose interest in Flux and its applications was well-known.

I remembered the feeling of her hands on me, how our Flux had synchronized so easily. The way she’d looked at me, so worried. How she’d saved me. My life had always been brutality and violence, but she was soft. Levi would want her.

But the problem was, I wanted her more.

“I can brief her,” I offered, trying to sound casual. “Save you the time. I hear it’s pretty valuable.”

Levi’s gaze remained fixed on me, and for a second I could’ve sworn his eyes reflected something that wasn’t in the room. It reminded me of Tex.

“Concerned for your partner?” Levi asked, his tone light but penetrating.

“She’s not my partner.” Even if she took away my pain when I’d only ever deserved more of it.

Tex hadn’t taken his bottomless gaze off me either, and it felt like needles pricking all over my skin, inside my lungs.

“Is there a problem, Cyanos?” Tex asked, his tone carrying a clear warning.

I shrugged, keeping my voice even. “I thought my job was doing this stuff for you. I can handle her.”

Levi smiled again—smaller this time, but somehow more genuine. And infinitely more unsettling. “And how exactly have you beenhandlingMs. Ibarra?”

I clenched my jaw. “Like the professional she is.”

“Then you understand why I’d like to speak with her myself,” Levi said, moving toward the door with deliberate steps. “Her approach to reconstruction in cyberspace is…unique. I’ve had my eye on her work since the Kinetic Shield incident.”

I froze. How did he know about that? I’d buried those connections, erased any documents that linked her to it. Because of our deal. Not to protect her.

Levi paused at the door. “Tex, please complete the access authorization while I speak with Ms. Ibarra.”

“Of course,” Tex answered, already reaching for his terminal.

Levi turned back to me. “Where might I find her?”

I hated this. Hated standing there while Levi set his sights on her, decided what kind of tool she could be. Because that’swhat this was—Levi didn’t waste time unless he saw something he could use.

But I’d long ago learned to avoid fights I couldn’t win. “Lab 42-B. She’s working on the data fragments.”

“Perfect,” Levi said, turning to leave.

Before he left the room, Tex spoke. “One more moment, sir.” He turned to me. “Your shoulder has improved.” It wasn't a question.

“Yeah, finally went and saw a doc.” It wasn’t a lie.

“Glad to hear it.” Tex’s eyes lingered on me a moment longer before returning to his terminal.

Levi studied our exchange with evident interest. “The implant malfunction? I wasn’t aware it had been resolved.”

Why Levi was aware of my medical file, I didn’t want to know.

“Recent development,” I replied stiffly.

Levi nodded, seemingly satisfied, though something in his expression told me he’d filed this information away for later.

“How unfortunate we cannot update those for you,” he said casually. “The skeletal models are rather…obsolete.”