Page 81 of Neon Flux

Tex’s fingers drummed lightly on the table, his sharp gaze narrowing. “And what do you think that is?”

“I…don’t know. This signal doesn’t match anything in the databases I have access to. If I could access POM’s—”

“No. That will not be possible.” Tex’s tone was not harsh, but his statement was final.

“I thought this was urgent?”

Tex’s mouth twitched. “It is. But urgency alone is not reason enough to give an outsider unfiltered access to POM’s data repository.” His gaze locked with mine, and I wanted to look away as those dark eyes surveyed me in a way I couldn’t fully understand. “You are a smart woman. I am sure you’ll find other avenues.”

“I want to go to Renard’s apartment.”

Cy groaned, louder this time. “You already have everything our guys pulled. I don’t see why—”

“Granted,” Tex interrupted. “Cyanos, you will accompany Ms. Ibarra. Immediately.”

This whole thing was almost worth it just to see Cy’s utter dismay, knowing I was seeing his corporate manager boss him around.

“I’ve got other leads to follow up on,” he said, crossing his arms like a petulant child.

“Then you had best make Ms. Ibarra’s work as efficient as possible,” Tex replied without missing a beat.

I smirked at Cy. Sparks danced faintly in his pupils, but he said nothing.

“Excellent work so far, Ms.Ibarra.” Tex’s face softened—barely. But I felt a small pull in my chest at his praise. I’d always thrived on it—from my teachers, from authority. Just another high I’d been addicted to, working tirelessly through endless nights of studying to achieve it. I’d tried to break that habit too, but Tex’s deep voice had me reeling with it. I wanted to hear it again. My pinky twitched, and I shook it off. That was another habit I’d worked hard to break.

Something buzzed behind me, and I turned to see a larger-than-life face flicker onto the wall.

“Good work, Ms. Ibarra.” Levi Ameré’s dark hair was combed back, but it didn’t hide the slight wave that offset a strong jaw and neatly trimmed beard. A face everyone in Neo Stellaris knew—but very few had ever spoken to. “It’s always nice to see a contractor with such drive. Should your work continue with this diligence, I’m sure we could discuss bringing you on full-time.”

A few months ago, I would’ve died for an opportunity like that. But standing in a room full of POM’s deadliest operatives, it triggered the atrophied part of my brain most people never used. The flight instinct of prey being hunted, left over from when we weren’t the dominant species on the planet. Maybe those rebels had worn off on me, because no salary from a corporation came without a price, and I knew it was more than I was willing to pay.

“I think once we close out this contract, my work for POM will be done.” Yes, I would clear my name, get Security off my back for the Kinetic Shield. Then I would run and hide where they would never find me again. I glanced at Cy.Yeah, even him.

The corner of Levi’s eye twitched, but he gave me a warm smile. “It must have been an appealing contract to pull you into our ranks, then. Perhaps I should review it personally?” At that, I heard Cy shift in his chair, and my pinky twitched again. All the charm in the world couldn’t mask the threat I knew was buried underneath. I needed to shift the focus away from me.

“The contract was generous. In fact, it was quite a lot of money for one life. Is it really worth it?”

His dark gaze held mine, his face unnaturally still as he considered his answer. “Maybe, by the end of this, you will be able to tell me the value of a single life, Ms. Ibarra.”

He blinked out of existence, and I turned back to the room.

“Cyanos, you will accompany Ms. Ibarra to Renard’s apartment immediately,” Tex said, his fingers laced together on the table in front of him.

Cy grumbled under his breath, but he pushed up out of his chair and walked over to me. “Let’s get going,Ms. Ibarra.”

CHAPTER 28

CY

Tex held Eon back for a moment. Maddox sidled up to me, leaning in to whisper, “You want me to go with?”

“She’s already flighty. You don’t want to know what it took to get her into this meeting. Having the two of us there again will only make that worse.” Not really a lie.

Maddox didn’t buy if for a second. “Uh-huh. You going to be able to keep things professional this time, Cy?”

I let my studded tongue stick out of my mouth. “When have I ever not been professional?”

“Exactly. Besides, I need you to get in contact with the Kitsune.”