Page 91 of Neon Flux

“Whose side are you on, partner?” Cy said, pained.

“Hers.”

“She complements your robot once and I’m yesterday’s soy-meat.”

“I can’t have eyes on you in there. No signals in or out. I don’t like it,” Maddox replied.

“So it’s settled.” I smiled. “I’ll get to work on the search program right away.”

“Hold it, doll. We still haven’t solved how we’re getting this little gem inside.”

“I’ll take it in. No problem.”

“And where exactly do you—” His eyes went wide, then he laughed. “No fucking way.” He laughed again. “Never thought I’d be jealous of a piece of tech.”

CHAPTER 33

CY

She’d laid down on Maddox’s couch like she owned the place. Over-ear headphones on, clearly content to ignore us, already deep into working on the infiltration device. Her stupid keyboard rested across her lap, and she waved her hand occasionally to adjust code. I settled down next to Maddox, who was doing a check on my newest pistol. Not that it mattered—I couldn’t bring it into the Den.

“You good to go back in?” he asked.

“Still got some friends there. Plus it sounds like they need Vector, having trouble with their usual sources. They’ll be happy to see me.”

I glanced over at Eon on the couch, and Maddox followed my gaze.

“It’ll be good to have her on the inside,” he mumbled, turning back to his tinkering.

“She’s not an asset, much as she acts like it. She’s not trained. Tex will be pissed if she gets herself killed over this.”

Maddox grunted.

I glared at him. “What? I’m not exactly excited to risk my life over this either.”

“Then don’t fuck it up.” He stood and stretched. “I’m going to bed. Don’t fuck on my couch.”

“Consummate professional!” I called after him. He didn’t turn around.

Eon was still typing away. It was well past midnight, and normally I’d crash out on Maddox’s couch—but that clearly wasn’t happening tonight. I grabbed another beer from the fridge.

I took the much less comfortable chair and watched her. She was in the zone, completely focused.

She was too damn comfortable.

Every time I thought I had her figured out, she pulled something like this—stretched out on Maddox’s couch like she belonged there, like she hadn’t just been forced into this job. She should’ve been twitchy, resentful, making my life hell out of sheer spite. But no. She just worked, enveloped in her stupid code, barely acknowledging me. Like I wasn’t even worth the effort.

It grated on me.

She was reckless, careless, a liability. She hadn’t earned her place in this. Hadn’t gone through the shit I had. I should’ve been dragging her kicking and screaming through this job—but here she was. Fingers dancing over her keyboard like she was untouchable.

And yet.

She didn’t hesitate. That’s what got me. I’d seen plenty of people crack when pushed—good people, tough people—but Eon? She just kept moving, kept finding angles, kept working the problem like she belonged in this world of killers and criminals.

I took a sip of beer and let my gaze linger on her.

Maybe she did.