Page 14 of The Hollowed
He crossed the distance and lowered himself into the seat beside her, resting his hands loosely in his lap. “Did you sleep okay?” he asked.
Her lips pressed together before she answered. “Eventually,” she said, her tone neutral but stiff, not quite like her. She didn’t look at him when she spoke, focusing instead on a scuff mark on the floor between them.
The silence that followed wasn’t entirely comfortable. Luci shifted in her seat and the faintest crease formed between her brows. Alex wondered if she was replaying the night before too.Maybe she was wondering why he’d pulled back when she’d finally given him an opening.
He almost reminded her, almost said he wanted to remember that moment without the haze of alcohol between them, that he wanted her to remember it too. Instead, he only let his knee nudge hers lightly as a small, wordless reassurance before leaning back in his chair.
“What does your schedule look like tomorrow?” Alex asked casually.
Luci shrugged her shoulders. “Not sure. Depends on what comes out of this meeting, I guess.”
He nodded slowly, letting them settle into silence before speaking again. “Then do me a favor. Be free around eight, and…I’ll need to borrow your kitchen.”
Her eyes moved back to him, this time holding his gaze as her brows scrunched together ever so slightly. She always looked unfairly beautiful when she was confused. “Why?”
“I’m making you dinner,” he said, his lips curving just a little. “No wine this time. Just you, me, and a home cooked meal.”
A quiet laugh escaped her. “Like a date?”
“Exactly like a date,” Alex replied, his tone firm because he wanted there to be no mistaking his intentions.
“Okay. I’ll be free at eight,” she said, smiling a little as she leaned back into her chair.
Alex couldn’t help but smile too. They’d find a way to avoid trouble, but he wanted to do it together. He could protect her and fight for her at the same time.
Before either of them could say anything else, the meeting room door opened and a security officer dressed in black stepped out, giving them both a curt nod. “They’re ready for you.”
Inside, the long oval table was filled with faces Alex recognized. Doc was at one end, and there were a few senior medical officers and several members of the administrative council. He guided Luci to two empty seats, letting his hand softly brush against her back before he finally sat down beside her.
The council woman at the head of the table leaned forward with her hands interlocked in front of her.
“Dr. Castillo,” she began, her tone clipped but not unkind, “on behalf of the Institute, we would like to offer you our congratulations. Your work has produced the first viable vaccine candidate in three years. Effective immediately, you are released from the reproduction program.”
Alex watched as Luci’s breath caught. For a moment, it was just relief flooding through her, so overwhelming they both almost didn’t notice the pause in the woman’s voice — the pause that meant something else was coming.
“Furthermore,” the council woman continued, “your time debt to the Prometheus Collective will be considered paid in full on one condition.”
Alex’s jaw tightened and his gaze sharpened. “What condition?” he asked.
“That’s where you come in, Sergeant Ramirez. You and Dr. Castillo will personally oversee the transport and delivery of the vaccine to AZ-7 in Arizona,” she said, sliding a slim datapad across the table toward them. “It is the only facility still equipped for full scale replication and distribution. Should both of you accept, you will leave within 24 hours.”
Doc glanced between them and quickly added, “A mission of this nature will require a field team. Alex, you can select the operatives who will join the both of you.”
Alex took the datapad, scanning the encrypted briefing quickly. “And if we refuse?”
“Then the offer is void,” the council woman replied smoothly. “Dr. Castillo remains in her current obligations, her debt outstanding.”
Alex turned to Luci, who sat frozen with wide eyes. A mission like this was borderline suicide, even for someone who had spent years training to kill the living and the infected without hesitation. But Lucilla? She’d likely never even held a gun, let alone pulled a trigger.
But he had sworn to protect her, and he meant it — no matter what it cost him.
“I’ll go,” he said steadily. “But Dr. Castillo stays here. Out there, she’ll be a liability, and there’s no reason to risk her life.” It was a compromise he hoped they would at least consider.
“Alex, no — ” Luci whispered sharply, but he didn’t look at her. He already knew that the Prometheus Collective didn’t negotiate, not when they’d already decided what they wanted.
The council woman leaned forward. “That won’t work, Sergeant Ramírez. The facility will require Dr. Castillo’s presence on-site to oversee the initial trials and verify the vaccine’s stability. Without her, the delivery is meaningless. This mission is for both of you or neither of you.”
Alex’s jaw tightened. “Then you’ll have to find another soldier because I’m not dragging her into the field just so she can die before she even sees the facility.”