Chapter 18

EIGHTEEN

C at’s heart raced as her fingers flew across the keyboard, eyes darting between multiple screens. The soft blue glow illuminated her face, casting shadows that emphasized the tension in her jaw. This was it—the final test run of the Phoenix Protocol. Months of sleepless nights, countless cups of coffee, and more than a few tears had led to this moment.

As the last simulation completed successfully, Cat leaned back, her chair creaking in the sudden silence. She released a shaky breath, running trembling fingers through her disheveled hair. Relief warred with a gnawing anxiety in her gut. The protocol worked flawlessly in every test scenario, but would it hold up under real-world conditions? The weight of responsibility pressed down on her, threatening to crush her beneath its enormity.

“How’s it looking?”

Keir’s deep voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, making her jump. She swiveled to face him, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. The concern in his hazel eyes made her throat tighten.

“The simulations all passed, but...” Cat trailed off, struggling to voice the fears that clawed at her insides.

Keir perched on the edge of her desk, his proximity both comforting and overwhelming. “But what, Cat?”

“What if we missed something?” The words burst out, raw and vulnerable. “This is the biggest project I’ve ever worked on, Keir. If something goes wrong during the launch...” She couldn’t finish, the potential consequences too terrifying to name.

Keir reached out, his warm hand enveloping hers. The gentleness of his touch contrasted sharply with the intensity of his gaze. “Cat, look at me.”

She met his eyes, finding an anchor in the unwavering confidence she saw there.

“You are brilliant,” he said, each word deliberate and filled with conviction. “You’ve thought of every possible scenario, tested and retested until I was ready to tear my hair out.” His lips quirked in a small smile that made her heart flutter. “The Phoenix Protocol is rock solid because you designed it.”

Warmth bloomed in Cat’s chest, pushing back against the icy tendrils of doubt. “But what if?—”

“No what-ifs,” Keir interrupted, his grip on her hand tightening. “You’ve got this. We’ve got this. Remember how you cracked that supposedly unbreakable encryption last month? Or how you rewrote half the AI’s core programming in a weekend to patch that security flaw?”

A ghost of a smile played on Cat’s lips as the memories surfaced. The rush of solving seemingly impossible problems, the thrill of pushing her skills to their limits—it all came flooding back.

“That’s the Cat Reeves I know,” Keir continued, his voice low and intense. “The same brilliant mind that’s going to make this launch a massive success.”

Cat took a deep breath, feeling some of the tension drain from her body. She straightened her shoulders, meeting Keir’s gaze with renewed determination. “You’re right. We’ve prepared for every contingency. The protocol is solid.”

“Damn right, it is,” Keir grinned, tugging her gently to her feet. “Now, how about we grab some dinner? You need fuel for that big brain of yours.”

Cat laughed, the sound dispelling the last of the oppressive atmosphere. “As long as it’s not more takeout. I think I’ve consumed enough MSG this month to qualify as a walking science experiment.”

As they made their way out of the office, Cat caught sight of her reflection in a glass partition. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her—confident, accomplished, valued. It was a far cry from the shy, socially anxious programmer she’d been just months ago.

Working with Keir and the team at Sharpe Drakon Games had pushed her out of her comfort zone in ways she never thought possible. She’d found a place where her skills were not just appreciated, but celebrated. Where her ideas were heard and implemented. Where she felt like she truly belonged.

Over dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant, Cat allowed herself to relax, savoring both the food and Keir’s company. They discussed the upcoming launch, but also shared lighter moments—debating the merits of various anime series and playfully arguing over the best classic video game soundtracks.

As they walked back to Keir’s penthouse, hand in hand, Cat felt a sense of calm settle over her. Whatever challenges the launch might bring, she knew she wouldn’t face them alone.

Later that evening, Cat was curled up on the couch, idly scrolling through her phone when it buzzed with an incoming call. Laura’s name flashed on the screen, accompanied by a photo of her sister-in-law smiling with baby Ayers.

“Cat?” Laura’s voice was tinged with barely contained panic. “I hate to ask this last minute, but is there any chance you could watch Ayers tonight? Michael got called into emergency surgery, and I had a dinner meeting with my co-chair for the March of Dimes.”

Cat glanced at the clock, noting the late hour. A twinge of guilt hit her as she realized how long it had been since she’d seen her nephew. “Of course, I’d be happy to. How soon do you need me there?”

“As soon as possible,” Laura said, relief evident in her voice. “You’re a lifesaver, Cat. Ayers is already asleep, so it should be an easy night.”

“No problem at all,” Cat assured her, already moving to gather her things. “I’ll head over right away.”

After ending the call, Cat quickly explained the situation to Keir, who was in the middle of an overseas video conference.

“Can you wait for me?” he asked, covering the microphone.

“I’ll be fine.”

He hesitated for a moment. “I’m not gonna be much longer.”

“Keir! I’m going from our place to theirs.”

He sighed. “Go ahead. I’ll join you as soon as I wrap this up. It shouldn’t be more than an hour.”

Cat nodded, grabbing her purse and the car keys. She pressed a quick kiss to Keir’s cheek before heading out, her mind already shifting gears from work mode to aunt mode.

The drive to Michael and Laura’s penthouse was quick at this hour, the city streets unusually quiet. As Cat made her way up to their floor, using the code Laura had sent to access the private elevator, a strange prickle of unease ran down her spine.

She shook it off, attributing the feeling to leftover nerves from the day’s work stress. Using her spare key, Cat quietly entered the penthouse. The stillness inside was almost eerie, broken only by the soft hum of the air conditioning.

Cat made her way to Ayers’ room, her footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. She peeked into the nursery, her heart melting at the sight of her nephew sleeping peacefully in his crib. His tiny chest rose and fell with each breath, one chubby fist curled near his face.

Unable to resist, Cat carefully lifted Ayers into her arms, wanting to savor a few moments of cuddles before putting him back down. As she held him close, inhaling that sweet baby scent, the sharp chime of the doorbell shattered the quiet.

Cat froze, her body tensing instinctively. Who would be stopping by this late? Laura and Michael both had keys, and she doubted any of their friends would drop in unannounced at this hour, especially with a baby in the house.

Shifting Ayers to one arm, Cat made her way to the security panel near the front door, her heart beginning to race. She pulled up the camera feed, her blood running cold at the sight of two unfamiliar men standing outside.

Something about their posture, the way their eyes darted around, set off every alarm bell in Cat’s head. This wasn’t a friendly visit or a harmless mistake. These men were here with purpose, and Cat had a sinking feeling it wasn’t a good one.

Her pulse pounding in her ears, Cat clutched Ayers closer and quickly made her way back to his room. She needed to get them both somewhere safe and call for help.

Once inside the nursery, Cat gently laid Ayers in his crib, her hands shaking slightly as she fumbled for her phone. A wave of panic washed over her as she realized she’d left it in her purse by the front door.

The sound of the doorbell ringing again, more insistently this time, made her jump. Cat’s mind raced, weighing her options. She couldn’t leave Ayers alone to go for her phone, but she needed to contact someone, anyone, for help.

Her eyes landed on the baby monitor on the dresser. It wasn’t ideal, but it had a two-way communication feature. Maybe she could use it to call out to a neighbor for help.

Just as Cat reached for the monitor, a deafening crash echoed through the apartment. The intruders had broken in.

Adrenaline surged through Cat’s veins as she scooped Ayers back into her arms and darted for the walk-in closet. Her eyes fell on the noise-canceling headphones Laura used when flying with Ayers. With trembling fingers, she carefully placed them over his tiny ears.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she wrapped him snugly in a soft blanket. “Auntie Cat’s got you.”

With utmost care, she placed Ayers in the far corner of the closet, tucking him behind a stack of storage boxes. The space was small enough that he shouldn’t be able to roll or crawl away, but Cat’s heart ached at the thought of leaving him there.

“I’ll be right back,” she promised, pressing a kiss to his forehead before reluctantly closing the closet door.

Cat’s eyes darted around the room, searching for anything she could use as a weapon. The place was frustratingly baby-proofed with nothing remotely dangerous in sight. She settled for grabbing a heavy picture frame from the wall, holding it like a shield as she positioned herself between the closet and the bedroom door.

The sound of heavy footsteps approaching sent a chill down her spine. Cat’s grip on the frame tightened, her knuckles turning white. She silently prayed that Keir would arrive soon, that the police would somehow know to come, that someone would help.

The bedroom door burst open with a splintering crack, revealing two men—both large and muscular, with an aura of danger that made Cat’s breath catch in her throat.

“Well, well,” the taller of the two sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. “Looks like we found our little tech genius.”

Cat’s mind raced, trying to place their faces. Were they from Obsidian Tech? Part of some criminal organization after Sharpe Drakon’s tech? She opened her mouth to speak, to try and reason with them, but no words came out.

“Come on, sweetheart,” the other man said, taking a menacing step closer. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice.”

Cat’s eyes narrowed, a surge of defiance rising within her. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” she spat, her voice steadier than she felt.

The men exchanged amused glances. “Feisty little thing, isn’t she?” the first one chuckled, the sound sending ice through Cat’s veins. “All right then, hard way it is.”

They lunged forward simultaneously. Cat swung the picture frame with all her might, catching the closer man on the side of the head. The glass shattered, and he staggered back with a pained curse. But his partner was already on her.

A meaty hand clamped around Cat’s arm, yanking her off balance. She lashed out with her feet, her knee connecting solidly with something soft. The man grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough for Cat to wrench free.

She made a desperate dash for the door, her heart pounding so hard, she thought it might burst from her chest. But a strong arm snaked around her waist, lifting her off her feet. Cat kicked and thrashed, her nails raking across any exposed skin she could reach.

“Enough!” the man holding her roared, giving her a rough shake that made her teeth rattle. “Knock it off, or we’ll have to hurt you.”

Cat went still, her mind racing. She couldn’t risk them searching the room and finding Ayers. She had to get them away from here, even if it meant going with them.

“Fine,” she said through gritted teeth, every fiber of her being rebelling against the words. “I’ll go. Just... just don’t hurt anyone else.”

The men exchanged triumphant looks as they half-dragged, half-carried Cat out of the apartment. She tried to memorize every detail of their route, noting with surprise that they bypassed the main elevator in favor of a service entrance she hadn’t even known existed.

As they emerged into the cool night air, Cat’s hopes for a dramatic rescue began to fade. A nondescript black van sat nearby, its engine running. Before she could even think to scream for help, she was unceremoniously shoved inside.

The van peeled away from the curb, tires squealing. Cat’s heart pounded as she watched the familiar cityscape blur past the windows. With each mile they put between her and home, her fear grew.

Would Keir know where to look for her? Would anyone even realize she was missing before it was too late?

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, a deafening roar split the night air. The van swerved violently, nearly tipping over as the driver tried to avoid... something.

Cat’s eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of enormous, scaled wings through the windshield. Keir.

The van rocked again as massive claws raked across its roof, peeling it back like the lid of a sardine can. Wind and debris whipped through the interior as the driver lost control, sending them careening off the road.

Everything happened in a blur of motion and sound. Cat felt herself flung about as the van rolled, coming to a bone-jarring stop against a tree. Pain exploded through her body as she was thrown clear of the wreckage.

Dazed and aching, Cat found herself sprawled on the ground several feet from the mangled van. She tried to push herself up, but a sharp, stabbing pain in her side made her gasp and fall back. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

Through blurry vision, she saw her kidnappers scrambling to their feet, only to be confronted by the terrifying sight of Keir in his full dragon glory. His scales gleamed in the moonlight, eyes blazing with fury. Twin jets of flame erupted from his maw, engulfing the men. Their agonized screams pierced the night before abruptly cutting off.

In the sudden, eerie silence that followed, Cat became acutely aware of the warm trickle of blood soaking through her shirt. She blinked, trying to clear her vision as a familiar human form approached.

“Cat!” Keir’s voice was raw with fear and relief as he knelt beside her. “God, I thought I’d lost you.”

“Keir,” she mumbled, wincing as he gathered her carefully into his arms. The world spun alarmingly, and she fought against a wave of nausea. “Ayers... is he...”

“He’s safe,” Keir assured her, his touch gentle as he assessed her injuries. His face was a mask of barely contained rage as he took in the extent of her wounds. “Laura tried to call you to tell you something and when she couldn’t reach you she panicked and rushed back home. She found your phone and called me. She found Ayers too. He never even woke up.”

Cat sagged with relief, then tensed as a fresh wave of pain washed over her. “I think... I think something’s broken,” she managed through gritted teeth, each breath sending daggers through her side.

Keir’s face hardened, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “I’ve got you,” he said, cradling her close as he stood. “You’re going to be okay. I promise.”

As Keir carried her to safety, murmuring reassurances, Cat allowed herself to relax into his embrace. Despite the pain and lingering fear, she felt an overwhelming sense of security. The steady beat of Keir’s heart against her ear drowned out the chaos around them.

Whatever challenges lay ahead, with Keir by her side, she could face anything. As consciousness began to slip away, Cat’s last thought was of the future they would build together—a future that no one, not even those who sought to tear them apart, could take away.