Chapter 11

ELEVEN

R eid awoke with a start, his heart pounding as the events of the previous night flooded back into his consciousness. He blinked, adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. As his eyes focused, they landed on the sleeping form beside him.

Brianne lay curled on her side, her blonde hair fanned out across the pillow. Her face was peaceful in slumber, a slight smile playing at the corners of her lips. Reid's breath caught in his throat as he watched her, a fierce protectiveness welling inside him.

Last night had changed everything. Having Brianne in his arms awakened something primal.

As he gazed at Brianne's sleeping form, the truth he couldn't deny any longer hit him with crystal clarity: she really was his mate. In all his years as CEO of his security firm, in all his time as alpha of his sleuth, Reid had never felt so certain about anything.

Brianne stirred slightly, mumbling something unintelligible in her sleep. Reid reached out and stroked her cheek softly, for only a second, not wanting to wake her just yet. His mind raced with the implications of what he now knew.

He'd spent years living the single life and enjoying it. Secretly, though, he searched for his fated mate, all while building his empire and leading his sleuth. Now, in the most unexpected of circumstances, he'd found her. Brianne, with her quick wit, infectious laugh, and brilliant mind, had captivated him from the moment they'd met. But it was more than just attraction - there was a soul-deep connection that Reid couldn't deny.

A fierce determination settled over him. Now that he'd found Brianne, he'd never let her go. But he couldn't simply claim her as his mate - humans didn't work that way. He needed to win her heart, to make her fall in love with him just as he had fallen for her from the moment he laid eyes on her.

Reid was used to taking charge, to having others follow his lead without question. But Brianne was different. She was strong-willed, independent, and not easily impressed. He'd have to approach this carefully, letting their relationship develop naturally while still protecting her from the dangers they faced.

His protective instincts surged. The memory of Brianne's scream during the attack made his blood boil. He'd failed to prevent the theft of her prototype, but he swore he wouldn't fail her again. Whatever it took, he'd keep her safe and help her recover what was stolen.

As if on cue, Reid's phone buzzed on the nightstand. He carefully reached over to grab it, not wanting to disturb Brianne. The screen lit up with a message from Jake:

"Got a new lead. Call me ASAP."

Reid's pulse quickened. A lead could mean they were one step closer to finding the thieves and recovering Brianne's game. He glanced at Brianne once more, then silently slipped out of bed. Pulling on his discarded pants from the night before, he padded quietly to the living room to return Jake's call.

Jake answered on the first ring. "Reid, my man! Tell me you have time because I've got some juicy info."

Reid rolled his eyes at his friend's enthusiasm. "I have time. What've you got?"

"Okay, so remember those eccentric hackers at the underground gaming club? Well, one of them got chatty after a few drinks last night. Spilled some interesting details about a high-tech gamer lair that might be connected to The Glitchers."

Reid's interest piqued. "Go on."

"It's this hidden facility, right? Like something out of a sci-fi movie. Cutting-edge tech, top-of-the-line gaming setups, the works. But here's the kicker - it's not just for gaming. Rumor has it they use the place to crack unreleased games and leak them online."

"And you think this could be where they took Brianne's prototype?" Reid asked, his mind already formulating a plan.

"It's our best lead so far," Jake confirmed. "But getting in won't be easy. The place is like Fort Knox for nerds. Security systems, traps, the whole nine yards."

Reid smirked. "Good thing security happens to be our specialty."

"True that," Jake laughed. "So, what's the plan, boss?"

Reid glanced back toward the bedroom where Brianne still slept. "We'll need to infiltrate the place. Blend in with the crowd."

"Ooh, undercover work! I love it," Jake said enthusiastically. "Want me to assemble a team?"

"No," Reid said quickly. "The fewer people involved, the better. Brianne and I will handle this ourselves."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Just the two of you, huh?" Jake's tone was knowing. "Something you want to tell me, Reid?"

Reid sighed. Jake knew him too well. "Not now, Jake. Let's focus on the mission."

"All right, all right," Jake conceded. "But don't think you're off the hook. I want details later."

After ironing out a few more details with Jake, Reid ended the call. He turned to find Brianne standing in the doorway of the bedroom, wearing his T-shirt that hung to her mid-thigh. Her hair was tousled from sleep, and her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Morning," she said, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "I hope you don't mind, I borrowed your tee."

Reid's breath caught in his throat. The sight of Brianne in his clothes stirred something primal within him. "Not at all," he managed. "It looks better on you anyway."

Brianne's blush deepened, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So, um, about last night..."

"Last night was perfect," Reid said firmly, closing the distance between them. He cupped her face gently, his thumb tracing her cheekbone. "I have no regrets. Do you?"

Brianne leaned into his touch, a small smile playing at her lips. "No," she admitted. "I don't regret it either."

Relief washed over Reid. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Good. Because I have some news about your prototype."

Brianne's eyes widened. "You do? What is it?"

Reid filled her in on Jake's lead, watching as excitement and determination sparked in her eyes.

"A high-tech gamer lair?" Brianne repeated, her mind clearly racing. "That actually makes sense. It'd be the perfect place to crack the encryption on my game."

Reid nodded. "My thoughts exactly. But infiltrating it won't be easy. We'll need to blend in, maybe pose as fellow gamers or cosplayers."

A mischievous grin spread across Brianne's face. "Cosplay, huh? I think I can work with that."

Reid couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. "I'm sure you can. But remember, this could be dangerous. We don't know what kind of security measures they have in place."

Brianne's expression softened. She reached up, placing her hand over his where it still rested on her cheek. "I know. But I trust you, Reid. We make a good team."

Her words warmed something inside him. "That we do," he agreed. "Now, how about some breakfast before we start planning our grand infiltration?"

Brianne's stomach growled in response, making them both laugh. "I think that's a yes," she said.

"Just tell me where things are and I'll handle breakfast." As Reid moved to the kitchen to whip up some pancakes - a guilty pleasure he rarely indulged in - he couldn't help but marvel at how natural this felt. Brianne perched on a stool at the kitchen island, chatting animatedly about potential cosplay ideas while he cooked. It was domestic, comfortable, and everything Reid never knew he wanted.

But as he flipped a pancake, his bear shifter senses on high alert, Reid knew the comfort of this moment was fleeting. Soon, they'd be diving headfirst into danger. And while part of him was thrilled at the challenge, a larger part worried about Brianne's safety.

He'd just found his mate. He'd be damned if he lost her now.

Hours later, Reid found himself questioning his sanity as he adjusted the intricate costume Brianne had somehow procured for him. He stood outside her apartment building, feeling exposed in the tight-fitting outfit that left little to the imagination.

"Remind me again why I agreed to this?" he grumbled into his earpiece as Jake monitored their communications.

Jake's laughter crackled through the line. "Because you're whipped, boss. And because it's actually a pretty clever disguise."

Reid was about to retort when the building's front door opened, and his words died in his throat. Brianne emerged, and Reid's world narrowed to her alone.

Her costume was a masterpiece of creativity and allure. She wore a form-fitting bodysuit that shimmered with iridescent scales, reminiscent of a fantastical sea creature. Ornate fins adorned her arms and legs, and a headdress of coral and pearls crowned her blonde curls. But it was her face that truly captivated Reid - her blue eyes were highlighted with shimmering makeup that made them appear even more ethereal than usual.

"Wow," Reid breathed, forgetting for a moment that Jake could hear him.

Brianne grinned, doing a little twirl. "Like what you see, big guy?"

Reid cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "You look... incredible," he managed. "But are you sure this isn't too conspicuous?"

Brianne laughed, the sound like music to Reid's ears. "Trust me, where we're going, we'll blend right in. Now come on, we've got a prototype to recover."

As they made their way to the location Jake had provided, Reid couldn't help but steal glances at Brianne. Her excitement was palpable, a stark contrast to his own tense alertness. He admired her ability to find joy even in the face of danger.

"You know," Brianne said as they neared their destination, "I never thought I'd be sneaking into a secret gamer lair to recover my stolen game. It's like something out of one of my stories."

Reid smiled despite his worry. "Life has a way of surprising us," he agreed, thinking of how unexpectedly he'd found his mate.

They arrived at what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse in a quiet industrial area. But as they approached, Reid's heightened senses picked up on the faint hum of high-voltage electricity and the mutter of voices from within.

"This is it," he murmured to Brianne. "Remember, stay close to me and be on your guard. We don't know what we're walking into."

Brianne nodded, her expression turning serious. "Got it. Let's do this."

They approached a nondescript metal door where a bored-looking guard in a gaming-themed T-shirt stood watch. As they neared, the guard's eyes widened, taking in their elaborate costumes.

"Whoa, sick cosplay!" he exclaimed. "You here for the tournament?"

Brianne stepped forward, her voice taking on a confident, slightly haughty tone. "Obviously. We didn't spend weeks on these outfits just to window shop."

The guard laughed. "Fair enough. Go on in, the main floor's straight ahead."

As the door swung open, Reid and Brianne exchanged a look of surprised relief. They stepped inside, and Reid's senses were immediately attacked by a cacophony of sights and sounds.

The warehouse's interior was a far cry from its drab exterior. The vast space was filled with row upon row of high-tech gaming setups, each occupied by intensely focused gamers. Massive screens lined the walls, displaying various games in progress. The air hummed with the sound of hundreds of computers running simultaneously, punctuated by occasional shouts of victory or groans of defeat.

"Holy motherboard," Brianne whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. "This place is incredible."

Reid had to agree. Despite the potential danger, he couldn't help but be impressed by the scale and sophistication of the operation. "Remember why we're here," he murmured, placing a hand on the small of Brianne's back to guide her through the crowd.

As they made their way deeper into the facility, Reid's eyes scanned for any sign of increased security or restricted areas. Meanwhile, Brianne engaged in animated conversations with other cosplayers, her natural charm and gaming knowledge allowing her to blend in seamlessly.

"Oh my god, is that a limited edition Starforge blade?" a nearby gamer exclaimed, pointing to a prop attached to Reid's costume.

Reid blinked, momentarily thrown off guard. "Uh, yes. Yes, it is."

The gamer's eyes lit up. "Dude, that's so cool! Can I get a picture?"

Before Reid could respond, Brianne swooped in. "Sorry, we're actually running late for a panel. Maybe later?"

As they moved away, Reid shot Brianne a grateful look. "Thanks for the save. I'm not used to this much... enthusiasm."

Brianne grinned. "Welcome to geek culture, big guy. Now, any sign of where they might be keeping my stuff?"

Reid shook his head. "Not yet, but there has to be a more secure area somewhere. Keep your eyes open for anything that looks out of place."

As they continued their search, Reid admired how well Brianne handled herself. She moved through the crowd with ease, her knowledge and experience allowing her to engage in conversations without raising suspicion. More than once, her clever diversions kept them from being questioned too closely about their presence.

They were making their way past a row of virtual reality setups when Reid's heightened senses picked up on something. A faint, rhythmic beeping that seemed out of place amid the chaos of the main floor.

"Brianne," he murmured, leaning in close to her ear. "I think I've found something. Follow my lead."

He guided her toward a nondescript door partially hidden behind a large promotional banner. As they approached, Reid could see the outline of a keypad next to the handle.

"Well, that looks promising," Brianne whispered. "But how are we going to get past that lock?"

Reid smirked. "Leave that to me."

Using his bear shifter's enhanced hearing, Reid listened closely to the subtle differences in the keypad's tones as a person entered the code. It took a few tries, but eventually, he was able to discern the correct sequence.

"Impressive," Brianne said as the door clicked open. "Remind me never to try keeping secrets from you."

As they slipped through the door, the noise of the main floor faded away, replaced by an eerie silence. They found themselves in a dimly lit corridor lined with doors.

"Okay, this definitely screams ‘secret evil lair,'" Brianne quipped, though Reid could sense the underlying tension in her voice.

"Stay close," he murmured, his protective instincts flaring. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to get Brianne to safety, but he knew she wouldn't leave without her prototype. And if he was honest with himself, her determination was one of the things he admired most about her.

They moved cautiously down the corridor, Reid's senses on high alert for any sign of danger. Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching from around the corner.