Chapter 631
Chapter 631:
“He won’t,” Eliza said. “Not until it’s done. Because if he finds out beforehand, he’ll try to stop me. He’ll try to protect me. And he’ll die for his chivalry.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a fierce whisper. “Are you going to let him die, Cipher? Or are you going to help me save him p>
The silence stretched.
Then Cipher stood and crossed to a refrigerated cabinet. She punched in a code, and the door hissed open. Inside, organized with military precision, were rows of containers — silicone compounds, pigment solutions, sculpting tools.
“Three hours,” Cipher said, not turning around. “And you do exactly as I say. One wrong move, one wrong expression, and the illusion shatters p>
𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢ո𝘤е 𝘢n𝗱 p𝘢ѕ𝗌𝗶𝘰𝗻 𝗼𝗇
Eliza smiled. “I was always a good student p>
The study was Dallas’s domain. Three monitors, encrypted servers, a direct line to financial markets in Tokyo, London, and New York. He sat in the ergonomic chair wearing reading glasses that made him look improbably distinguished. Without warning, he squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose as a wave of temporary blindness washed over him. He waited a full minute for his vision to clear before turning back to the data streams, scrolling through intelligence reports.
Eliza entered with two mugs of chamomile tea. She set one beside him and moved behind his chair, her hands finding the knots of tension in his shoulders. Dallas groaned, his head falling back against her stomach.
“You’re going to spoil me p>
“Someone has to,” she said, working her thumbs into the tight muscles. “You’d run yourself into the ground otherwise p>
“Already there,” he admitted. “Just haven’t fallen over yet p>
She leaned down, her chin resting on his shoulder, looking at the screens alongside him — data streams and threat assessments, the cold language of his war.
“Promise me something,” she said, her voice light but her eyes serious.
“Anything p>
“When we get Rhys here. When the treatment starts. You’ll cooperate. Fully. No hiding symptoms, no pretending you’re fine when you’re not. No macho bullshit p>
Dallas turned his head, his nose brushing her cheek. “You ask a lot p>
“I ask everything,” she corrected. “Because you’re worth everything p>
He studied her for a long moment. Then he reached up and removed his glasses, setting them carefully on the desk. He turned fully in his chair and pulled her into his lap.
“I promise,” he said, his voice rough. “I’ll fight. For you. For the baby. For us p>
She kissed him, soft and slow, sealing the vow.
“I need a shower,” she said eventually, sliding off his lap. “Don’t work too late p>
“I’ll be in soon p>
She left the study, closing the door softly behind her. She walked to the bedroom, locked the door, and went straight to the bathroom. She turned on the shower, letting the water run hot until steam filled the room with warmth and white noise.
From the hidden compartment in her makeup bag, she retrieved the military-grade communicator. She entered the dynamic encryption key, her fingers flying.
The line connected. Static. Then a whisper.
“Eliza p>
Azalea. Hiding somewhere on the Royal yacht, surrounded by enemies.
“I’m here,” Eliza said, keeping her voice low. “Dallas is worse than we thought. The neurological damage is accelerating. We need Rhys now. Not tomorrow. Now p>