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“I want in that tunnel.”
“You’re getting no argument from me on that.” V sat back in his chair and stroked his goatee with his gloved hand. “But you’re gonna have to talk to Tohr about it—and it’s gonna be an uphill climb. You know how much he hates unfamiliar tunnels. Hard to control egress and ingress, no coverage, it gets him antsy—”
“We need a drone.”
V’s brows popped. Then he sported a that’s-not-actually-ridiculous expression. “Except we can’t hide that as well. Something flying around in there? Thelessersare just going to use it as batting practice.”
“You’re going to get us through that combination lock somehow. And then we use a nano-drone. Just slip it in and let it go to town.”
“That’s what she said,” V muttered with distraction as he stared at the screens.
“Have our cameras picked up anything?” Z asked.
“Onelessercame through, looking twitchy. He checked out the elevator, headed up the stairs. No Lash, though. No inductions. Al set up a screening program for the feeds, but went through all the footage himself anyway.” There was a lift of pride in that deep voice. “He trusts, but verifies, especially when a brother is waiting on something.”
“He’s a good kid.”
V grunted and changed the subject. “The encryption on that vault’s locking system is impressive. Haven’t seen much like it.”
Zsadist glanced out through the glass walls. Al’s desk was set away from the others, in the corner, facing the wall. As always, the kid’s dark head was lowered, his thin fingers flying over his keyboard.
“I’ll bet Al could get through it.”
Vishous immediately shook his head. “I am not putting him in that basement.”
“I’d protect him.”
“No.”
“I’d have backup.”
“No.”
“You could be there.”
“Fuck no.”Those eyes glared over. “And you can stop asking. That isnevergoing to happen.”
Zsadist popped a brow. “But if he’s just an employment asset, what do you care. Even if he’s a good one, there will always be other boy geniuses—”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but fuck you, true? For real.”
Z gave it a minute. Then, even though he told himself that it was none of his business, and they really had no reason to get tangled in personal shit, he had to go there. Maybe because what was wrong in his own life was an echo of what V was facing while refusing to acknowledge it.
“You and Jane are going to see him through the change, aren’t you. That’s the real reason he’s with you guys after hours.”
V didn’t even look shocked at what should have been a non sequitur. Which told a guy how much the male was thinking about what was coming for Allhan.
Worrying about it.
There was a long silence. Then V put his head in his hands. “We did a blood draw on him a couple of nights ago. The transition is a freight train heading straight for him.”
“He couldn’t be in better hands. Who’re you using for a vein?”
“The Chosen Sahsa.”
Z whistled under his breath. “Can’t get much more pure than that. He’s getting his best chance.”
“He’s just an employee.” V dropped his palms and fumbled for hisstack of hand-rolls. “I mean, he’s not my responsibility. He just happens to have a knack for computers, and no family.”
