“Go ahead. Eat.” Evan retrieved his tray.
Jade eyed the food. What if they drugged it?
“It’s not poisoned.”
“Thanks, I hadn’t thought ofthat.” The snark came out before she could stop it. She sighed. “Fine.” The meal lookedtasty. Not gruel or bread and butter, but seasoned chicken with rice and vegetables.
Twenty minutes later, the guards returned.
The one with black hair grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet. “Time to work.”
The other guard held a gun on Evan. “Let’s go.”
She stumbled up the stairs, and the guard shoved her down another hall to a room with computers and external monitors.
“The boss will be with you in a minute.”
Jade’s heart raced. Finally. The person responsible for her torment over the last few days would show his face.
The door swung open. “Hello, Jade. It’s good to see you.”
Her mouth dropped open. It couldn’t be.
“What’s wrong? Not who you expected?” Pink lips curved into an evil smile.
“Breana? Why would you do this?” The knife of betrayal stabbed deep.
“Easy.” Her psychologist inspected her perfectly manicured fingernails. “I hear things. Lots of things. So, I figured, why not make money from them and find a beach somewhere to disappear.”
The woman’s lack of caring made Jade’s stomach knot. “And you want me to help you destroy our military?”
“Destroy is such a harsh term. I’m not in this for political purposes. It’s strictly business.”
Now, the information about her IQ and programming capabilities made sense. She’d confided in Breana. Thought they were friends.
“Here’s the bottom line. Evan has laid out the parameters for the system. A blueprint, if you will. Up to a point. Your job is to finish the plan and build the program.”
Jade folded her arms. “And if I refuse?”
“Hmm, you obviously don’t care as much about BlackKnight Security as I thought. Don’t forget, I know how you feel about them. Especially Liam McKnight.”
The underlying threat sent Jade’s heart racing. “Please.” Her voice squeaked. “I’ll do whatever you want as long as you don’t hurt them.”
“That’s what I thought. Evan, please show my guest to her workstation and get her up to speed. I want a prototype completed within a month. However, I need a sample of the code in forty-eight hours to send to my potential buyers. A snippet of what to expect.”
“Two days? That’s impossible. And a month to complete the whole thing…” Jade shook her head. Pieces of what Breana wanted weren’t new concepts, but the ability to rewrite authentication commands in real time without detection? That was a different ballgame.
“Not for a genius like you. I know how fast your mind works. How do you see systems whole, not in pieces? Plus, it’ll keep you working unless you want McKnight’s death on your conscience. And by the way, no one will find you.” Breana’s eyes gleamed with a cruelty she’d never noticed before. “I don’t need everything, Jade. Only enough to tempt those interested in the program to start a bidding war.”
Jade’s hands shook at the implications of her failure. But two days to create enough code to appease the dregs of society? Did Breana know nothing about building programs of this type? Snapping her fingers and making it write itself was as likely as her creating it on time, if at all.
“Evan, I trust you’ll assist Jade. We wouldn’t want to add more bruises to that handsome face of yours.”
Evan’s shoulders drooped. “I will.”
Breana and all but one guard left the room.
“Come on.” Evan held out a chair for her. “Might as well get started.”
