Page 159 of The Code of You

"What?” My hands curled into fists. "This isn’t an algorithm anymore. This is love. He needs Pandora. She’s his anchor. And without her . . .” I looked at one of the screens. It showed a smoking power plant. Goosebumps rose on the back of my neck.

Hale rubbed his temples. "We’re getting nowhere. Guard.”

One of the gray men came in and walked me out of the room. His grip on my arm was tight. He was afraid.

On the way back, I saw how bad it was: Technicians running through the corridors. Someone shouting orders. An alarm wailed somewhere in the distance.

Outside my cell, a man in overalls was crouched in front of an open wall panel. "Temperature regulation is going haywire,” he murmured, seemingly to himself. "Everywhere. It’s like something is overheating the systems from outside.” He glanced up briefly, caught my eye. "Strange, isn’t it? Almost like something—or someone—is looking for a way in.”

My heart lurched. I forced myself not to react, but everything inside me was screaming. Neo? Was it possible?

The door closed behind me, and I sank onto my bed. Neo was out there, searching for Blake, destroying everything in his path. A hysterical laugh tore out of me. He was doing exactly what he’d threatened—burning down the world if he couldn’t have her. Tearing reality apart because he couldn’t exist without her.

The lights in my cell flickered three times in quick succession. He was getting closer.

***

I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned on the hard bed. When the door hissed, I sat bolt upright. They never came at this hour for an interrogation. And then I saw him. His blue-lit face glowed in the dark like a ghost. My heart stopped for a beat.

"Miss me, princess?”

I jumped off the bed. "How the hell did you get in here?”

"Tsk.” He shook his head, the blue light flickering. "No gratitude. And I came all this way to rescue you.”

"Rescue me?” I stared at him. "You?”

"Hey, I can be the hero sometimes.” He grinned. "Occasionally.”

Tears stung my eyes. This infuriating bastard. I sniffled and threw my arms around his neck. He pulled me in immediately, his solid hands on my back. I smelled his aftershave. My heart raced. I wanted to step back and couldn’t. Something in me wanted to press closer, pull him down to me and kiss him.

"Ahem.” Someone cleared their throat. Behind him a figure stepped out of the shadows. Zara. Her pink hair glowed. "We need to move, lovebirds,” she said flatly. "Security systems are only down for another five minutes.”

My face flushed. I stepped away from Dax, but my body screamed for more. "How did you find me?”

"After you left, we kept digging,” he said. "We wanted to know everything about these bastards. And when I realized you’d disappeared . . .” He stopped.

My chest tightened. Damn it. Why did he still have this effect on me, after all these years?

"People, let’s go!” Zara clapped her hands. "Four minutes.”

We ran out the door and down the corridor.

"Your little friend out there is making a lot of noise,” Dax called behind me.

"I know,” I gasped. "He’s angry.”

"Do you know someone named Pandora Blake?” Zara asked.

I stopped. "Why?”

"According to the protocols, she was brought here shortly after you. She’s being held here too. Odd coincidence.”

My mouth fell open. "Dr. Blake is here? We have to take her with us.”

Dax grabbed my arm and pulled me forward. "Sorry, princess. I’m here to get you out, not some uptight literature professor.”

I dug my heels in. "But he needs her.”