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Vane keeps me pinned under him. In the few times I’ve met him, I noticed he was a big man. With him on top of me, he feels twice the size I recall. It didn’t go unnoticed that when he tackled me, he wrapped his body around mine to make sure he took the brunt of the fall onto the concrete floor.
Oh, it felt like concrete, but I’d bet my life it is some high-tech flooring that’s filled with pressure sensors. It’s why I hoped the board would get me inside and buy some time before it set any alarms off.
I don’t know who is breathing harder, him or me. Vane could fit in with the Predict Six if they suited him up in their gear. The team has been in a few meetings I was dragged into by Buffy. I hate when she does that to me.
Buffy knows exactly how to sink her claws into me. Flashing pictures of women and children that need to be saved. Ones that I could help. She targets my weak spot to get what she wants. Knowing damn well that I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t assist the helpless who needed a hand.
The weight of it can be overwhelming, but then guilt always gets me. How did I get tossed into the foster system with such gifts as mine? Did I waste that all on my silly projects in my warehouse, or did I do what I thought was the right thing?
The Predict Six are the real assassination team for America. Sure, they show you a group of Marines and tell you that they’ve taken out an atrocious leader, but really it was the Predict Six. Whoever they flashed across your screen weren’t the real people behind the mission. They are just the faces they want you to see.
Few people know who they are. I don’t even know their names. Even in meetings, their faces are often covered in black masks with only their eyes showing. I could only make out that at least one of them is a female. A tiny thing but I bet that’s part of her surprise when it comes to the enemy. They probably underestimate her and she uses it against them.
Magic might know more about them or be able to find out additional information but it’s not something I’d ask her unless needed. I don’t always agree with some things our government did, but the Predict Six did what a lot of us couldn’t. I’m happy I don’t have to make those decisions.
They are a bonded team. That’s something I can relate to. As long as they stay in line, I’m not putting my nose where it doesn’t belong, and I have a feeling they think the same.
This is why I need Rebel. She is my team. But she can’t be rolling around on a hard floor while she’s knocked up. Vane would never have gotten the drop on her, but she couldn’t have found the panel as quickly as I did. I know it’s crazy, but when I simply touch a machine, everything about it starts to bleed into me. Thoughts of what I would do if it was mine and I crafted it myself almost overwhelm me. It doesn’t take me long to find what I'm searching for typically.
I’d been so lost in the beauty of the drone and focused on wanting to know everything about it that I hadn't seen Vane. Honestly, I didn’t think it would be him I would come up against but one of his security.
“Motherfucker,” I hiss in realization. There hadn’t been much security at all, which could only mean one thing.
“Are you hurt?” he asks me.
“You’re dripping blood on me, and I can’t get this dry-cleaned.” I glare up at him. Vane smirks, the blood dripping down his nose not bothering him in the least. It doesn’t help that my fucked-up brain thinks he’s even hotter now.
“I’ll replace it. Pretty sure it’s my technology. I could upgrade it for you if you’d like.”
“Upgrade?” Is there something new? Wait, I remind myself to stay on task here. “It was your very basic design already, but I’ll take what you got.” I smirk right back up at him. “Obviously I made a few improvements.” I can’t help but go in for a small jab. I’m sure it’s my ego. At least I can admit that.
I shouldn't be so cocky. Vane has a whole lot more power than I do. I bet he even has the president's number. I’m sure that comes with making some of the best technology the world has ever seen.
Hell, his grandfather helped create the Trench Gun. Its devastation hadn’t been fully intended for what it could do, but it was quickly realized for all of its capabilities. His family was destroying Nazis before it was cool. Thank God it never fell into the wrong hands.
That’s the line you always ride, wondering if what you’re creating is going to do more harm than good. I bet Vane rides that line with every breath he takes. I’m sure more than most people in the whole fucking world.
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
“I can’t let that comment go. This is going to hurt,” I tell him as I push my wrist upwards to make full contact with his body. “Fire,” I tell my gloves. I hear the shock go off, but nothing happens. “What the hell?” How is this even possible? Vane still keeps me pinned beneath him. I purse my lips. Of all the times one of my creations was going to fail me, of course it chooses now.
“You didn’t think I’d know you’d try to taser me?”
“But how?” I question. I guess he could have something that pulls and grounds the current, but it would still need to travel through the body. I think. Biology isn’t my area of expertise. Clearly, Vane knows all areas.
“As I said, I’ll show you my trick if you show me yours.”
“Let me go, and we'll pretend this never happened.”
“That’s not going to work for me. You’ve already seen too much.I’vealready seen too much.”
“People will come for me,” I threaten.
“I can have a government army surround my home in one call. It would take your friends a while to work past that.” My mind flashes back to how little staff security I’d seen around here. It had been too easy to get in. The stupid red flag was there, and I ignored it. My greed and need to find Vane, I mean the tech, blinded me.
“This was a trap,” I whisper. He set me up. He somehow knew I was coming. What does he want from me? Oh God, is he a double agent or something? Has he gone rogue? Does he think I might have information? Will he try to extract it from me?
I know this is not the time, but with him being so close, my mind can’t help but wonder what methods he would use to get this information. I quickly push those thoughts to the back of my mind.Focus, Ocean.
