Ciphers, Matt Rogers [a court of thorns and roses ebook free TXT] 📗

patient might have jumped to fill the void, but he was comfortable in the quiet. He waited for Alonzo to process what he needed to.

Then the man said, ‘You’re a whole lot smarter than I thought you’d be.’

Slater shrugged. ‘Same ball game. Different positions. You could make a fortune in the private sector with a whole lot less work, just like I could. There’s no shortage of billionaires looking for bodyguards with impressive résumés, and there’s no shortage of companies looking for tech wizards like yourself. Fortune 100s would be jumping at the bit to snatch you up. But you’re here, probably overloaded with stress, sacrificing your mental health and your sanity for your country. Because you want to do the right thing, and you’re talented, and you know you’re talented, and you don’t want those talents to go to waste. Same as me.’

Alonzo said, ‘I’ve never met an operative who didn’t think I was an out-of-shape pen-pusher.’

‘Well, you’ve met one now.’

A pause.

Then Alonzo said, ‘Maybe that’s what makes you the best. You and King both. You don’t judge anyone. So you’re probably humble enough to be ruthless self-assessors, which allows you to improve on your flaws. I’ve met my fair share of SF guys and black-ops guys who were never able to evolve. Ego always gets in the way. It’s the silent killer. You think you’re top shit so you don’t work hard to get better. Or you only focus on your strengths.’

Slater nodded. ’I’ll be working hard to get better until the day I die.’

‘As will I,’ Alonzo said. ‘Guess that’s what makes us, us.’

Slater didn’t respond.

Alonzo said, ‘There’s gossip about you two in our world, you know?’

‘I figured there might be. Good or bad?’

‘The word “luck” gets thrown around more often than not. Especially after some of the stories that circulate about what the two of you have accomplished. But now, meeting you, I don’t think it’s luck. I think you just ruthlessly prepare for everything, so you have very few weaknesses. I’ve always thought that of high performers. I guess I try to apply it to my skillset, too. It helps me stay ahead of the tech guys on the other side, trying to destroy what I’m tasked with protecting.’

‘Thanks for the character analysis,’ Slater said with a smirk.

Alonzo said, ‘I’ll leave you to it. Thanks for the chat.’

‘Anything I need to know about the building?’

‘I’ll send schematics to your phone over the satellite network. Other than that, it’s on you and King. I’m just as in the dark as you two are.’

Slater glanced outside. ‘Quite literally.’

Alonzo turned to place a hand on the doorknob, and then hesitated. He turned back one last time.

‘Give ’em hell,’ he said. ‘You might be our last shot.’

‘Seems to always be that way,’ Slater sighed.

Alonzo nodded solemnly, then slipped outside, leaving Slater alone with all the pressure in the world.

What’s new? he thought.

He picked up one of the bulletproof vests and shrugged it over his frame.

34

King waited for the door to close behind Slater and Alonzo, then turned and pulled Violetta in close.

She mumbled, ‘You said—’

He pressed his lips to hers, and all went still. The quiet of the hallway amplified by ten, so silent they were able to hear each other’s breathing as they interlocked their mouths. When they parted, King kept his forehead resting against hers. She didn’t move, or protest. He could tell she had her own eyes closed, too.

Finally, after what felt like years, he stepped back.

She said, ‘Was that smart?’

‘I needed it.’

‘We agreed that no matter what—’

‘If Slater and I fail,’ King said, ‘then a rogue band of terrorists packs up their gear and flees in separate directions, and we stay locked out of the grid for good. Which, as far as I can tell, is an absolute disaster in both the short and long term. Right?’

‘Right.’

‘Then excuse me for needing to alleviate a little pressure. Sometimes I need a shoulder to rest on.’

She reached out and took his hand. Gripped it tight. She said, ‘You’re going to be okay.’

‘I might be,’ he said. ‘But it’s a lot likelier that we survive, and still fail.’

‘You’re not going to let that happen.’

‘No,’ King said. ‘I don’t think I will.’

She looked at him. ‘If you’re saying what I think you’re saying—’

‘When’s the last time there were stakes like this?’ he said. ‘This is monumental. That disaster with China, all those months ago … at least it would have been a steady decline. This is going to escalate rapidly. It’s going to be a nightmare. So if there’s an opportunity to put myself in harm’s way to stop this … I’m not going to hesitate. I’m going to take it. You need to be okay with that.’

There were a million responses in her eyes, swirling there deep in the blue, but she didn’t vocalise any of them. She just said, ‘I’ve always understood that.’

‘I know that’s always been the case,’ he said. ‘But I think, this time, it’s clearer than ever.’

She nodded.

‘In the grand scheme of things,’ he said, ‘we don’t mean much. Not in comparison to what’ll happen if we fail.’

‘So don’t fail.’

‘I don’t plan on it.’

She jerked her head at the closed door. ‘How is he?’

‘Slater?’

‘Yeah.’

‘He’s okay, all things considered.’

‘Is he drunk?’

‘He was.’

She sighed. ‘Christ.’

‘He’s not anymore.’

‘Oh, I’m sure.’

‘Trust me,’ King said. ‘He’s talented at drinking himself into a state, but he’s just as talented at getting his head back in the game when he needs to.’

She stared at him hard. ‘Tell me something.’

‘Okay.’

‘Be honest.’

‘Sure.’

‘Are you keeping something like that from me? I wouldn’t judge you.’

‘A drinking problem?’

‘I know what you’ve seen and done, and I know what Slater’s seen and done. I guess what he does to himself in his spare time is understandable. But you … I don’t know, I’ve never seen you get carried away. If you do, you don’t need to hide it from me. I’m telling you — I’d be the first to understand.’

‘I’m not hiding anything,’ King said. ‘If