o the empty street below. The rational part of her brain told her she was

her stomach to

d been wat

ly through her nose before stepping back fro

needed wa

d shoved it into her pocket. If someone knew she was look

y real ally in this entire mess. But as she r

were alread

jacket, pulled on her sneakers, and tucked the flash drive securely into her bra. She

e door behind her as quietly as possible. The hallway was silent, the air t

e she stepped outside, the night air was crisp against her skin. The ci

e was going, only that s

streets, her mind racing with possibilities. Who had bee

t Dante

suspected her, he wouldn't be subtle ab

had been lurk

ed her more t

dimming behind her. A coffee shop was still open at t

e it chiming softly. The scent of roasted

lert-and slid into a booth near the back, her back aga

its die

she pulled out her phon

meet.

e came almo

er

ng around before typi

scanning the café before spotting her. He strode over, sliding

" he asked, keepi

time before leaning in. "I t

ression dark

ight outsid

rubbing a hand over

aid firmly. "And

onto hers. "Ab

em. "There's a classified file with his name on it. I haven't read all of it

owering his voice. "We have to be careful, Elena. If someo

owed hard

ned forward. "We need to get that data copied and backed

," she

t his laptop. "L

encrypted cloud storage and two additional flash dri

red. "But we need to figur

und her cup. "I have a feelin

ere quieter now, and the usual city noise dimmed. She kept her senses sharp as s

th

ase clung

nd her, pressing her back against it for a moment.

, checking every window, ev

en she

lope had been slip

cked it up, fingers trembli

a single pi

dig

s all i

signature. J

message

own her spine as

just bein

being

had left thi

ren't b