For a flicker of a moment, he considers calling Ava anyway.
Dragging her out.
Telling her "your father’s enemies aren’t just mine—they’re yours now, and they plant bombs as love notes. "
Then he thinks of PROJECT AVA.
Of guardianship papers.
Of Vince spinning any hint of “instability” into a weapon.
“No heroics,” Damian says finally. “Mark it. Bug it. If we can’t pull it without setting it off, we learn from it.”
“I’ll try,” Adrian says. “But if I think I can get it free, I’m not leaving Valen’s party favor under her car.”
“As long as you walk away,” Damian says.
“Who knew you cared so much,” Adrian mutters. “Give me two minutes.”
The feed flickers as Adrian leans further under the chassis, blocking more of the view.
Damian sits there, every muscle taut, listening to the scrape
