THE MAN IN THE RAIN
455 Words
CHAPTER 2
THE MAN IN THE RAIN
Lucian Alexander Vale did not hurry.
Rain slid down the shoulders of his black coat as he stood outside Veyne Technologies, one hand resting casually in his pocket.
Above him, on the forty-eighth floor, Elara was watching.
He knew it.
He could feel her eyes through the glass.
His phone vibrated.
“She's inside,” a man's voice said.
“I know.”
“Do we extract her?”
Lucian's expression hardened.
“No.”
A pause.
“Then why are you there?”
Lucian looked up again.
“To make sure nobody else reaches her first.”
Inside the laboratory, Elara watched him through the window.
She had expected a monster.
Instead, she saw a man who looked almost impossibly calm.
Dark hair. Sharp features. Broad shoulders. A face that revealed absolutely nothing.
Then his eyes lifted.
Their gazes collided.
Elara's breath caught.
It was ridiculous.
She had stared down armed men, driven cars at impossible speeds, and dismantled security systems designed by governments.
Yet one man's eyes had made her forget what she was doing.
She frowned.
“That's annoying.”
ORACLE responded immediately.
“Your heart rate has increased by 18%.”
“Shut up.”
“Possible causes include fear, stress, or—”
“I said shut up.”
The elevator doors opened behind her.
Elara turned.
Three armed men entered the laboratory.
“Miss Veyne,” the first said. “You're coming with us.”
Elara glanced at them.
Then at the window.
Lucian was gone.
She smiled.
“Are you sure?”
The men exchanged confused looks.
Elara reached for the racing helmet sitting beside her motorcycle jacket.
“Because you just made the worst decision of your lives.”
The first man raised his weapon.
A gunshot exploded through the laboratory.
But Elara was already moving.
She ducked.
The bullet struck the wall.
She kicked the weapon from his hand, twisted his wrist, and sent him crashing onto the marble floor.
The second man charged.
She stepped aside.
A hand suddenly caught his collar.
Lucian.
He had entered without making a sound.
One precise movement sent the attacker into the glass wall.
The third man froze.
Lucian looked at him.
“Leave.”
The man dropped his weapon and ran.
Elara stared at Lucian.
“You broke into my building.”
Lucian looked at her calmly.
“You're welcome.”
“I didn't ask for help.”
“I know.”
Their eyes met again.
For some reason, neither looked away.
Lucian's voice lowered.
“That's going to become a problem.”
Elara tilted her head.
“What is?”
“You.”
And then the lights went out again.
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