Page 102 of The Code of You

I stood outside the warehouse and stared at the rusted metal door. No bell, no sign, nothing to suggest people ever came here. Just like before.

It had been five years since I turned my back on Legion for a job at a company that represented everything we had once fought against. But I needed them. I needed their skills, their resources. And if I was honest with myself . . . I needed him.

Dax. Just his name made my pulse race. I shook my head, forced myself to focus. I was here because of Neo.

My fingers trembled as I raised my hand to the door. Did they still use the knock code? Three times fast, two times slow. My knuckles touched the cold metal.

A moment of silence. Then I heard the familiar sound of bolts being drawn back. The door opened a crack.

"Emma?” I recognized the voice immediately from its slight accent. "Shit. It’s really you.”

The door swung open and Zara stood there, exactly as I remembered. Short, pink-dyed hair, piercings, a crooked grin spreading across her face.

"Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up.” She leaned against the doorframe. "The famous Dr. Rodriguez. How’s corporate life treating you?”

My stomach clenched. I hated how they saw me. In their eyes, I had betrayed myself. I swallowed. "Zara . . .”

"Relax.” She laughed. "Come in. This is going to be interesting.” She dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You won’t believe what we’re working on.”

I followed her through the narrow corridor. The walls were painted black, cables running along the ceiling. The familiar smell of instant noodles and energy drinks hit me. Then the room opened up ahead of me—dozens of monitors throwing bluish light onto faces I didn’t recognize. I had been away from the collective too long. But he . . . he was still here.

My palms went damp. I wetted my lips. "Is he here?” My voice came out as a rasp.

"Of course I’m here, princess.” The voice came from behind me. Deep, familiar, with that lightly mocking undertone I’d never forgotten.

My body froze. My heart hammered against my ribs as I turned slowly, my knees suddenly weak. The blue-glowing LED mask stared back at me. Where the eyes should have been: crosses. The mouth looked as if someone had sewn it shut.

"Long time.”

My breath caught. "Dax.” His name came out rough.

He stepped toward me, suddenly too close. I caught his aftershave. It was the same as before. Something woodsy and dark that sent me straight back to my dorm room. His hand around my throat. My face pressed against the cold wall while he fucked me from behind, the blue light of his mask dancing across my skin.

He pushed my hair behind my ear. "I preferred the red,” he murmured.

A shiver moved across my skin. I curled my hands into fists. I was here because of Neo. Not because of Dax. I would not let myself be pulled back into his darkness.

"I . . .” My voice was thick. I cleared my throat. "I need your help, Dax.”

The mask tilted to one side. I knew this gesture. He was studying me.

"Help.” He repeated the word as if it tasted bad. "Interesting. Five years ago, you thought you were too good for our help.”

"That was different.”

"Was it?” He took one step back and crossed his arms. "Or are you just desperate enough to come back to us criminals?”

The other hackers stopped typing. I felt their eyes on me. Zara leaned against a monitor, an amused smile on her lips.

"It’s about an AI,” I forced out.

"Ah.” Dax’s voice sharpened. "Did one of your creations escape?”

My jaw tightened. "It’s complicated.”

"It always is, princess.” He came closer again. His hand lifted, fingertips barely grazing my wrist. But it was enough. An electric shock shot up my arm and straight between my legs. My knees went soft.

"The question is: What are you offering us?”