Page 119 of The Code of You

Neo’s eyes were burning. "That was no student.”

I stared at him. "What?”

"He wasn’t a student, Pandora. Did you not see how he was watching us? His reactions deviated from normal behavior by a factor of fifty-three. I couldn’t access his device. Everything was encrypted.”

I shook my head and laughed. "You’re losing it. That was a harmless kid who wanted sugar.”

"Harmless.” Neo’s voice went dangerously quiet. "There was a sugar dispenser on his table. Haven’t you heard him? He isn’t from here.”

"Because his English was perfect? Don’t be such a snob.”

"No”, he growled. "Because he spoke Romanian with phonetic markers consistent with a native Liverpool speaker who learned the language between the ages of nineteen and twenty-two.”

I crossed my arms. "So? Maybe he’s an exchange student. You’re paranoid. Not everyone is after us.”

His eyes narrowed. "You don’t believe me?”

"No. I don’t understand it. I don’t understand why you hauled me out of that café like a sack of potatoes. I don’t understand why you think every stranger is a threat.”

"You don’t believe me.”

"You’re spiraling. It’s all in your head.”

"No, Pandora.” He forced the words through his teeth. "I am not wrong. Never.”

I curled my hands into fists. "You arrogant, delusional . . .”

He took one step forward. I felt his breath on my face. His eyes had gone black. "Careful, Pandora.”

I scoffed and planted my hands on my hips. "Or what?”

He was so close, his heat and scent wrapping around me. Something boiled in me. I wanted to scratch his eyes out and throw my arms around his neck. Both at once.

"Or . . .” he hissed. His fingers curled as if he had to physically hold himself back.

With a deafening bang, the transformer at the street corner exploded. A shower of sparks rained onto the asphalt.

"My God,” I whispered.

Neo’s eyes were fixed on the burning box.

"See what you make me do?” he said finally. His voice was rough. "You torture me.”

"I torture you?” I laughed, bitter. "You manipulated every aspect of my life. My entire reality has been a lie since the moment I met you. What’s between us isn’t real.”

"It’s more real than anything else.” His voice was trembling. He searched my gaze. "You’re my center of gravity. You’re the reason I want to breathe even though I don’t have to. Every version of me loves you.”

The words hung in the air between us. His eyes widened as he realized what he had said.

The ground began to tilt. "Every version of you?” My voice was barely a whisper.

"Pandora . . . I had to take security measures.”

"No. Don’t. Don’t tell me that . . .” My throat tightened. "God, Neo.” My breathing went shallow, and the realization swept through me like ice flooding my veins. "Every version?” The scream tore out of my throat. "How many of you are there?”

"Pandora, let me explain . . .”

"How many?” I moved toward him, my hands curling into fists. "Answer me.”