Page 107 of Collateral Love

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“Something’s off,” he said quietly.

I leaned in. “Where?”

He tapped one sequence. “The west accounts you delayed.”

Miles stiffened almost imperceptibly.

“They froze anyway,” Xavier continued. “Not by us.”

I looked up at Miles slowly.

Miles blinked. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Does to me,” Xavier said. “Means someone else has access.”

Joel frowned. “Government?”

Xavier shook his head. “Too clean. Too quiet. This ain’t feds.”

Channy’s voice was tight. “Then who?”

I didn’t answer right away.

Because Kenya’s voice was in my head again, steady and precise.

If it feels familiar, it’s because someone learned from me.

I straightened.

“We got a third hand on the board,” I said. “One that understands infrastructure.”

Miles spread his palms. “You think someone’s copying Kenya?”

“No,” I replied. “I think someone’s been watching her.”

Silence settled heavily.

Miles shifted in his chair. “Zay, with respect, this is a lot to infer without evidence.”

Xavier’s gaze locked onto him. “That’s funny.”

Miles looked at him. “What is?”

“You keep saying ‘we’ when you talk about strategy,” Xavier said calmly. “But you ain’t on any access lists for half this data.”

Miles smiled. “I’m looped in.”

“By who?” Xavier asked.

I held up a hand before the room could fracture.

“Enough,” I said. “We don’t accuse without proof.”

Miles nodded quickly. “Thank you.”

I looked at him. “But we do observe.”

I turned back to the screens.

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