Page 67 of Hollow Point
“Oracle. It’s Hyperion’s core intelligence architecture. What keeps it all running. If we can get inside, we could bring the entire organization down without having to leave the bunker.” He nodded at Zadie. “I’m sure Zadie has some ideas about how to do that. In the meantime, we take the win. Keep searching because no one’s perfect, and we’ll find that thread that unravels Finch and Hyperion if it’s the last damn thing we do.”
Wynn snorted. “Glad you’re not being overdramatic or anything.”
Darwin smiled. “I’ll leave that up to all of you. Now, since we’re not currently in the thick of anything, you should all get some rest because I have a feeling I’ll be stitching up more bullet wounds before you should even be out there.”
The meeting adjourned, everyone walking off to different parts of the bunker. Coulter took Neve’s hand, bypassed that comfy, oversized chair and headed straight for their room.
He ushered her in, closing the door behind them. “I swear, I’m going to set up some kind of laser beam alarm so your friends can’t just pop in whenever the feeling moves them.”
Neve smoothed her hands up his hoodie. “What’s wrong, baby, afraid they’ll catch you with your pants down?”
“They already have, and it doesn’t seem to deter them.” He brushed his thumb along her jaw. “You really are beautiful.”
She laughed. “You don’t have to sweet talk me. I’m gonna say yes to whatever you have in mind.”
“Then, I’ll say it because it’s the truth. And I’m damn lucky you saved my ass that night.”
“You’ve saved me a dozen times, since.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “Are you sure you’re okay giving up your command? I’d understand if you needed, hell wanted, to go back. It’s been your life’s work.”
“You’re right. It has been. And I nearly lost you because I had my head shoved up my ass.” He tilted his head, looking at her as if he’d just discovered something new. “I don’t know if it was burying you, nearly dying that night at Blackridge, or watching you take a bullet to save me, but I know, without a doubt, you’re my life’s work. And it’ll be a cold day in hell before I ever walk away again, so… You’d best get used to the idea of me loving you. That’s not going to change.”
“Damn straight it won’t. You promised me seventy years. I intend to cash in.”
“Then, what are you waiting for, sweetheart? We’re alone and mostly healed with nothing but time.” He pursed his lips. “Well, we’ve got a bit of time before someone interrupts us so… bed or wall.”
“Bed because you still owe me an all nighter, and I can’t think of a better time to collect.” She tiptoed up and kissed him. “Like Gus said, welcome to Black Hollow. You’re in for a wild ride.”
