Chapter 191
Lynette's POV
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
I stepped inside with Kael. The space felt smaller than it should have. Maybe because I could feel the heat coming off him. Or maybe because my mind was already racing ahead to the problem of contacting Cole.
Kael pressed the button for the restaurant level. The doors started to close.
Then they stopped.
Someone had called the elevator.
The doors opened again on the sixth floor.
Cole walked in.
My heart slammed against my ribs. Hard. Fast.
I forced myself to stay still. To keep my face blank. To not look at him directly.
Cole's eyes swept over us once. Brief. Casual. Like we were strangers.
He moved to the corner of the elevator. Stood there with his hands loose at his sides.
I stared straight ahead at the brushed metal doors. Watched our reflections in the polished surface. Three people who had nothing to do with each other.
Except we did.
And I needed to talk to him. Badly.
The elevator hummed as it descended. I counted the seconds. Tried to slow my breathing.
Then I saw it.
Cole's right hand. Resting against his thigh.
His index finger tapped. Three times. Slow and deliberate.
Our old signal. The one I'd taught him years ago in the north.
I need to talk.
My pulse kicked up another notch. But I kept my expression neutral. Kept staring at those elevator doors like they were the most fascinating thing in the world.
Beside me, Kael shifted slightly. I could feel his attention on me. Sharp. Aware.
He always noticed too much.
The elevator chimed again. Restaurant level.
The doors opened.
Cole stepped out first. Didn't look back. Just walked straight toward the east side of the dining area.
I watched him go in the reflection of the glass walls. Tracked his movement until he disappeared into the crowd of breakfast guests.
"Shall we?" Kael's voice was quiet. Polite.
I turned to look at him. His face gave nothing away. But his eyes were watching me. Waiting.
"Let's sit over there," I said. Kept my voice casual. Pointed toward the window seats on the west side. "I like the view."
It wasn't about the view.
From those seats, the angle of the windows would give me a perfect reflection of Cole's section. I could watch him without turning around. Without being obvious.
Kael nodded. "Whatever you prefer."
We walked through the restaurant. It was filling up fast. Guests in expensive clothes. Faces hidden behind polite smiles and careful masks. Everyone here had secrets.
Everyone here was dangerous.
Kael pulled out my chair. I sat down. He settled across from me.
A server appeared immediately. Handed us menus. Asked about coffee.
I said yes without really hearing the question.
My attention was already split. Part of me sat here with Kael. Made small talk. Looked at the menu.
The other part was watching Cole's reflection in the window glass.
---
He sat alone at a corner table. Ordered quickly. The server left.
Cole picked up his fork. Tapped it against the edge of his plate.
Three taps. Long pause. Two taps. Long pause. Three taps.
Morse code. The old kind. The kind humans used before they had better technology.
Need to meet.
I kept my eyes on my menu. Pretended to read about omelets and fresh fruit.
Under the table, my fingers found the edge of the tablecloth. Tapped out my response where no one could see.
Where?
I watched Cole's reflection. He lifted his coffee cup. Took a slow sip.
His fingers drummed against the side of the cup. Dashes and dots. The rhythm for six, then zero, then nine
Room 609.
Middle deck. Regular passenger quarters. More private than the public areas. Less monitored than the VIP suites.
Smart choice.
I lowered my menu. Looked across at Kael.
He was watching me. Had been watching me the whole time.
"You're distracted," he said.
Not a question. A statement.
I felt my stomach tighten. "Just thinking."
"About?"
I gestured vaguely at the restaurant. At the other guests. "How many people here came for the genetic modification. How many are actually going to buy it."
It wasn't a lie. Not completely.
I had been thinking about that. Just not right now.
Kael's gaze held mine for a long moment. Then he looked out over the dining room. His expression was unreadable.
"More than half," he said quietly. "Maybe more."
The server returned with coffee. Set down cups for both of us. Asked if we were ready to order.
I ordered something. I didn't pay attention to what.
Kael ordered too. The server left again.
I wrapped my hands around my coffee cup. Let the heat seep into my palms. Tried to look relaxed.
In the window's reflection, I saw Cole stand up. He left cash on his table. Started walking toward the exit.
Then he was gone.
I sat very still. Processed that.
I took a sip of coffee. Bitter and hot. It helped center me.
Across the table, Kael set down his own cup. His movements were precise. Controlled.
"After breakfast," he said, "I need to meet with some business associates."
I looked up. Met his eyes.
"Old connections," he continued. "People I haven't spoken to in years. This ship is full of them."
His tone was casual. Too casual.
I studied his face. Tried to read what was behind those words.
Was he really going to meetings? Or was he giving me space on purpose?
Did he know I needed to slip away?
"That's fine," I said. Kept my voice light. "I was thinking of going back to the room anyway. I'm tired."
Not a lie. I was tired.
But that wasn't where I was going.
Kael nodded slowly. "You should rest."
His eyes never left mine.
For a second, I thought he was going to say something else. Something more.
But he didn't.
He just looked at me with that steady, patient gaze. Like he was waiting for me to tell him the truth.
Like he already knew I wouldn't.
The silence stretched between us. Not uncomfortable. Just heavy.
I broke it first. "What time will you be done?"
"A few hours. Maybe longer." He picked up his coffee again. "These things tend to run long."
"Okay."
Our food arrived. I ate without tasting it. My mind was already moving ahead. Planning.
I needed to get to room 609. Needed to talk to Cole. Find out what he'd learned.
But I also needed to make sure no one followed me. No one saw.
Especially not Kael.
---
We finished breakfast in relative quiet. Small comments about the food. Brief observations about the other guests.
Normal conversation. Surface level.
Nothing that mattered.
When we were done, Kael stood. Offered me his hand.
I took it. Let him help me up.
His fingers were warm. Strong. They lingered on mine for just a second longer than necessary.
Then he let go.
We walked to the elevators together. The hallway was busy. Guests moving between breakfast and their next destination.
I pressed the call button.
The elevator arrived quickly. We stepped inside.
Kael pressed eight. I pressed seven.
My floor would come first.
The elevator started moving. I felt the slight pull of gravity as we rose.
I should say something. Fill the silence.
But I didn't know what to say.
Kael stood beside me. Close enough that I could smell the cedar scent of his cologne. Feel the warmth of him.
He wasn't looking at me. Just watching the floor numbers change.
But I knew he was aware of me. Completely aware.
The elevator chimed. Seventh floor.
The doors opened.
I stepped out. Turned back to look at him.
He was watching me now. His expression was soft. Gentle in a way I rarely saw.
"Be careful," he said quietly.
My throat tightened. "You too."
The doors started to close.
Kael's eyes stayed on mine until the very last second. Until the metal slid shut between us.
I stood there in the empty hallway. Stared at those closed doors.
He knew.
He had to know I wasn't going back to my room. That I was lying to him.
But he'd let me go anyway.
Given me space. Given me freedom.
Trusted me even though I hadn't earned it.
The weight of that trust sat heavy in my chest. Made it hard to breathe.
I pushed the feeling down. Locked it away.
I didn't have time for guilt right now.
I had work to do.
I turned and headed for the stairs. Room 609 was waiting.