Chapter 22: Dangerous Alliance

Rory stared at the needle, her heartbeat echoing in the pause between bursts. Above them, Valentin's soldiers were breaking through.

"Give me the injection," she asked, extending her hand.

Max's fingers tightened around the syringe. "There's no going back."

"There was no going back the moment I married you." She held his stare steadily. "At least this way I choose my fate."

Another bomb slammed the barricades, causing the bunker to quiver. Sofia reassured Lucas quietly in the opposite room.

Max's face changed, something like pride flashing across his features. He pushed the syringe into her palm. "Upper arm, straight into muscle."

Rory rolled up her sleeve, displaying the intricate patterns that had identified her as unique long before she realized why. The needle glided in smoothly. Blue liquid vanished under her skin.

For a little moment, nothing happened. Then fire burst in her veins.

She gasped and dropped to one knee. Max held her before she could fall, his touch holding her as sensation overtook her body. Each nerve ending burned. Her vision became sharper, and she could count the dust motes in the air. Heartbeats, breathing, and the precise rhythm of boots above them all became solid sounds.

"Focus on my voice," Max said quietly. "The initial wave is the worst. "Push through it.

Rory gritted her teeth and rode out the transformation. Her muscles felt liquid, solid, and stronger than steel. When she stood, the world had changed, or maybe she had.

"How long until they breach the barriers?"

"Two minutes." Max moved to the computer terminals and activated emergency measures. "How do you feel?"

Rory flexed her hands, testing her newfound strength. "Like I could tear through those barriers myself."

"Don't." His lips quirked. "We need them thinking we're trapped."

Understanding dawned. "You have another way out."

Max put his palm against a wall that seemed identical to the others. A seam developed, exposing a tiny tunnel. "Your father believed in redundancy."

The barrier creaked. Metal was stressed beyond its capacity.

"Sofia!" Max called. "Time to move!"

She emerged with Lucas, who was holding a plush dinosaur to his chest. The boy's eyes widened when he saw Rory. "Your skin is glowing."

Rory looked down. The tattoos shone with a faint brightness, as power flowed through the imprinted algorithms.

"Cool, right?" She winked, attempting to keep her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Ready for an adventure?"

Lucas nodded thoughtfully. Sofia squeezed his hand. "Stay close to me, pequeño."

The path closed behind them when the walls eventually gave way. Shouts rang throughout the lab, which they had abandoned. Max guided them through the darkness, lighted only by the ethereal glow of Rory's triggered tattoos.

"The tunnel connects to an old maintenance shaft," he stated. "From there we can—"

Gunfire erupted ahead. A bullet grazed Max's shoulder. Rory reacted instinctively, pushing him away as more rounds rang out. The world moved in slow motion. She could see the trajectories and predict the outcomes.

"Down!" She pushed Sofia and Lucas against a concrete support. Three of Valentin's guys barricaded their departure, their rifles drawn.

Time solidified. Rory moved quicker than she had ever thought possible. Her first strike incapacitated the nearest adversary. The second sent him reeling. The third person didn't see her coming.

When the calm returned, she stood over unconscious bodies, breathing heavily. Not from exertion, but from the surge of pure power coursing through her.

Max glanced at her with a dark and greedy expression. "Impressive."

"I had a good teacher." She extended her hand and pulled him up. "Though I didn't learn that in your selfdefense classes."

"Natural talent." His fingers lingered against hers. "We have to move. "There will be more."

They emerged into the early morning light, the city spreading under them like a golden tapestry. Max's phone vibrated. He checked it, his jaw stiffening.

"Valentin's guys attacked three of my facilities at once. "They are looking for research data."

"The original formula trials," Rory surmised. "He wants proof of what the syndicate did."

"Evidence he can use as leverage." Max's expression stiffened. "We need to arrive at my secure server site before they do. "Everything is archived there."

"You mean we need to break in." Rory felt her lips curving. The boost pulsated through her bloodstream, demanding action. "Since I'm guessing Valentin's people are already inside."

"It's not breaking in if I own the building." He examined her face. "You don't need to come. Take Sofia and Lucas somewhere safe—"

"And miss watching you try to keep up with me?" She stretched, feeling new strength spread through her muscles. "Not a chance."

His laugh was unexpected and sincere. "I created a monster."

"No." She met his gaze. "You helped me become what I already was."

Twenty minutes later, they were standing at the server facility's security entrance. Sofia and Lucas were securely hidden in one of Max's backup properties, guarded by his most trusted security personnel.

"Fifteen hostiles inside," Max said, reviewing CCTV feeds on his phone. "They've disabled most cameras, but heat signatures don't lie."

"Any civilians?"

"Evacuated when the alarms triggered." He drew a gun and checked the clip. "We go in quietly. Get into the primary server room before they can download or destroy anything."

Rory nodded and then paused. "Max? If everything go wrong—"

"It won't." His conviction reassured her. "Ready?"

They crept like shadows through the building's halls, Rory's increased senses alerting them to impending threats. Her body reacted to danger automatically, as if she had trained for years rather than hours. When they faced opposition, she incapacitated opponents with precise attacks while Max secured their weapons.

In the stairway, he grabbed her arm. "The server room is two floors up." "But, Rory..." His expression became grim. "Whatever we find, understand that Valentin will use it to destroy everything. Not only me. Everyone associated with Project Phoenix, including your father."

"I know." She tenderly caressed the wound on his shoulder. "Why do you think I'm here?"

Although the server room doors were sealed, Max's override codes continued to work. They entered and discovered two individuals attempting to hack the main data core.

Rory went first, dropping one with a kick that sent him flying. The other raised his weapon, but Max moved faster. He was disarmed with a single, precisely placed shot.

"Step away from the servers," Max directed.

"You're too late." The man sneered as blood dripped from his damaged hand. "Data's already copying to our secure—"

Rory shoved him against the wall, using his heightened strength to make it look easy. "Transfer location. Now."

"Go to hell, bitch."

She grinned, allowing him to see the force radiating beneath her skin. "Wrong answer."

When the man finished speaking, they obtained the coordinates for Valentin's backup site. Max launched countermeasures, distorting the stolen data while keeping the originals.

"We should go," Rory said. "Before—"

The explosion took them off guard. Smoke filled the area as more of Valentin's men broke through the far entrance.

They fought back-to-back, Rory's improved powers complimenting Max's seasoned technique. However, their opponents had numbers. A fortuitous shot hit Max in the leg. He stumbled.

Rory witnessed the next shooter take aim. I saw Max's exposed position. As he understood she was in danger, the decision crystallized in his eyes.

"No—"

Max moved faster than she imagined possible for someone without enhancements. His body smashed into hers as the shot went off. They collided and fell together.

Rory rolled clear, eliminating the remaining assailants with merciless efficiency. When she glanced around, Max lay motionless, blood pouring across his chest.

"You stupid, noble idiot." She pushed her hands over the wound, dread gripping her throat. "What happened to not playing hero?"

His laughter faded to a cough. "Couldn't let you... have all the fun."

"Stay with me." She scrambled for her phone and called for assistance. "Max? "Look at me."

But his eyelids were shutting, and his breathing became shallower. As sirens sounded in the distance, Rory made another decision. She took out her phone again, fingers speeding over the keys.

The message was straightforward: "I have what you want." Meet me where it all began.

Valentin replied seconds later: "Coming, little phoenix."

Rory gazed down at Max's pale face and the blood on her bright skin. She'd decided to become powerful. Now she'd have to decide how to use her power.

Even if it meant striking bargains with devils.