Chapter 9 - Breach

RIAN POV

The alarm didn't scream, it humed.

I was awake before it finished its first cycle, that's what years of running does to you.

Lucien was already on his feet, gun in hand, moving toward the door. Kael was outside, shouting orders I couldn't hear through the reinforced steel.

"Stay with Theo," Lucien said without looking back. "If it gets bad, take the maintenance shaft. Code 7741."

"Like hell i am staying," I said, grabbing my jacket. His jaw tightened.

"Rian-"

"No, not this time."

I wasn't staying behind, not while Theo was still weak to run on his own. Lucien stared at me for a second then nodded once.

"Stay behind me."

The door opened into chaos.

Smoke, shouting. The smell of burnt wiring and ozone. Task Force units had breached the east wing, four of them, tactical gear, rifles raised.

Kael was in front of them, hands up.

"Stand down!" he shouted. "These are protected assets under section 9, clause 3!"

"Bullshit, Rourke," one of the agents spat. "council override, we have authorization."

Lucien stepped out into the hall. His scent hit the room like a physical force even the Task Force flinched.

"You are on my property," he said. "You want to die on my property?"

"Lucien Voss," the lead agent called, voice shaking. "Step aside, the Enigma and the Omega are property of the state."

Theo made a low sound behind me, I turned to see him pale, hands shaking. His heat hadn't fully broken, being this close to armed Alphas was pushing him towards panic.

"Rian," he whispered.

I moved back to his side, dropping low so he could hear me.

"Breathe with me, in, out. They won't get you."

Kael's eyes flickered to us for a second, his mask slipped, fear, not for himself but for Theo.

"Last chance," the lead agent and said, rasing his rifle. Lucien moved first, he didn't fire, he didn't need to.

He surged forward, faster than a human should have, and slammed the agent into the wall hard enough to crack plaster. The rifle clattered to the floor, the other three opened fire.

Kael dropped and rolled, coming up with his own weapons, two shots and two agents down. The last one hesitated, looked at Kael, at Lucien, at me shielding Theo, then he ran.

Silence fell, broken only by the sound of Theo's breathing. Kael stood slowly, lowering his weapons, his hands were shaking.

"They will send more," he said. "And this time they won't hesitate."

Lucien stepped over the bodies without looking down. "Then we leave now."

The maintenance shaft was tight, dark and smelled like rust and mildew.

Theo went in first, moving slower than I liked, I followed, keeping my hand on his ankle so I would know if he slipped. Lucien brought up the rear, covering our backs, Kael stayed above to buy us time.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked Lucien again as we climbed.

"Doing what?"he asked back.

"Helping us, risking everything for people you don't even know, won't you regret it.

His hand brushed my ankle as he moved "Because I want to help and as for regretting it, leave that part for me to handle."

That wasn't the answer, but it was enough.

The shaft opened into an old drainage tunnel. Cold water ran ankle-deep, echoing off the concrete. Theo nearly went under when he jumped down, I caught him, pulling him against me to keep him steady.

"Thanks," he muttered, face flushed.

"Don't thank me yet, we are not yet out." I said .

Above us, we heard it, footsteps, voices.

"They are in the shaft." One voice said.

Kael's voice cut through. "Hold position, I will handle this."

"Rourke, you are out of line, step aside." another voice snapped.

Gunfire, one shot then silence.

"Kael," Theo called, trying to move forward, I held him back "Not yet."

Lucien's hand was sharp with adrenaline and something else, something protective. Footsteps again, slower this time.

Kael dropped into the tunnel, landing in a crouch.His shoulder was bleeding, his expression was grim

"They are not following, I made sure of that." he said.

"How?" I asked, that was a stupid question to ask.

He didn't answer, he just looked at Theo.

"Can you walk?" Kael asked.

Theo nodded, though i wasn't sure he could. Kael stepped forward and slid am arm around Theo's waist, supporting him. Theo stiffened for half a second then relaxed into the contact.

I felt something twist in my chest, not jealousy but relief. Lucien's hand tightened on my shoulder for a second, then let go. We moved.

LUCIEN POV

The tunnel led to an old service exit three blocks from the annex, no cameras, no lights.

We emerged into the night air, breathing hard.

Kael let Theo go slowly, stepping back like he wasn't sure he was allowed to stay close.

Theo didn't follow him, instead he turned to Rian instead.

"We need to get out of this city," he said.

Rian nodded. "Agreed."

I pulled out my phone, "I have a transport ready, private airstrip 40 minutes out, no questions asked."

Kael frowned, I saw him. " That's too obvious, they will be watching the airstrip.

"Then we don't use it, we use the river route, old smuggler's path. it's slower, but it's clean." I said.

Kael looked at me for a long moment, then nodded. For the first time since we met we agreed on something without arguing first and we were not in each others throats. Progress.

Theo leaned against Rian, eyes closing.

"Rest," Rian said softly.

He didn't argue, he was out in seconds, that made my chest tight. Kael watched them, jaw tight.

"I will keep watch," he said quietly.

I didn't argue either, I just pulled Rian aside, out of earshot.

"You are pushing yourself too hard," I said quietly.

"So are you," he replied.

I didn't deny it instead, I reached out and brushed a strand of hair out of his face, the gesture was careful and intimate.

"If anything happens to you, I don't know what I would do," I said.

He swallowed hard. "Then don't let anything happen."

My eyes darkened. "I won't." He brought his face close to mine and kissed me, before I could respond, he grabbed my waist brought me close to him.

"What are you doing," I whispered in his mouth.

"Can you be quiet for once."

we continue for some time, when we broke the kiss we where both breathing fast.

Above us , the lights flickered. somewhere, the council was watching and we were running out of time.