(Dual POV · Danny → Chloe)

DANNY POV

The sub-level corridor swallows sound.

Concrete. Steel. Old fluorescent lights flickering like they’re shivering.

Chloe stays close, her hand still in mine. She thinks I’m the one leading, but the truth is I’m grounding myself on her touch more than she is on mine.

At the end of the hall is a matte-black door with a mechanical lock older than both of us.

RECORDS VAULT – ACCESS RESTRICTED

I punch a six-digit override code—one I memorized ...