#as shown

“What’s that?”

He looked around, then huddled in close. “I doubt there are any listening devices here. But we can’t talk about it anywhere else, okay? Even in the palace. Only somewhere we’re sure there’s no one listening in…like outdoors. Or in the shower.” A wry smile tugged at his lips.

“It’s that secret?” Her heart thumped hard in her throat.

He dropped his eyes, but fear emanated from him in tangible waves. “It’s…why I got this in the first place.” He brushed the scar on his cheek.

A gasp tore air from her lungs. Her heart thudded to the floor of her rib cage, shattering into painful shards. “Jason….”

“The drug. The weapon I held out against giving to Gray. I didn’t even give him the name. I…did give him its capability. He’s one of the few people who know about it. I thought. Now it’s loose on the dark web. At least… Well. I know where it’s hidden. Unless…” His eyes darted around the roof, which was mostly devoid of people now. A cloud swept over the westering sun, swathing them in shadow. “One of its creators could have let out the secret. That’s the only other way I can think of. Otherwise…I’m burying it deep in my mind so no one can dig it up. There’s no reason to let on it exists, unless someone finds it… then we’re all in trouble.”

“What does it do?”

“I don’t want to put you in danger. Let’s just say…it’d give Novacom a run for its money.”