Wow, Kaya, says Cassie through the phone. I didn’t know you could be such a badass.
Try bossy, Ren says.
And you, I tell Cassie, you are going to cry your eyeballs out over your boyfriendwho we will discuss laterand you’re going to grieve, and mourn, and accept your heartbreak. Give yourself some time. Watch Legally Blonde. Definitely watch The Notebook. I love you, and you’re going to be okay, alright ?
I swear I hear Cassie’s smile through her voice. Alright, she mumbles. Love you, too.
Then I hang up and frown. I’m missing something. What am I missing ?
Maiko bites her lip. The European trade deal banquet tonight ?
The European . . . I choke. The what now ? That’s tonight ?
Ren and I found out an hour ago.
You didn’t think that was an important thing to mention ?
Well . . . I kind of got distracted.
I narrow my eyes at her. And Ren. Are you telling me that I have six hours to figure out the formula of this drug so we can use it as blackmail at a banquet later tonight ?
Maiko sighs. The real problem is, what are we going to wear ?
The real problem is the fact that we have six hours to pull off Veah’s entire crazy plan !
A backless sapphire dress, or the elegant white pantsuit ?
The white suit, I say automatically. Suits are hot.
Veah raises an eyebrow at me. I ignore her.
If you think suits are hot, just wait until you see Maiko cuts herself off with a devilish grin and a glance at Veah. Just wait until tonight.
Oh, God, I say. We are so going to get ourselves killed.
Veah winks at me.
My conscience says, But it’ll definitely be worth it for a pretty girl.
Famous last words.
C10H15N12.
I figured it out. I figured it out.
I stumble back from the white countertop, breathless.
I did it ! I shout. And there’s only one hour left to spare. I did it !
I’ve always been better at math than chemistry, and I’ve always been better at hacking than math. But figuring this out, solving this formula . . . this is a rush.
We have blackmail ! I cheer.
Well, those are three words I certainly never thought would come out of my mouth.
Quiet down ! Mai’s voice is raspy from across the hall of Veah’s penthouse. We’re busy !
Busy ? Doing what ? And suddenly all those rattling noises make sense to me. Never mind ! Don’t answer thatum, cool ! Sex is great
Veah strides into the room with two swords on her back.
Sex is great dies on my tongue.
I suddenly can’t breathe.
You look . . . you look . . . wow.
An IQ of 159 and I can’t come up with something better than you look wow.
She is wearing a dark grey suit that brings out the storm colour of her eyes. From the inside of her jacket, I can see the smooth expanse of her chest with a low-cut silk top. She cuts a striking figure, and I am reminded of the fact that she is feared throughout all of Tokyo city. My girlfriend, the deadly assassin.
Except the lapels of her suit are a little crooked. Without thinking, I am moving towards her. Straightening those edges, my fingertips accidentally brushing against bare skin.
Electricity shudders through me.
I look up at her. I am about to say, You promised to fuck me in the cab ride home, remember ?
But Veah grins. And I remember I have the chemical formula of the drug Okami was so desperate to keep a secretand it didn’t even require hacking.
I did it, I breathe. I figured it out.
Veah’s eyes brighten. Grey rain. We have something against her. We can threaten to tell the Cais this.
Your plan is crazy, I warn. You know that, right ?
Oh, I know, she says, leaning towards me. But I do need one more favour.
Anything.
I need you to breach the Drakon.
The . . . firewall ?
Okami needs to believe that we have the formula. And if you take down that firewall, if you hit her where it hurts . . . later tonight, she’ll know we aren’t bluffing.
The strongest firewall in all of Asia ? In all of the world ?
Please, Kaya, she says. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. But you’re the only hacker left who is capable of it. We already have the formula, so you don’t have to go deepyou just have to make her scared.
I set my jaw. I’ll do it. I just need a laptop.
She brushes a wisp of my hair back. Done.
I have less than an hour to hack into the Japanese Mafia’s most protected firewall.
Good God.
Maiko tilts her head. White strands of her hair frame her face, striking against the backless sapphire dress.
Are you almost done yet ?
No.
I have the most perfect dress for you.
Be quiet.