Mind Code (Coded Connections Duet #2)

Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Amelia

It’s late Monday morning, we’re taking a break from work to gather on the couch in my living room, and watch what’s about to happen. Misha wraps his arm around me, and I lean into him as Grey finishes connecting his laptop to the television.

The air hums with anticipation, a mix of nervous energy and excitement crackling like electricity as we wait for the moment to unfold. “Ready?” Oliver asks from the window, his voice filled with amusement but excitement, too, as he watches the street in front of Elysium. “Animal Welfare just pulled up.” He turns and makes his way back to the couch, sitting down next to Misha.

Grey’s fingers fly across the keyboard, and a moment later, the live feed from Elysium’s security system blinks onto the television screen. The grainy footage shows the usual hum of activity, employees milling around, oblivious to what’s about to happen. A wry grin tugs at Grey’s lips as he takes a seat beside me and relaxes into the cushions, stroking the back of my hand. “Showtime.”

The Animal Welfare team enters the building, their vests catching the light as they walk down Elysium’s corridors. Each one carries a transparent tank with oxygen pumps, ready for the neon tetras.

It’s almost surreal, watching it play out like this from the safety of my apartment. My plan to free them—to free myself—had seemed so wild at first.

And now we’re here.

Employees in the hallway pause, glancing at the team as they walk by. Some look curious, others bewildered, but no one steps in to stop them. As the team reaches the first aquarium, they begin assembling the portable equipment. One person sets up a siphoning hose to drain the tank, while another carefully nets the neon tetras, slipping them into the smaller containers.

Well, I’d have gotten more if I could’ve turned up with a fucking container too.

One of the board members strides down the hallway then, his phone already pressed to his ear. His footsteps falter when he sees the team working on the aquariums, his eyes darting from the tanks to the officers in disbelief.

The camera feed catches his agitated posture as he speaks into the phone again, gesturing wildly at the aquariums as if someone on the other end might have an explanation for the vanishing fish.

“Oh, look at him.” Misha chuckles beside me, his breath warm against my cheek. “Completely clueless.”

I watch with satisfaction, my heart lifting for the first time in days. It’s ridiculous and absurd, but it’s perfect.

The guys really went and did that.

Broke in and stole no less than eighty-four fish.

My 180-gallon aquarium now looks like a shimmering treasure chest filled with little neon diamonds darting through the water.

They didn’t have to do it. I never expected them to consider the fish as part of our exit plan. But the fact that they risked so much for me, even though they also arranged for the other fish to be taken away to a better place, warms my heart.

They understood what those fish meant to me and why and then made themselves accomplices in my little act of rebellion.

Misha laughs beside me and pulls me tighter against him. “He can’t believe that they’re getting robbed in broad daylight, and it’s not even the tech they’re after.”

The CEO frantically gestures for someone else off-screen to come over—security, maybe.

“Look at the fish,” I say, marveling at the team’s efficiency. “They’re so calm.”

Oliver reaches across Misha and squeezes my hand. “That’s because they know they’re heading somewhere better. They’re not corporate fish anymore.”

“I’ve just had an idea for our new company name,” Grey mutters under his breath, and we all look at him questioningly until the feed snags our attention back.

The CEO gesticulates wildly toward the now-empty tanks as he yells at his employees, who all look equally confused. The Animal Welfare team loads the containers onto carts, ignoring the CEO as they secure each one carefully before wheeling them toward the exit. The CEO follows, his phone glued to his ear again as he barks out orders, but it’s clear he has no idea what to do. The fish are already halfway out the door.

“They’ll never figure it out,” Grey says with a grin. “They’re going to be stuck blaming some imaginary activist group for months.”

I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. It’s such a small victory in the grand scheme of things, but it feels monumental .

Swim free, little guys.

Grey, still focused on the screen, smiles in satisfaction. “That’s it. They’re out.”

I laugh at the CEO’s bewildered face, but underneath it all, I am deeply touched.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I admit softly, glancing around at them. “But I love you for it.”

Misha rests his head on top of mine. “ You did that. We only helped finish the job.”

Oliver nods in agreement, still squeezing my hand across Misha’s lap.

Grey’s gaze finds mine, his expression softening. “What matters to you matters to us.”

Their words hit deep, and I blink against the renewed wave of emotion that wells up.

These men have become my foundation.

“All right, fun’s over, let’s do this. We only have another day before the meeting takes place,” Grey says, standing and pulling the laptop from the screen.

“You really think this will work?” I ask, hating the nerves in my voice. I have no idea if we’ll get enough evidence in this short timeframe to prove the AR is mine.

“We’ll leave no stone unturned, Amelia,” Jamie says, making both Misha and me jump in surprise, and Oliver laugh from beside us. Jamie had been so quiet before now.

“He’s right,” Misha murmurs against my hair, kissing the top of my head. “We have security footage of the break-in, Jamie’s data analysis, and Grey managed to hack into Langley’s emails.”

“I’ll find every incriminating conversation and hand them over to the police,” Grey agrees. “They’ve already said that if you choose not to press charges, Hendricks will walk away without repercussions.”

“And thanks to that, he’s promised to show up, ready to back it all up with his testimony,” Oliver finishes for Grey, and then continues, “Officers will wait just outside the door, ready to step in if things escalate or to take Langley away as soon as we prove your claim.” He raises my hand and leans over, planting a kiss on top. “You’ll be safe.”

Right.

The plan really is simple.

Convince the management board to allow me access to the project so I can show them the copyright marker I left embedded deep within the code.

If it’s still there—and it should be—we’ll have undeniable proof of my ownership.

Misha nudges me gently, his warm hands on my arms as he lifts me from the couch. Before I can say anything, he pulls me in and presses a soft, lingering kiss to my lips, erasing my doubt and fear, grounding me in the moment.

When he pulls back, his lips curve into a teasing grin. “It will work out, Bug. I’m going to order Chinese for lunch. Any requests?”

Before I can answer, Jamie’s voice cuts in again, calm and efficient as ever. “I’ve already placed an order. Your usual favorites will be arriving in twenty minutes.”

I can’t help the burst of laughter that escapes me.

Leave it to Jamie to be one step ahead of all of us.

Misha looks momentarily stunned, then rolls his eyes dramatically. “Of course you did.”

Oliver joins us with a soft smile on his face as he brushes a lock of hair behind my ear. He presses a gentle kiss to my temple, his breath warm against my skin. “Everything’s going to be all right,” he whispers, his words full of quiet reassurance. “We’ve got this.”

I nod, feeling the tension ease in my chest, even if just for a moment. These men— my men —have a way of making the weight of the world seem a little lighter .

One by one, we grab our laptops, settling back into work mode. The room hums with quiet focus, the familiar sounds of typing filling the space.

A while later, I sit back and watch them for a bit. Despite everything—the uncertainty of what’s to come, the tension of the looming meeting—calm replaces the nerves.

Maybe it won’t all go as planned. Maybe there will be more obstacles, more battles to fight. But at least the fish are safe. At least we took that small victory and made it ours.

And as I sit there, surrounded by the men who’ve become my home, I realize something important.

I’m happy.

In this moment, with them, I am truly happy.