Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 897

"How can I help you today?"

"I need to speak with your director."

"He just stepped out for lunch. I'll call him right now."

"No need to interrupt him. I'll come back later. Just let him know I'm looking for him when he returns."

"Will do, absolutely."

Mira smoothly signaled Silas, who discreetly slid two hundred dollars onto the desk. "Get yourself a good lunch."

While vigilance was part of their job description, a little strategic generosity ensured they remained fiercely loyal and attentive to her specific needs.

To Mira, money existed solely to be utilized. As long as it bought leverage, safety, or efficiency, it was a worthwhile investment. Hoarding wealth without wielding its power was a fool's game.

"Thank you! You can count on me, I'll make sure it's handled," the guard promised. He didn't bother with false modesty, swiftly pocketing the cash the moment they turned to leave.

By the time Mira reached the cafeteria, the lunch rush had faded. Elara and the others were already gone, leaving only Harvey sitting at an empty table waiting for her.

As soon as he saw Mira walk in with her imposing security detail, his expression tightened. "No more trouble, I hope?"

It wasn't that Elara and her friends didn't care about Mira's safety; they just lacked Harvey's razor-sharp situational awareness.

While Jax and Silas headed to the counter to grab food, Mira took a seat across from Harvey.

"I stopped by Campus Security, but the director was at lunch. I'm heading back there once we eat."

"You're moving to militarize the campus guards?"

Mira met his gaze. "It guarantees a baseline level of safety while we're trapped on campus. I'll personally finance whatever upgrades they need.

"You need to keep your head on a swivel, Harvey. The national missing persons rate is spiking. My mentor ran forensics on that Ghost-Needle—it's foreign. Highly likely it's tied to the Balkan Underworld.

"Just a few days ago, Hank Whitlock sent an extraction team to deal with Mishka. They failed. He led a second strike team personally, and it was a bloodbath. Not only did the op fail, but if he hadn't had inside help, he would have been completely wiped out.

"Why haven't they been replaced?"

"We've submitted requests, but our operational budget is incredibly tight. We're forced to prioritize maintaining the cameras in the most critical choke points," Carter admitted, his face etched with frustration. "The administration squeezes every dime. With labor costs skyrocketing, we simply can't afford a full overhaul."

"Do a full sweep and replace the failing units," Harvey stated firmly.

"No. Tear the entire system down and replace every single unit with state-of-the-art HD network cameras. I want absolute zero blind spots, both on the perimeter and inside the campus," Mira countered flawlessly.

"To be entirely transparent with you, an assassin made a play for my life just outside the main gates a few hours ago."

Carter blanched. "What?"

"Keep it contained. That is exactly why I require this campus to be a fortress."

"Furthermore," Harvey added, "if you're short on manpower, double your hiring quota. And maintain strict quality control—only hire combat-experienced, younger ex-military personnel."

"And the monitoring room requires absolute oversight," Mira finished, her tone turning predatory. "Accountability falls on the individual on duty. I will not tolerate a sudden, convenient 'camera malfunction' during a critical incident. Any breaches in protocol will be met with severe consequences. I expect a drafted proposal of your new security protocols on my desk."