Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“You and Kyle okay?” West turned serious. “I noticed only three of the rooms were occupied last night.”
He must have gone to bed before she kicked Kyle out. “Kyle and I are fine. We’re exactly the way we were before he decided to be alive again.”
“He started out being in there with her, but he slept on the floor in front of her room,” Taylor pointed out. “I went downstairs to grab a bottle of water and he looked like a puppy who’d been left outside by mistake.”
“It wasn’t a mistake. He explained to me that he’s been cyberstalking me and I asked him to leave.” She felt stupid even explaining it. How had she not known?
“I’m surprised he offered that up. I told him he should never tell you that.” Drake yawned behind his hand. “Though you should know he spent pretty much every day waiting for the moment when he could get online and see you.”
“Or he could have called. He could have seen or talked to me every day. We have these things called cell phones.” It was obvious Drake was one hundred percent Team Kyle. It would mean his girlfriend was too, and MaeBe should remember that.
“Yes, those things my sister can track,” Drake replied. “I’m sure she has been tracking yours, and I’m not talking about duping your phone or anything a normal hacker can do. I know you’re excellent at your job and you think you would be able to tell if someone was tracking you, but she’s not even playing the same game. The telecom company that provides your cell service could be one of The Consortium companies. If they are, then she could be using them to track you and listen in on calls. How do you think she knew where you were last night? Why do you think I wanted you to leave your cell behind?”
“We’re working off burners,” Taylor explained. “I’ll get a set for you. They were purchased under different names, and there’s no way to connect them to us. The same with laptops. If they’re registered with a company, we have to consider them potentially dangerous.”
The device itself wouldn’t be, but once it was connected to a user, the company could track it. “I can get a clean system from Hutch. We’re not tourists, you know. Cybersecurity is literally my job.”
“Then you should understand why he couldn’t call you,” Drake shot back.
“Or I could know all the ways he could have made it work.” She wasn’t listening to Drake plead Kyle’s case. “Now that we’ve established I’m involved in this op, could someone explain what the op entails?”
She was going to be bold. Perhaps if she dug her heels in, Kyle would understand she wasn’t the same timid girl he’d left behind.
“No one has said you’re involved,” Drake hedged.
“She got shot at last night,” Taylor argued. “I think that’s the definition of involved.”
She hadn’t expected Taylor to take her side.
“If you don’t bring her into this, she’ll do it on her own.” West proved he’d learned something vital about her. “She’s been researching all kinds of crazy stuff.”
Nor had she expected West to turn on her.
“Like what?” Drake lasered in on West.
“None of your business if I’m not involved with the op.” If they didn’t want her help, she wasn’t giving it to them. She would lay it all out for Big Tag. He was her boss, not Kyle Hawthorne. When she was sure she had something, she would give it to Big Tag and he could decide what to pass on.
Walls. There were walls between them now, and she had to place her loyalties on the proper side.
Kyle jogged back up the stairs, a bag in his hand. “Hutch and Noelle dropped this off earlier. Hutch went by your place last night to make sure it was secure. He says we’re in the clear with the authorities. All anyone knows about is the smoke bomb. They suspect nothing but a prank played by some kids. He has a report he’s going to send to you, but know that he’s taking care of things and will continue to do so until you can come back.”
Here it was. She’d known they would end up right here. Anger bubbled up. It might be the only emotion she was capable of anymore. “Come back? From where, Kyle?”
His face turned grim as he passed her the bag. “Could I have a moment alone with MaeBe?”
“I don’t…” West began.
“Your brother is waiting downstairs. He’s giving us a ride to the office,” Kyle explained. “Please go down and introduce Drake and Taylor to him.”
“I’m not going to leave her,” West argued.
She wasn’t bringing West into this. Now she had to consider that Ian could side with his nephew for the sake of his family, and that could get West in trouble.