Hacker Betrayed (White Hat Security Book 11), page 12
CHAPTER 12
Mia
Paxton smiled at me from across the backyard. We were at my parents’ house for a party. My boss wanted to come, but I refused because half the people here were on a most-wanted list. My parents had put out the story it was a party for a lost niece. When I was young, my mom's sister died. She never had kids or even a husband.
Mom said the family did an ancestor DNA search and found me as Mia. This was my welcome party with the family. One I didn’t want to be a part of.
After the wonderful night of sex, I woke up to a stream of texts from Lydia about how I had to come to the house for the event of the year. Lucas and I had talked every day and we had plans to bring him home at the end of the month. The school Zack put him in ended in a few weeks and I figured it would be easier than sending him to another one so close to the summer. It also gave me more time to make sure none of Donovan’s family would find out about him.
“I enjoy having you around,” Sebastian said as he handed me a glass of wine.
He’d contacted me the most, and when I wouldn’t answer, he showed up. Part of me still held anger against him for the years I spent under Cyrus's hand. I know in the end he helped save me, but it was after years of abuse.
Ashlyn stood in the shadows by herself. I hadn’t seen her speak to a single person.
“Thanks. This doesn’t mean I’m coming back for Sunday dinner and joining the family business. I work on the other side of the law.”
Sebastian nodded. “Over ninety-five percent of the family’s business is legitimate. A year ago, we sold off the laundromats.”
“But there’s still the five percent. Don’t you get sick of all this? Marco Rikki is on the FBI’s watch list. Rumor has it he keeps all his wives locked away. I guess he’s better than Cyrus for not killing them. An underground auction we broke up a few years back had his name on the guest list.” I waved my hand toward the other side of the yard. “Then you have Luca. Last I heard, he stole a hundred million dollars in military equipment. What I’m trying to say is how can you be above board, but everyone the family associates with makes their millions from trafficking, gunrunning, and extortion?”
“Your boss and teammates already confirmed who I work for.” Sebastian tipped his beer back and took a sigh.
Except I didn’t trust the CIA. My time with the government agency made me realize the government fed the evils of the world for its own end goal. I didn’t have a clearance high enough to know what.
“Working for them does not automatically clear you as a criminal.”
“You’re right. The family’s business won’t be clean until Dad retires and I take over.” Sebastian paused. “Isn’t that your friend, Kat, the one who’s scary as hell? Stories about her float around the CIA. I thought they were kidding. Except now I wonder if the stories were dumbed down a little.” Kat wore a pair of black slacks and a white button-down shirt. She had a pair of black designer heels on, and she’d twisted her long hair into a bun. Kat blended into the crowd, but the woman next to her, I hadn’t seen in a few years. At least she had on a wig and large sunglasses.
“People only discussed half of what Kat did in the world,” I answered.
The two women walked around the pool. Not a single person paid them any attention. A deadly assassin and the queen of Shialia.
When Patty was within arm’s length, I pulled her in for a hug. I missed her and Sam. The two had ended the corruption in Shialia. I pulled back. “I thought you weren’t coming to Florida and planned to go straight to Vegas. Rachelle decided she didn’t want to keep waiting to get married, so they threw out all the plans and booked a chapel in there.”
“Things are running smoothly back home. Sam and I want to spend a month in the States. My kids need to experience the United States,” Patty replied, grabbing a drink from a waiter as he passed by.
She smiled at my brother and held out her hand. “Patty Blackwood.”
My brother’s mouth dropped open. “As in the queen of Shialia?”
Patty rolled her eyes. “Yes, but for the next month, I’m a regular person on vacation. Hence why Kat and I came to join the party. This is my first mob gathering and I’m excited. Oh, if anyone asks, you didn’t see us here. We are having a spa day while the men take care of the kids.”
Trouble followed Kat, but Patty was no better. The two of them together could turn a picnic into a dangerous situation. “You think your husbands aren’t tracking your asses?” I damn well knew Antonio kept the app permanently open on his phone, making sure his wife hadn’t gotten into trouble.
“I made a couple programming changes to the app. Now I can change my location when needed. Don’t give me that look. I built a fail-safe that every third minute the app resets back to my location unless I reenter a long-ass code,” Patty said.
“Which is annoying,” Kat grumbled her lip curling into a grin. “But Patty promised to show me how to manipulate my location before she leaves.”
“Is that a good idea?” I asked. “I love you, Kat, but you get into a lot of trouble already.”
Patty nodded. “I agree with Mia. Not once did I agree to give you the code. It’s not a simple button, and Brock has the password to the system change every third day, so I must constantly crack the code.”
My brother shook his head. “You ladies are too much. I need to go speak to someone.”
Donovan walked into the backyard with a man on each side. He glanced in my direction but didn’t acknowledge me.
“This event is so much better than Antonio’s family gatherings. The ones he forces me to attend are all businessmen and trophy wives. Here, I’ve already found three people I deal with, one being Luigi. He’s been dodging my calls.” Kat was staring at an older man with a cane.
“Please don’t kill anyone until after the party.”
Kat’s head whipped to the side. “Kill? Why would I kill the man who supplies my acid? No, he increased his prices a month ago. I wanted to discuss a bulk discount, but he won’t return my calls, and his assistant keeps blowing me off.”
On the way over to my parents’ house, Paxton and I agreed to only stay for two hours, max. With Kat and Patty here, I wasn’t sure when we would leave because there was no chance in hell I would let them stay here without supervision.
My eyes roamed over the crowd and caught Donovan and Paxton in a deep conversation. I wanted to know what the conversation was about, but Patty’s statement pulled me back to the conversation.
“Of course, I can hack his phone, but only if you give me a lesson on disposing of a body using acid. I’ve asked Sam a million times, and he says no. The man doesn’t understand I want a reputation as a ruthless queen. How is it possible for me to look evil when the medieval dungeon in my castle was turned into a BDSM club for staff? I need my people to fear me.”
“I don’t think acid is the way to go,” Kat mused, tapping her chin. “Why not use the tiger I bought you? I’m sure if you let him run around the grounds, people would stay away.”
Patty nodded. “It’s a great idea, in theory.” She held up her phone with her daughter snuggled up next to a giant tiger. “My sweet daughter and her father hired an animal tamer. The six-hundred-pound ball of fur now only wants his belly scratched.”
“I can buy you another one,” Kat shot back. “I found a guy who can supply me with as many man-eating animals as I want. When Sophie found his information on the dark web, I originally planned to kill him and release the animals. Except his facilities were amazing, and he took great care of the animals. And anyone who wants one must go through an intensive background screening. I offered up Antonio’s staff to him, so I get a discount.”
“I might take you up on the offer. But I still want to learn more about acid,” Patty pouted.
A muscular arm wrapped around my stomach and pulled me back. “Kat, good to see you. And I assume you are Patty, except you look different from what I remember on the phone a month prior.”
Patty lowered her sunglasses and winked. “Nice to meet the man who captured Mia. Just remember, she has a slew of women who will kill for her.”
Kat linked her arm with Patty’s. “Patty and I have some business to take care of, and get back home before the men figure out she changed our location.” The two women walked away.
“Should I tell her Antonio just walked through the door?” The six foot five mercenary stood with pink paint down his shirt and a baby on his hip. Next to him was Sam, who held his daughter’s hand. He also had a couple speckles of paint on his shirt. The young girl’s hair sparkled pink in the sunlight.
“It will be more entertaining if he walks up and hears her cutting a deal for a barrel of acid.”
“I’m not sure if you’re serious or joking,” Paxton replied. “I’ve already caught Quinton making a deal to buy medical supplies.”
Part of me wondered if my parents threw the party as a way for the criminals to do business. “With this guest list, I’m not sure there isn’t a single thing off the table.”
“Is that so? There is only one thing I want at this party.” He lowered his lips, and the chatter of the crowd faded around us as his arms pulled me closer. A throat cleared next to us, and I didn’t want to pull away, but Paxton didn’t give me a choice.
Quinton stood at our side. “Hey, love birds. You should really talk to these people. I think I gained a few more donors for the clinic.”
I closed my eyes and prayed he didn’t shake on anything. “Quinton, you realize they are all part of the mafia. Any money they slip you, they will expect a return in free medical care if one of them gets shot.”
A devilish smile spread across his face. “One step ahead of you. Antonio agreed to keep security at my place, so I’ll bandage the criminals up, and he will take them into custody or whatever he plans to do. I heard his wife trying to buy acid, so not sure what they have planned.”
I caught a glimpse of Ashlyn as she stepped into the house. “I’ll be right back.” I didn’t wait for Paxton to respond before I turned toward the house and made my way through the crowd of people.
Ashlyn and Lydia spoke for a second before she slipped around the corner. When I stepped into the room, Ashlyn shoved a small vial back into her purse. “Are you following me?”
“I came to talk to you.” I sat down on the white sofa. “Why are you so angry at me?”
She tapped her finger on the glass in her hand before she took the seat across from me. “Lydia wanted me to bring this to you.” She placed the drink on the table. “I stepped in here to make a quick call. My business keeps me busy.”
Ashlyn’s designs were elegant and classic at the same time. “I love the new pink strapless dress you debuted at fashion week this year.”
“You were at my show?”
I shook my head. “No, but I check your social media. I also bought a few of your pieces over the years.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Ashlyn questioned with narrowed eyes. “You’re the one that left this family only thinking about herself.”
Ashlyn’s purse buzzed, and before I could answer her, she pulled out her phone. “I need to take this.” And my sister left the room.
I should have known my sister would be stubborn. I grabbed the drink from the end table and tilted my head back. The buzz of the alcohol didn’t do anything to help the frustration I felt. How could my sister be this upset I left the family?
The drink was a little stronger than I’d expected. The world spun, and I laid my head back against the couch.
“She’s in here,” Quinton’s voice cut through the fog.
My eyes felt like they weighed a ton as I opened them to find my sexy man standing next to his brother. “Hey, you,” my words came out slurred. “I think the drink was a little too strong.”
One drink should not make me feel this sleepy.
Paxton lifted me into his arms.
“I need to get her home.”
I tried to open my mouth, but I was too tired.
“I think she was drugged.”
Oh, that didn’t sound good. And my brain was too foggy to scream the person’s name who did this. My own sister knocked me out with drugs at my party.
CHAPTER 13
Paxton
Mia’s eyes finally opened as I held her close, all too aware of what could have happened. The drink had a fast-acting sedative. We hadn’t figured out who’d given her the cocktail—yet. “How do you feel?”
I slipped out of bed and grabbed a glass of water and two Tylenol. She held out her hand and I placed them in her open palm. “Well, I must give my sister credit for that one. I never thought she would drug me. So why?” A lone tear slipped down her cheek. “We used to be so close. I don’t understand why she hates me. I need to go talk to her and find out if she was the one who tried to kill me all those times.”
“Not tonight. Brock wanted me to call him when you woke up so he could come over and talk with you.”
She shook her head and sniffled. “This is…a family matter I need to take care of it myself.”
I raised my eyebrows. “From the way you spoke before, Brock is your family more than Ashlyn. How about I call him and get this over with? Then I can climb into bed and read you a chapter out of the book we started.”
She shook her head slowly. “Or you could climb in next to me and hold me.”
I slid into the bed next to her and kissed her lips softly. “I find myself unable to say no to you.”
She opened her mouth. I thought, she was about to deny my claim instead. Her lips found mine again and took my breath away.
I cupped her face in my hands and crushed my lips against hers. She gasped into my mouth as her lips slightly parted, and I ran my tongue along the seam. She tasted sweet like peppermint and sunshine. I struggled to compose myself and pulled back.
“Mia, you were drugged. We shouldn’t be doing this; you need to rest.”
She cocked her head to the side. “All the drug did was make me sleep. I need you, Paxton.” She leaned forward and captured my mouth. Mia purred into it, a sensation that caused every hair on my body to stand on end. She was my drug of choice, and I never wanted to let her go. I slid my hand along her side and cupped her ass, pulling her, so she was on top of me. She rubbed her sex against my cock and clicked her tongue against the roof of my mouth.
A low growl escaped from deep within my throat, and that was all it took for me to tug her shirt over her head. My cock was so hard it pushed against the zipper of my dress pants. All I could think about was burying it deep inside of her.
My lips trailed from her mouth down to her supple neck, where I nipped at the sensitive skin that met her shoulders.
“There are too many layers between us,” she whispered.
I stopped kissing her and tilted my head to meet her eyes. The eyes that had me from the first moment I met her. “You’re in control. If you want me naked, you will have to undress me.”
Her lips curled into a devilish smirk. “If I’m in control, Sir, does that mean I can tie you to the bed?”
I gripped my hand around her waist and flipped her on the bed so I was on top. “Don’t get things twisted. You wasted your opportunity, so I think it’s time I dine on this sweet pussy.” All she had on was a pair of pink lace panties. I kissed my way down her body and spread her legs wider. I could see there was already a wet spot on her pink lace panties, which only made me harder. Delicately, slowly, I pulled them down.
“I need you inside me. Stop going so slow,” she whispered.
I kissed her hip bones, then trailed my tongue down her smooth skin until I reached her clit. “I plan to take my time. The more you whine, the longer I’ll stay put between your legs.”
I sucked on her clit, and immediately she whimpered and bucked her hips forward as I slipped one finger inside of her, curving my finger so I could reach her g-spot.
She screamed my name as she came hard on my fingers. But I didn’t stop there. I replaced my finger with my tongue and swirled it through her folds while I rubbed my thumb over her clit.
“You’re torturing me,” Mia cried. “If we’re going to do this, fuck me. Please fuck me.”
I looked up to meet her gaze and crawled back up her body.
Her hands shoved at my pants as I slid them down my body.
“So needy.” I placed my hand on her wet mound.
She slipped her fingers on top of mine, and if I didn’t need to be deep inside her so bad, I would watch her come on her own fingers.
“I want you so bad right now that I can’t even see straight.”
I laid on my back, and she knelt over my hips. Her hand snaked between our bodies, and she grasped my cock. She slowly sank down. Her tight, wet folds almost made me explode right there.
She placed her hands on my chest and tilted her hips. Fuck. The position caused my dick to slide deeper. I gripped her ass and plunged my hips upward. With each thrust, the most amazing moans came from deep within her throat, making my whole body tremble. I usually prided myself on lasting a long time, but this woman had an effect on me that brought me to the edge.
“Slower,” I growled.
“No!” she smirked breathlessly.
I flipped her to the side, and she whimpered as I pulled out. I dragged her body to the edge of my bed, so her ass hung off the side, and I pushed back inside her. She arched off the bed each time I pushed deep inside of her.
My hand ran over her stomach and across her stretch marks. “I can’t wait until you’re pregnant with my child,” I whispered before I realized I said the words out loud. “Mia—”
She grabbed my arm and tugged me against her chest. “Who said we would stop at one?” Her sex tightened.
“Jesus, woman,” I gasped. I wanted it to last. I wanted to stay in her all night. And ignore the fact I heard the text alert on my phone.
“I can’t hold back any longer,” Mia screamed as she came.
That was all it took for my body to go stiff and release into her. She moaned and dug her nails into my hip as her body shook around me.
