Hacker Betrayed (White Hat Security Book 11), page 15
I was ready to drink a bottle of whiskey to forget the images of the man who’d sat across from me a few times over the years and acted like nothing had happened. My stomach turned, realizing Ruben adopted us because he knew what his son did.
The money they gave us now felt like blood money.
My phone buzzed on my desk with Brock’s name across the front. I swiped my finger and pressed the speaker button.
“Hey, Brock. I have you on speakerphone,” I explained.
“Ashlyn’s warehouse blew up about four minutes ago. Patty and Jessica were already out of the facility. Mia’s not answering. We figured out that Donovan and his brother Jordan are why Ashlyn’s company is going under.”
I reached to turn my phone off speaker, but Donovan grabbed my phone.
“Like fuck I am. That is some bullshit, Brock. Check your facts.”
“Your shell company siphoned money from her business, and Patty tracked the computer's IP address accessing her network. It leads to your house in Mexico. Guess whose jet went to Mexico this morning?” Brock asked.
“Jordan asked to borrow the jet,” Donovan replied. “I swear on my own life that Jordan is not behind this. That damn man would walk through fire for Ashlyn. He thinks he hides his feelings, but I know he loves her.”
“Everything points to your family and Mexico,” Brock growled.
Donovan pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “Fuck, I don’t have access to the cameras at the house. I need to get to Mexico, and I don’t have a plane.”
“You have ten minutes to get to the airport. We tracked a charter plane heading south. I think they took Ashlyn and Mia before they blew up the warehouse. They didn’t remove Mia’s bracelet, so I had her location until they went in the sky,” Brock said.
Mia
Ammonia assaulted my nose. I tried to move away, but my arms were tied behind my back, and my legs wouldn’t move.
When I opened my eyes, a man I didn’t recognize slipped smelling salts under Ashlyn’s nose. A third chair had Jordan tied to it. Blood dripped from his mouth, and his right eye was swollen shut.
Lydia stepped into the room wearing a tight red dress and high heels. “Hello, big sisters.”
Ashlyn fought the ropes and screamed through the handkerchief stuffed in her mouth.
I didn’t bother trying to scream through the cloth. Lydia would tell us her big plan. Except she sucked at being a criminal. My bracelet was still on, and Brock would have my location. My goal was to keep us alive until help broke down the walls.
“You both are so hard to kill.” Lydia held a gun in her hand. “Mom and Dad tried to tell me you died. I even believed them until you showed up at Ashlyn’s graduation. This amazing family was handed to you, and you walked away. The only problem was Dad was too weak to have you killed. Both our parents are weak. They always have been. I was the one to make sure Grandma and Grandpa died all those years ago so Dad would be in power.”
My grandparents died when Lydia was only seven years old. How did I miss how evil of a person she was? I still couldn’t speak because of the rag in my mouth.
“Once Donovan comes to Mexico, he will see everything I’ve done for him and he will want me as his queen. I tried to get him his son, but I think we’ll be better off starting our own family. Originally I thought I’d just kill you, Mia, but then you fucked with the operation I had Felicity doing for me at the club. The information she was able to obtain every time she went to the club was worth it. Blackmail is quite lucrative. Then rumor got back how you were to come in and look for the mole. The only way to get you off my back was to kill Tabitha, which was fine. I always hated that bitch.”
Lydia marched over to Ashlyn and ripped the rag out of her mouth. “You cost me more. All you had to do was go back to using your original supplier, but you refused. Thanks to my little access, the change cost me millions, so I took it from you. Jordan here couldn’t keep his nose out of your business. Kain fucked up the last transaction.” Kain was another one of Cyrus's kids. He was a year younger than Donovan. “He’s paying for his crimes, but once Donovan sees I’m the only one worthy to be his wife, he’ll pick me.”
“Why do you want this life?” Ashlyn cried.
Lydia’s attention was on my sister as I worked to free my hands from the ropes behind me. I wasn’t sure how many guards Lydia had on her side. Jordan kept going in and out of consciousness.
Lenny, Cyrus's youngest son, came in with a radio in his hand. “We have a helicopter inbound.”
“I knew he would come for me,” Lydia whispered. “Years of planning. The only thing that I wish I had was your son. But once we dispose of your body, I’ll let my husband decide what to do with his bastard son. Watch them while I go greet my king,” Lydia snapped at Lenny.
Lydia turned and left the room.
“When the hell did she become this crazy?” I grumbled through the cloth in my mouth.
“I don’t know. During the years she played you and me. All to win over Donovan. Why the hell did she not just ask him out?”
“He ignored her,” Lenny volunteered. “She’s the dumb one who played mine and Kain’s game. All to get my bitch of a stepmom back. I can’t wait to put a bullet in your head for killing my father. Donovan is a weak leader.”
The radio in Lenny’s hand crackled before it went silent. My boss had hacked the com.
“So you and Kain plan to run the family? What are you going to do with Lydia?”
“She’ll be a nice fuck toy,” Lenny sneered, his eyes glued on me.
The rope dropped from my wrists.
“What do we do?” Ashlyn whispered.
The crazy look in Lenny’s eyes led me to believe he wouldn’t wait for Donovan. He was going to kill me now. “You know a shit storm of people will come for me, right?”
“Oh, I’m counting on the war. I will win.”
Lenny leaned forward and ran his tongue across Ashlyn’s face. Jordan fought his bindings and screamed through the rag in his mouth.
“I haven’t decided if I’m going to kill you yet. You would make a good toy. More submissive than your bitch sister. And this one has to die for killing our father.”
“Scream,” I whispered to Ashlyn.
And Ashlyn did just that. Lenny’s hand punched her face, but my sister didn’t stop. I leapt out of the chair and wrestled Lenny to the ground. The gun flew from his hands, skidding under the chair Jordan occupied.
Lenny’s fist connected with my side, knocking the air out of me for a moment. I twisted and brought my heel down on his balls. His scream was music to my ears. Kain came crashing through the door, but I already had my arm around Lenny’s neck, choking him. When his body went limp, I dropped my hold and reached for the gun. I aimed in less than a second, and my aim was perfect.
“Drop the gun, Kain.”
He listened and held up his palms. The gun clattered to the ground.
“I didn’t want to do this. He made me.”
Nothing like a grown man begging for his life.
Donovan, Brock, and Paxton walked through the door behind him. Donovan had a gun to my sister’s side. Brock had his gun pointed in the room, and Paxton stepped to the perimeter.
I winced as I stood up, and Brock helped Jordan with his bonds, then did the same with Ashlyn.
Paxton crossed the room and wrapped me in his arms. “I love you,” I said before he could. I knew I felt the same for him the night he said the words, but they’d stuck in my throat.
“I love you, too,” he whispered across my lips. He tangled his fingers in my hair and pulled me close. The anxiety floated away the deeper he kissed me.
I wasn’t going to run from love any longer.
This man accepted me and my crazy-ass life.
“You should have killed me when you had the chance.” Jordan’s voice was hoarse.
“Jordan, he’s not worth having on your conscience if you kill him,” Ashlyn pleaded.
I pulled back from Paxton’s kiss to see Jordan pointing a gun at Lenny’s unconscious head.
“She’s right, Jordan. This was never the life you wanted. Let me take care of these people. Take Ashlyn home, and when I get back to the States we will dig through what they did and fix the wrongs. Neither of us knew they were doing this,” Donovan said. He still had his gun on my sister.
“But Donovan, I did this all for you! They told me you would want this. I can be your queen,” Lydia whined.
Jordan pulled the trigger, and Lenny slumped to the ground. A pool of blood formed under Lenny on the wood floors.
“Did you have to kill him inside?” Donovan sighed. “You know how much I have to pay to get blood removed from the floors?”
Jordan didn’t respond. He turned toward Kain and shot a second time, and before anyone realized his plans, he turned and shot my sister Lydia as well. Blood splattered all over Donovan’s shirt and the mob boss loosened his grip. Lydia fell to the ground in a heap.
“Well, I didn’t expect that,” Brock said, sounding vaguely impressed. “Are you done killing?”
“I hated this life. I knew I could never escape it. Ashlyn, you were supposed to blossom and live your life. Except I couldn’t let you go. And look, I was why you almost died and lost your business. Right here is the reason we can’t be together. Sorry for the mess, Donovan, but I need to leave.” Jordan walked out of the room and Ashlyn stepped forward, but Donovan cut her off.
“He’s going to need time. If you go after him now, he will say harsh things to push you away. I already know he thinks you’re going to hate him for killing your sister, but you both know we couldn’t let these three live after what they did,” Donovan said. “Only difference was my way wouldn’t be as messy. You are all welcome to stay, but I have some shit to clean up and I need to figure out if any more of my siblings have to be taken out. Ashlyn, I’ll return your money with interest in the next few days.”
“I’ll stick around and help,” Brock offered. “Why don’t you guys take the helicopter to the airport and go home? Take the next week off, Mia. You deserve it.”
CHAPTER 17
Paxton
“Don’t you dare hit that button,” Patty yelled as she ran across the backyard.
Brock groaned next to me as the girl smirked a second before she pushed her finger down, and glitter exploded into the air, raining down on Brock’s son.
My life was so dull before Mia. Tonight, I planned to ask her to be mine.
“You nervous?” Brock took a swig of beer. “Shouldn’t be. She’s going to say yes. Mia loves you.”
I knew she loved me, and in the past month, she’d expressed it all the time. She was still torn up about her old friend and asked Brock to investigate the real Mia. Donovan had asked her to keep the information a secret, but she wanted Brock to see if what he said was true.
Donovan was still in Mexico cleaning up the mess. He’d called a few times to talk with Lucas. The evidence he gave me was still sitting in my top drawer at work. I would need to figure out a plan, but we’d had enough drama over the last few months.
Lucas glanced in my direction and gave me a thumbs-up.
I’d asked his permission to marry his mom and had him help me pick out the ring.
“I talked with Wes yesterday. He and Rachelle loved the idea of us getting married right after them in Vegas. Then everyone only has to dress up once,” I said.
Brock cocked his head to the side. “I hope we can make it home from Vegas with nobody getting arrested.”
“I highly doubt that will happen. The girls are having a bachelorette party for Rachelle the night before. I’m worried Kat will come up with some harebrained idea, and they’ll end up solving some crime.”
I glanced to where Kat sat in a lawn chair next to Mia. She had a baby on her lap and a kid at her feet. If I hadn’t seen her in action, I would never believe that woman was dangerous. Same with Mia. She was deadly, but also so caring.
“Antonio said he’s not letting his wife out of his sight,” Brock chuckled. “He acts like he tries to stop her, but that man is her biggest fan. I swear he leaves information out for his wife to see, then acts surprised when she takes things into her own hands.”
Mia threw her head back and laughed at something Ashlyn said to her. She caught sight of me staring and waved.
I winked at her. “I know she’ll say yes.”
“Then why the hell haven’t you asked?” Brock sighed. “The sooner you ask, I can go home and sleep with my wife. The Blackwoods are taking the kids for the night. We don’t get the whole house to ourselves very often.”
I understood. Mia and I had to change things up with Lucas in the house. We’d made arrangements for him to hang out with my sister this Friday so we could go to the club. Neither Mia nor I wanted him home alone. Even with the threats gone, we both worried.
“I meant to ask, what are you doing about your practice? Dr. Cliff is going away for a long time,” Brock said.
The chief of police had called and apologized. He kept me up to date on the case. My adoptive father had called a couple of times when the information hit the news, but I texted back and said we would talk soon.
Ruben owed me and my siblings answers.
“I had a couple of doctors reach out to me. Cara figured out all the legal shit.” I was considering bringing them both on; I was just hesitant.
“Send me their information, and I’ll do an in-depth background check.” Brock took the last swig of his drink. “Ask her. I’m going to help my wife get the glitter off my son.”
Mia walked across the grass and sat down on my lap. “Thank you.”
I tugged on the strand of hair that escaped her ponytail. “What are you thanking me for?”
She waved her hand to the backyard. “For not running when you met my family. You make the days feel like sunshine even when life pours down on us.”
“I’m not the only one who should be thankful.” I placed a kiss on her shoulder. “Before you, I slowly walked through life, only reading about true love in my books. Now I have my one true love in my arms, and I never plan to let you go.”
She straddled my legs and placed a kiss on my lips. “Rumor around the yard is there might be a proposal today… You know if someone were to ask….” She tapped her chin with her finger. “I have it on good authority the woman being asked would say yes. But, like most of the guests, she is wondering when this might happen.”
I pinched her ass. “Hypothetically, if this man asked,” I tugged the ring out of my pocket, “would she want to get married in Vegas when everyone goes in a couple of weeks?”
“I think she could be persuaded. You know orgasms always help.”
“Mia Clark, will you b—”
“Yes!” She pressed her lips against mine, and I couldn’t wait for our guests to leave so I could enjoy time with my fiancée.
Donovan Calhoun
“Can I have a virgin margarita with salt on the rim?” the lady next to me asked. Her husky voice made my cock instantly hard. Great, now I had a broken heart and a hard cock. They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, except that the woman I loved was about to marry someone else. She invited me to their wedding in Vegas because she wanted me in their lives. Didn’t help my son begged me to come. Except I hadn’t made it out of the bar where I’d started drinking first thing that morning.
The wedding was in two hours. I wasn’t sure I could walk to the chapel down the street.
When the bartender finished making the drink, he raised a brow at me. “Two lemon drops. Make them both a double.” I could tell when people recognized me. Some would either talk to me and try and figure out if I was good or evil. Some just thought I was terrible from the dark look in the bartender’s eyes. He hated me, but he still served my drinks.
He placed the two glasses on the bar, and I pushed one to the woman next to me. She looked up with deep brown eyes, and I almost fell off my chair. Fuck, she was hot. “To Vegas.”
Her pert little nose wrinkled. “No, thank you.”
“Figures you’re stuck up.”
I tilted my head back, and the liquor slid down my throat.
“You’re kind of rude,” she grumbled.
At least she didn’t know who I was. Mia was the only other woman who would claw back. I raised my hand for another. I was determined to find how much alcohol I needed to consume to not think about my ex.
“I did offer you a free drink. You were the person to sit next to me when there were ten empty chairs on either side. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a sexy woman sitting next to me. I just figured she’d at least drink the shot I bought her,” I said.
The woman picked up the glass and sniffed. “It smells good, but I’m supposed to go to a wedding, and I want to be sober.”
“Nobody has a wedding in Vegas expecting people to behave. Look at me. I’m going to a wedding, and I’m shit-faced.”
The woman placed her lips against the glass, and her tongue slipped between her lips. Shit, how could she be so sexy? With the amount of liquor I’d consumed, I figured my dick wouldn’t work. Instead, the thought of fucking this petite woman against the bathroom wall had me forgetting everything. Mainly the reason I came to Vegas.
She tilted her head back and drank the shot in one gulp. “Oh, that’s good. Can we have another?”
“You heard her. Make us another double.”
When she shifted, her red dress crept up her milky thighs. Her long brown locks were styled in ringlets. I wanted to wrap my hand in her hair and kiss her until she begged me to stop.
“I didn’t catch your name,” she said.
I grew up in a house of lies. Never had I had an issue saying one. I often lied to Mia, mostly because I didn’t want her to know the shit I did for my father. I worked hard to keep my face hidden from the world. The CIA made that possible. The one thing I couldn’t keep out of the media was my name. No matter how hard I tried. This sexy woman looked like someone who watched the news with her five cats. “How about no names?”
