Page 50 of Scorned

While there is frequent discussion about addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and sex, people rarely acknowledge the addictive qualities of hacking. The self-gratification of being able to break into an almost impenetrable security system was immeasurable. But the keyword was almost. I hadn’t once found something I couldn’t penetrate and hopefully today wouldn’t ruin my winning streak.

After quickly finding the USB port, I slid the first one inside, my hands itching to feel the tap of the keys. I cracked my knuckles and stretched my fingers, ready to annihilate any security blocking my digital path.

The keys were cold from not being used when I laid my fingers on the keyboard. “Don’t worry, girl. Daddy Winston is gonna warm you right up.”

“Who the hell are you talking to?”

I glanced up at Erik who had his mask on his head, allowing me to see his confused face. “The computer. Hacking isn’t about luck. You have to bond with the equipment. Let it know who’s in charge. Once good and primed, you penetrate it with force and it’ll open right up.”

“You’re such a weird nerd.”

I grinned with pride. “I know.”

Turning back toward the monitor, I pulled up the command-line interface and worked as fast as I could.

Ten minutes later, I had copies of some files, passwords, and any programs Venom had ever used.

“Done.”

“Did you plant a virus in their system?” Erik asked.

“Hacking isn’t really about planting viruses or typing out a bunch of shit like you see in the movies. It’s about identifying weaknesses in the system. In this case, it was easier to get the info I needed by stealing it. It would’ve been a lot harder if I had attempted this from my computer.”

“You’re a damn genius.”

I snickered at Erik’s remark. “Nah, bro. I’m just highly trained.”

“We gotta go.” Naomi headed toward the door and stopped. “When we’re done getting the info we need, can I join you guys?”

My brows rose as I nervously twisted the gauge in my right ear. I had no idea how Sage or anyone else felt about bringing on another person. Especially another Venom member who could possibly have an ulterior motive.

“Um, we’d have to discuss it with everyone at the . . . with everyone.” I almost said at the camp, but I didn’t want to give her any information.

I might be trusting Naomi to get me in and out of this building alive, but I wasn’t sure how much I actually trusted her with the lives of others.

She nodded with a slight look of disappointment on her face. “Fair enough.”

I stuck my shit back in my pocket and slid my mask back on before Naomi opened the door.

Back in the hallway again, the plan this time was to try and get through without an alarm since everyone would be down at the meeting. We were almost to the elevators when an odd smell got my attention.

The aroma that lingered in the air was an intriguing mix, not quite like any single creature, but a fusion of wolven, vampire, and witch. A paranormal trifecta. I clenched my teeth and flared my nostrils, desperately trying to locate the source of the overpowering smell.

We made up signals on the ride to the compound, so I rubbed the nose of my mask, letting Naomi know something alerted me. She pushed her hair behind her ear, a sign that she acknowledged.

Once we rounded a corner, there stood a bulky man in a dark green cloak, holding his mask in his hand. When Naomi saw him, her heart sped up, causing her to slow her steps. Erik and I took that as a sign and did the same.

The man’s head seemed mechanical when it slowly turned in our direction, like he could feel our presence. For a moment, his eyes narrowed like he was figuring something out before he looked at Naomi and grinned with pure confidence. “Are you headed down to the meeting?”

“Yeah,” she said with a smile as fake as his.

“Good. We can catch up. I haven’t seen you in months.” The man took a deep breath through his nose and his nostrils flared before he tilted his head toward me, his face deadpan. Even if I was unfamiliar with the species he was, I could tell he knew I was a vampire. “What’s up, Alex?”

Not knowing what Alex’s voice sounded like, I gave the dude a nod of my head.

The elevator beeped, then the doors opened, breaking the suspicious eye contact he had on me. When he stepped on and his back was to us, Naomi took the split second opportunity and hit a button on her tablet, causing the alarms to sound again.

“Damn it!” she yelled over the screeching sirens. “This stupid new program is going to get me in trouble. I have to go fix it. We’ll be right down.”

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