Page 24 of Toxic

I feel heat creep up my neck, but I force myself to maintain eye contact. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie smoothly.

Olivia just smiles, knowing and a little sad. “Of course, you don’t.”

For a moment, I’m tempted to tell her everything. About the secret Hawk and I share, the one known only to us and my parents. But I hold my tongue. Some secrets are too precious, too dangerous to voice aloud.

The moment is interrupted by my phone buzzing insistently. Max’s name flashes on the screen.

“I have to take this,” I say, already slipping into business mode. “Max? What have you got for me?”

As Max relays the information, a plan crystallizes in my mind. My expression hardens, a cold determination settling over me like a second skin. “Do it,” I order, my voice leaving noroom for argument. “Liquidate their assets, all of them. I want Kazanov’s shell companies gutted by morning.”

I end the call, looking up to find Olivia staring at me with wide eyes. For a moment, I wonder if I’ve revealed too much of my true nature.

But then Olivia’s lips quirk into a wry smile. “You know,” she says slowly, swirling the wine in her glass, “I think I might have underestimated just how perfectly matched you and my brother really are.”

I allow myself a genuine laugh, the tension dissipating. I raise my glass in a mock toast, “You have no idea.”

As we return to our meal, my mind is already racing ahead, plotting my next moves. Kazanov, Regina, even Hawk—they’re all pieces on my chessboard. And I intend to win this game, no matter the cost.

Let them underestimate me. Let them think they have the upper hand. I’ll show them all exactly who Devin West really is—and God help anyone who stands in my way.

The secret Hawk and I share pulses between us, unspoken but ever-present. And it’s the key to everything.

ELEVEN

The city sprawls beneath me, a glittering tapestry of light and shadow. From Hawk’s penthouse, I should feel on top of the world. Instead, I’m burning from the inside out, trapped in a gilded cage of luxury and desire.

My fingers twitch, itching for control. Hawk’s “protection” may confine me physically, but in the digital realm, I’m still Sphinx—untouchable, unstoppable.

I retrieve my custom-built hacking tool, disguised as a sleek smartphone. To the casual observer, I’m just another socialite. If only they knew the chaos I’m about to unleash.

Bypassing Hawk’s state-of-the-art security is child’s play. I slip into his network like a ghost leaving no trace. From there, Viktor Kazanov’s systems beckon, a siren call I can’t resist.

“Let’s see what secrets you’re hiding, Viktor,” I murmur, diving into the depths of his digital empire.

Layer after layer of cybersecurity falls before me. It’s intoxicating, this power. In here, I’m not Devin West, the heiress under house arrest. I’m the shadow that haunts Viktor’s nightmares.

I locate his personal cell phone data, tapping into a real-time feed of his calls and messages. Viktor’s voice fills my ears, cold and calculated.

“Lay low until I give the signal,” he commands his lieutenants. “We need to identify who is sabotaging our operations before we deal with Devin West.”

My heart races. He knows. Not everything, but enough to be on guard.

“There’s a possibility she’s connected to the Hacker Alliance,” Viktor continues. “Maybe even Sphinx.”

A smirk tugs at my lips. “So close, yet so far,” I think, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

Time to remind Viktor why he should fear the shadows.

I dive deeper, planting false information like toxic seeds. Financial records scramble, shipments reroute to nonexistent destinations, fabricated messages sow discord among his top lieutenants. A virus, elegant in its simplicity, begins to eat away at his data.

The sound of the penthouse door opening snaps me back to reality. I secure my device in an instant, my pulse quickening as Hawk strides in, a predator in a perfectly tailored suit.

Our eyes lock. The air crackles, charged with unspoken hunger.

“You’re back early,” I say, aiming for nonchalance but hearing the breathless quality in my voice.

Hawk’s gaze rakes over me, hot enough to burn. “Miss me?” The corner of his mouth quirks up, knowing and dangerous.

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