Page 93 of Dangerous Devotion

“We’ve got some news,” Hero said.

If I hadn’t been glancing at Vince, I would’ve missed him clenching his jaw. I squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back.

“What is it?” he asked, his voice low and controlled.

Peaches stepped forward. “We didn’t find any bugs. But the hacker was one of your IT guys. He was working for your father, as was your secretary; that’s why it took us so long to find him.”

The words settled in, and I could feel Vince stiffen beside me, his breath catching for just a moment before he regained his composure.

We hadn’t even talked about what had happened, so I only knew from what I’d overheard in the car that Alfredo Salvini was dead.

Did Vince kill him? And despite everything his father did, would Vince be okay? I mean, their relationship was as bad as it could’ve been, but it must hurt to learn you’re hated by your father so much that he was willing to sabotage his own company, just to get to you… Though, I guess, it wouldn’t top knowing he was trying to have you killed.

I looked at my father, who stood right next to Hawk. Given I had the best dad in the world, this level of betrayal seemed unfathomable.

“I’m not even surprised,” Vince said, his tone very matter-of-fact.

Goofy nodded. “He spilled everything. Seems your old man’s been doing this for a while.”

I watched Vince’s face, seeing nothing of the storm of emotions he was surely fighting hard to control. Then his eyes met mine, and in that moment, I saw a flash of vulnerability that made my heart ache.

A flash of vulnerability he deliberately let me see.

Without breaking eye contact with me, Vince spoke to his team. “I want this cleaned up. Airtight.”

“On it,” Peaches said.

“And if there’s even a spec of information out there about Jemma’s online endeavors, I want that erased, as well. Every trace, every mention. Make it disappear.”

The protectiveness in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. Part of me wanted to argue, to insist I could handle myself, but I knew this wasn’t just about me anymore. This was his way of keeping me safe, of shielding me from the dangers that came with his world.

And then it hit me as if a garbage truck had just rear-ended me.

The hacking, Iset. What if Zotov had somehow figured it out? “Oh shit.”

Vince’s eyes snapped to mine, his full attention on me now. “Oh shit, what?”

I swallowed hard, knowing this revelation might change things. “Isabella and I…we were both…involved in those hacking activities. What if Zotov found out somehow?”

The room fell silent, and I could feel the tension radiating off Vince. His jaw clenched, and I saw a flash of anger in his eyes. “You and Isabella?” he asked, his voice dangerously low.

I nodded and looked down at my feet, unable to meet his gaze.

“Isabella is a hacker?”

I nodded again. “Yes. We…we were working together. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

Vince’s grip on my hand tightened, almost painfully. “Goddammit, Jemma,” he growled. “What happened to no more secrets?”

I flinched at his tone but stood my ground. “I know. And I wanted to tell you. But then, everything happened, and…” I fizzled out. I didn’t tell him the truth; there was no way around that fact. “I’m really sorry,” I whispered. “But I think this could be why Zotov is so interested in Isabella. He must have found out about Iset.”

“Iset.” Vince ran his free hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. He turned to Peaches and Goofy, who had been silently observing our exchange. “I want you to investigate every single thing that Iset”—he turned to me and glared at me—“has been involved in. I need to know exactly what we’re dealing with here.”

Peaches nodded solemnly. “On it.”

“And you and I,” he said, his voice low and threatening as he pulled me with him toward his office, “will have a little chat.”

I held my breath as Vince closed the office door behind us with a bang, his eyes blazing with anger.

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