Page 25 of Misunderstood Hacker

11

Jessica

The laughter comingfrom the living room woke me from my sleep. I reached over to Brock’s side of the bed to find it empty and cold. The memories of the previous day came plunging down like a bucket of icy water.Ihad been so wrapped up in the withheld information and the pictures that I hadn’t even thought about the mission Brock had gone on. It had gone FUBAR—fucked up beyond any repair.Ihad learned what FUBAR was from being around Brock’s team.

Not wanting to miss any information about my case, I hurried into the shower to get cleaned up. The shower helped me wake up and feel like this might be a better day. Hoping someone had a lead on the case, I dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and a tight black T-shirt. Ever since my divorce, Ihad started to wearclothes that fit me. Doug had made me self-conscious of what I wore. Brock made me feel like the most beautiful person in the world.

As I walked down the hall, the murmur of voices became louder. When I rounded the corner, the number of bodies in the room surprised me. Neal was standing in the kitchen with Sophie, making breakfast. Brock was sitting at the kitchen table. Brock’s laptop screen was displayed on the big-screen TV in the dining room. His fingers were flying across the keyboard, and different windows kept opening on the screen. Ididn’t understand anythinghe was doing.

Mia and John were sorting through papers on the other side of the table. Antonio, Asher, and CJ were in an in-depth discussion.

“What do you fellas need me to help with?” All the faces turned toward me with similar looks of apprehension. “No, don’t give me that look. We need to find this fucker and stop him.Onlyforty-six percent of violent crimesare clearedby the FBI. If we don’t find this man, we are helping to lower that statistic.”

Brock got up, walked toward me, and wrapped me in his arms.Hishair was still wet from a shower, and his woodsy smell made me moan.Hischuckle brought me out of my daze. “We have work to do now, but tonight, you are all mine.”

Hiswords made my nerves ignite, and I didn’t care if anyone noticed. I’d been waiting months to sleep with Brock, but he kept wanting to take things slow.

Neal cleared his throat from the kitchen. “When you guys finishhumping each other, we can eat.”

Breakfast was full of laughter and good-natured ribbing. But the ring of Brock’s cell phone brought breakfast to an end, and soon the dining room table resembled the war room at Blackwood Security.

“Hey, Boss. Do you have Patty with you on the phone?… Okay.” Brock pressed a couple buttons on his phone. Then I could see and hear Patty and Sam on the big screen on the wall.

“Sam, if you don’t tell me what the fuck is going on—” Patty stopped talking when she saw everyone on the screen. Her face lit up, but after a couple seconds of looking around, she knew the call wasn’t just for fun.

Before she could open her mouth again, Sam pulled her onto his lap in front of the computer.

“Sitrep,” Sam barked into the computer, meaning he wanted an update from the team.

Brock leaned forward so the speaker would pick up his voice.

“Jessica received another package yesterday. A note inside said they would be coming soon.”

“Wai—”

Sam put his hand over Patty’s mouth again. “If you don’t stop interrupting, I will put a ball gag in your mouth.”

Patty folded her arms across her growing belly and pouted.

“Continue,” Sam snapped.

“So far, they’ve tried to run her off the road, left threatening messages on her penthouse walls in blood, bombed her work car, and sent her the pictures of her kidnapping. Sophie found intel indicating that Doug had been in contact with a Mujahideen group before he died and had been funneling them money. The Mujahideenare under the impression thatAxmed will get out of prisonshortly. Once he escapes, they plan to come after Jessica.”

Before Brock could continue, Sophie spoke up. “From intel I have gathered, the group believes Jessica has information they don’t want her to know, and Doug was trying to sell her back to the group.”

Patty narrowed her eyes. “Who is your contact?”

Sophie shrugged her shoulders. She was wearing a pair of black slacks and a white button-down shirt. Shewasconstantlyputtogether, but deep down,Ihad a feelingSophie was the most violent individual in the room. “You know I can’t say who my contact is.”

“I will figure it out. I know you’re up to something.” My sister was like a dog with a bone. Patty would dig until she found the information she was looking for.

“Do you happen to know where this terrorist organization is?” Brock asked.

“The group’s current leader, Abshir, has been making numerous trips to Africa.”

“Africa?” Sam asked. “Somalia?”

Brock’shands went for his laptop, and his fingersstarted to flyacross the screen. Two images appeared on the screen. “Fuck,” he murmured under his breath.

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