Page 22 of Hacker Betrayed

"Hi, Mia!" President Tucker waved. He strode in our direction and held out his hand. "Sorry for landing on your basketball court. But Brock called in a favor, and I have to get back to Virginia, so I figured I would stop here to pick up the package before heading out."

"No problem. Is there anything I can get for you, Mr. President?"

The man rolled his eyes. "Stop with the ‘Mr. President’ crap. It's Zack. I would stay and chat longer, but I need to get back home."

"I'm not going," Mia announced. "You can take your safe house and shove it up your ass."

"That's why I like you, Mia. I'm sure the CIA would take you back," Zack winked. "So I'll let you in on a secret. You're not the package I'm picking up. I'm here for your son."

Mia growled. "I didn't agree to that. I have no clue if your safe house is protected. Yes, your Secret Service agents can shoot, but they can also be bought off."

"Zane and Sophie are heading up to Virginia also," Zack replied. "My brother-in-law is there as well. I promise to protect him with my life."

"There was no chance I could get you to drop the case and go underground," Brock offered. "This was my best compromise. Lucas needs to be kept safe until we know who we are working against. And you can’t afford for your focus to be divided between solving this and protecting him."

Mia pointed over at her brother. "Are you going to really talk about safety when you let my brother and Donovan know my current location?"

"I'll explain everything when we sit down," Brock waved toward the table. "But we need to get Lucas out of here and to safety until we can figure out what the fuck is going on.”

"You're right. I'll go get him," Mia said as she rushed out of the room.

My eyes stayed on her until she disappeared around the corner.

I wanted to demand she join her son in the helicopter, but from the fire in her eyes I knew she wouldn't listen. Once she finished up her meeting with Brock and his team, there was no reason she wouldn't leave. The case I'd hired her for didn't seem important in comparison. I would meet with my brothers and figure out our next step with Club Rose.

For a moment, I thought about using her injury as a reason for her to stay, but she lived in the apartments above Blackwood Mercenary, which would give her access to other people to help her. I had a waiting list at work years out which meant I couldn't take the week off to stay home. Not all the surgeries I did were because someone wanted larger breasts. I did many reconstructive surgeries on burn patients or patients born with cosmetic issues.

Zack and Brock were deep in conversation when Mia shuffled back into the room with her son, Donovan a few steps behind her and his eyes never leaving her. I recognized the look of longing. Mia had everyone under her spell. Donovan might be a crime boss, but he was also the father of her son. Was it right of me to want her for myself?

Mia cleared her throat when they entered the kitchen area. "Lucas, I want to introduce you to Zack Tucker. You will stay with him until I figure out who killed Tabitha and took you."

Lucas's eyes widened as he took a step forward. "But you're the president."

Zack let out a long-suffering sigh. "Former president. You met Kat and Antonio earlier. Think of me as the same as you do Antonio."

"So, you have a wife who keeps alligators in your backyard?" Lucas asked without missing a beat, and everyone burst out laughing.

Mia pulled Lucas in for a hug. "Zack is single, but I would be surprised if he didn't have a few gators, thanks to his sister-in-law. Check in with me every night, and we will figure this out."

Lucas glanced over to Donovan and bit his lip. "Can I call you too?"

Donovan glanced toward Mia. "Only if your mom approves."

"Yes. You can call him."

Zack nodded toward the door, and Lucas followed him outside. Four Secret Service agents followed them down to the helicopter.

Mia was running her hand through her hair, and I wanted to pull her into a hug, but I stepped toward the fridge, grabbed a beer, and sat down at the table next to her brother. Brock was at his computer. Eric was on a second one, while Wes paged through a file.

There were two open seats, and for a second, I felt like the nerd back in third grade who hoped the popular girl would sit by him, but I expected her to sit next to Brock. Donovan made his way over to the table, but Mia took the seat next to me and placed her hand on my thigh. Her action threw me for a loop, but I wasn't about to question her. So, I twined our fingers together, and he sat next to Brock.

"Mia, can you think of anyone from your prior cases that would have an issue with you? Wes is looking, but you've taken on so many, it might be easier to figure out if you made someone from your past mad," Brock asked.

"All my clients are happy when I complete the case."

"How about Edward Knight?" Eric asked, looking up from the laptop. "There was also Karen Ritcher…and let's not forget about Wiley."

"Edward deserved a kick to the balls. The old man grabbed my breast. We had an understanding by the end of the case. Karen needed an attitude adjustment. Just because her husband had millions didn't mean she could speak to people like she did. We have lunch every other Sunday. And Wiley, he died of a heart attack." She shrugged. "Why haven't we investigated the man Tabitha was dating or the two men at this table? Donovan has a well-crafted story, but when did we stop checking facts?"

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