Page 4 of Hacker Identified

No. No. No. He wouldn't tell the world we were engaged.

"Mr. President," I whispered. "We should go inside. People will get the wrong impression."

He winked his ocean-blue eye at me before he turned back to the growing crowd. Pedestrians along the sidewalk stopped and started to film with their cell phones. Zack spoke again. "I would like to report that the article Jimmy from the Daily Chronicle ran this morning is incorrect. Only one woman captured my heart, and last night, she accepted my proposal."

An eruption of voice screamed questions. Zack tugged me into his arms and lowered his lips, so they were only a few inches away.

"Can I have a kiss?" he asked.

I nodded, and he brushed his against mine. For a split second, I forgot about the crowd of people. A hand wrapped around my bicep and pulled me away from Zack. My purse dropped to the ground, and my phone tumbled out. I reached for my bag, but before I could grab my phone, Zack tugged me back into his chest.

A man in a black suit appeared next to us. His finger pressed against his ear. "Sir, we need to go back inside. This is getting out of hand."

Zack wrapped his arm around me as more questions were hurled at us. All I kept hearing was "What is her name?”

It wouldn't be long before my face hit the internet, and my father figured out where I was.

Zack had no clue about my past or the fact he just signed my death warrant.

Watson Creed had men all over the world and the funds to hire anyone he needed. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a group of men dedicated to finding me. After all, I was the one who almost caused his empire to fall.

My heart thumped against my ribs. The last time I had a full-blown panic attack, my father threw me into one of the solitary cells located in the basement of the Crimson Creed compound.

Each time I experienced one since that day, my mind would send me back to the dark cell.

I tried to take deep breaths, but my lungs filled with musty air, like I was locked away again. The harder I tried to breathe, the more my anxiety took over. In the distance I heard my name, but I couldn't fight through the terror of what might happen next.

Chapter2

Zack

The paparazzi swarmed us outside the casino. I attempted to push my way through the crowd when Hannah's body went limp. I swung her into my arms, and her head lolled to the side. The photographers hadn't stopped taking photos. Each flash blinded me for a moment.

Texan and Art, my two secret service agents, shoved a few people back. Hotel security held the glass doors open as I pushed my way through the narrow path.

Hannah hadn't opened her hazel eyes since she passed out.

Even inside the building, the paparazzi's questions filled the air. A line of guards blocked the entrance. I headed straight for the elevator with Texan and Art a few steps behind me.

Art held Hannah's purse in his right hand and pressed the white button with his other one. A few people at the blackjack tables stared in our direction.

"Hannah," I said her name and pinched her side. Her nose scrunched, and she grunted, but her eyes remained closed.

I shifted her in my arms as the door swooshed open, and a group of college kids poured out. A man in his early twenties grabbed my arm as I tried to avoid the people as they exited the lift. "You’re President Tucker?" he asked.

"Good afternoon." I sidestepped, and he dropped his hand. "I'm sorry, I can't talk."

He moved toward the elevator, but Texan blocked his path. Any other time, I would spend a few minutes answering questions, but my priority was Hannah.

I tried to get the ugly thoughts out of my head, but I worried someone in the crowd had stuck her with a needle. Logically that was crazy, but I received death threats daily. Many times, the threatening messages referenced my family and friends.

When the doors closed, Art swiped his card over the black box and selected PH.

"Why isn't she waking up? Did someone…"

Texan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let's not think the worst. Nobody thought you would walk out and announce an engagement. So, I don't think someone would have had an injection ready."

"Unless someone planned to murder me or my date for dinner."

---