Page 5 of Hacker Identified

Art nodded. "We can play the what-if game all day. Let's brainstorm once we have her in the suite. If I had to guess, I think she had a panic attack."

Hannah moaned, and her lips went into a flat line.

"Maybe we should take her to the hospital," I suggested.

Texan glanced down at his phone, and he typed on the screen. "The front entrance is a total madhouse outside. Even if we used a back door, I bet they are all lined with paparazzi. I'm with Art. Let's retreat to the room, and we can call a nurse up if needed."

"Hannah, wake up," I whispered.

Texan tilted his head to the side. "Hannah, what?"

"Her last name is Waters. No, I don't want you to run a background check on her."

Art and Texan were by my side the day I pledged my loyalty to America. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that they would take a bullet for me. I knew I’d made a mess out of everything by the way I announced the engagement to the world.

It was just that the moment I sat down, and our eyes connected, peace washed over me, and I wanted Hannah in my life.

"I can't believe you announced she agreed to marry you like that. You realize the media is going to be crazy for a while?"

"Yes. My decision was rash and probably extremely stupid. You can yell at me all you want once she is awake. The idea I came up with wasn't the best, but I'm not backing down."

The goal of my announcement was to make the paparazzi stop the playboy narrative. But I worried the impromptu message to the press had the opposite effect of what I wanted.

The elevator finally reached the top level. Hannah moaned as I jogged toward the penthouse. Our group of friends had rented the entire floor. The moment they heard the news, they would rush to my room.

Texan beat me to the door and had it open for me. I headed straight to the living room and sat on the couch with Hannah in my arms.

Art kneeled next to me with a wet rag and a large black bag. He pulled out a stethoscope and pressed the small device to her chest. Next, he produced a small light and shined a beam in each eye.

"Talk to me, Art," I said.

Art finally grabbed a small white packet from the side pocket of the medical bag.

"Her heart rate is normal, along with her breathing. I think she had a panic attack and passed out. This will wake her up."

I glanced down at the woman in my arms who I'd spend the next six months learning everything I could about. A strand of her curly brown hair covered a scar on her cheek.

I winced when I realized what he had in his hand. "Smelling salts?"

Art nodded as he ripped the small package open. When his hand moved toward her face, I snatched it from him. He placed the wet rag on her forehead as I waved the packet under her nose.

Her hand batted mine. A second later, she groaned and opened her eyes. "Welcome back, Hannah."

The moment she opened her mouth, the door to my suite swung open and banged against the wall. Texan and Art both reached for their guns.

Six bodies pushed through the small entrance. Sam and Patty Blackwood were the first ones through. Patty was the queen of Shialia. Sam had their daughter Kinley in his arms. Next was my younger brother Zane and his wife Sophie, and the last in the door was my close friend Antonio and his wife, Kat.

Hannah tried to move off my lap, but I kept her locked against my chest. "They won't hurt you," I whispered.

Apparently not quietly enough, because Patty huffed before she dropped to her knees next to the couch and touched Hannah's cheek. "Are you okay? I watched the video of the announcement online and noticed you went limp."

Hannah pushed at my forearm. I let her sit up, but kept her on my lap. "I'm not sure," she said. "One moment a man made me a crazy deal, then all of sudden I was engaged to the former president." She paused for a moment. "Now I swear you look like Patty Blackwood, the queen of Shialia. So, I guess I'm not okay, or I'm still asleep."

Patty narrowed her eyes at me. "Dude, this shit is all over social media right now. You didn't think three weddings this weekend was enough?"

"Technically, we aren't getting married for six months, per our contract," I huffed.

Kinley laughed. "He's right, mommy." The little girl wiggled out of her father's arms and climbed onto the couch next to us.

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