Page 51 of Hacker Identified

My stomach took a deep dive, saying the words out loud. I hadn’t broken the lease of my apartment yet, because I kept waiting for Zack to say he didn’t want to be with me anymore.

“Nothing I say or anything Zack says will change those thoughts in your mind.” He paused for a moment. “The only person putting doubt into the world is you. It’s time you start believing in yourself.”

Much of my doubt is tied back to the trauma from my childhood. I’d researched a few therapists, but never picked up the phone and called. Gibs was right, I had to work on myself.

My phone beeped, notifying me someone had triggered the front gate to the house. I clicked the message and viewed Zack’s SUV, followed by a car.

“You have some valid points. Are you staying for dinner, or do you need to leave?”

“I have a stack of papers I have to weed through,” Gibs stood and pulled me into a fatherly hug. “Keep up the good work. Hannah, I’m so proud of you. Think about what I said when it comes to Zack.”

“And what did you say?” Zack growled from the entrance into the living room. His eyes blazed with anger.

Gibs threw his head back and laughed. “If Hannah wants you to know. She can tell you.” Gibs took a step back. “And Hannah, if you need anything, just call.”

Zack strode over to me and pulled me into his arms. “What did he say?”

I snorted slightly and tapped my hand against Zack’s chest. “He told me that I had you wrapped around my finger and you would do anything I asked. Including buying me a rainforest.”

“Is there a rainforest for sale?” he asked.

“Zack! I was joking. Gibs didn’t say anything bad about you. We just had a long chat. Now I saw another vehicle pull in behind you. Do we have guests?”

“Yes.”

I went to move toward the entry, but Zack blocked my path. That’s when I noticed the worry in his eyes. “I have good news, but I’m worried you’re going to be mad at me. And I want to explain why I handled something this way.”

“Who is here?” I demanded.

Zack twined his finger with one of my brown curls. “For the last few months, Sophie had someone on the dark web reach out to her, saying they knew where your father’s data was hidden. The problem, like most hackers, is they go dark for periods of time. And of course, they don’t trust anyone even though this person reached out to her in the beginning. Two days ago, Sophie was given the IP address of a server. I wanted to tell you immediately, but Sophie wanted to validate the information and make sure it wasn’t fake. As of last night, the FBI, with Sophie’s help, had enough data to take your father into custody. Also she was able to produce all the information needed to get your mother released from jail. I spent this morning at the prison waiting for her release. Please don’t be mad.”

I blinked back the tears threatening to pour out of my eyes. “Can I see her?”

“Of course. Are you mad?”

“No.” I glanced over Zack’s shoulder, and my mother stepped into the living room. Her curly brown hair was up in a bun. In the last few months, I’d only seen her in a tan jumpsuit, but now she had on jeans and a purple blouse. “Mom.”

We both rushed across the room at the same time, and I raced into my mom’s arms. “You’re really here?”

“Yes.” Mom sobbed against my shoulder. I wasn’t sure how long we had embraced each other. Nobody said a word or tried to get us to sit down.

When the tears stopped flowing, I stepped back and looked at her again. This felt like a dream, one I thought would never come true. Zack appeared next to us with a box of tissues. “Do we want to head into the dining room? I could make something for both of you to eat while you chat. Your mom was in processing all day and missed lunch.”

In a very unladylike way, I blew my nose into a tissue. “Come on, Mom, let’s get you fed. I’m still in shock, and we need to figure out everything…Clothes, toiletries, and of course, you’ll stay with us.”

My mom squeezed my hand. “You have a very good man. Zack’s taken care of most of that already. Texan and Art are unloading a car full of stuff. Also I have secrets of my own and need to tell you so much.”

When we reached Zack, he placed a kiss on my cheek. “Sit with your mom, and I’ll start cooking. She has a lot to get you caught up on.”

Mom pulled out a bar stool and sat at the counter, and I took the seat next to her. “I want to start by apologizing.”

“Mom, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

She crumpled up the tissue in her hand. “I do, and it’s time I tell you the truth. If only I hadn’t been blinded by revenge…you wouldn’t have had to be raised by him, and Hazel would still be alive. My twin sister, Angela, fell in love with Watson’s brother, Harold. My parents had inherited wealth. Angela and Harold were very involved in my family’s business, and my dad planned to put Harold in charge. There was to be this huge celebration at the family’s winery in Paris. During this time, I was at Columbia working on my second year of med school...” Mom paused when Zack placed a plate of cut-up cheese and meats on the counter.

“You never talked about your family or college.”

I tried to think back to when Mom was around. The most I could remember was how she had tried to shield my sister and I from Dad’s anger, but it’s like a fog is obscuring the memories. “I still don’t understand why you’re sorry.”

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