Page 50 of Hacker Identified

I hooked one of her legs over my arm as I braced myself against the deck. As I fucked her hard, she couldn’t keep the noises small and quiet anymore. She wasn’t what I’d call loud, but definitely louder. I leaned down and kissed her to capture every noise she made. They were all mine.

At least until I needed some air.

Her breasts jiggled with every thrust, and I wanted to capture each movement in my memory. This might’ve only been for tonight or this weekend, but it was going to be mine forever to cherish.

My lower back tightened, as did my balls. I didn’t have much longer left in me. Still, I didn’t slow down or try to make it last. The only thing I did was release her leg, so that I could draw circles over her clit. Her nails dug into my skin, and I was fairly certain there’d be some marks still showing there tomorrow.

And I didn’t fucking care.

I continued the circles and applied pressure until she was coming again.

Only then did I let myself go.

Both of our breaths were rapid, fanning against each other’s faces as we stayed right there until I felt like my legs wouldn’t hold me anymore. Then I pulled away, grabbed a towel, and then came back to Hannah.

First, I cleaned her up quickly and then discarded the condom inside the towel.

Once we were both taken care of, I grabbed the nearest blanket and pulled it over the two of us. Hannah reached up and kissed my jaw gently, then collapsed back beside me as if that was all the energy she had left. If I had done my job correctly, then it really was all she could do.

Looking up at the stars, I was on my back with Hannah cuddled up beside me on the deck of the yacht, her soft skin brushing against mine. They were beautiful, and being so far out from land meant you could really see the sparkles. It was like the sky was a painting or a photograph or something, only real. It felt like I could reach out and touch the stars. A star shot across the sky, and I did something I’d never done before—I made a wish. I wished Hannah would be my wife one day.

Chapter16

Hannah

Isat on Zack’s couch in Washington, D.C., sipping a glass of red wine as I caught up with Gibs for the first time in months. Over the last six months, Zack and I had traveled to D.C. a few times for functions, and I started visiting my mom at the prison. We both bawled our eyes out the first time we saw each other. Sophie promised she wouldn’t stop until she cleared my mom’s name. My phone dinged, and I glanced down at the screen.

Zack: See you soon, my love.

I couldn’t hold back a smile. Each day, I fell harder for the man.

“I should have bet you money months ago when I said Zack liked you.” Gibs raised his beer and took a sip. When he set it back down, he continued. “You both are doing so much good in the world. I think it’s amazing how you are expanding your wildlife educational program to other states.”

Kat and Sophie had told me one night over drinks that the men in their group don’t do anything half-ass. I pointed out that the women didn’t either. I’d told them about the wildlife program idea Zack mentioned when we were on the yacht. I knew Kat spent a lot of time with the Ross Women’s Foundation and wondered if she had ideas on how I could start my program. The woman’s face lit up, and she asked if a program about alligators could be added. I shrugged and said I didn’t see why it couldn’t. Kat went on to explain the first step was funding. That’s when she dropped a bombshell on me, about wanting to be the first donor. I figured she would donate maybe a thousand dollars. No, Kat grabbed her purse and wrote a check for ten million dollars right there. Sophie had followed suit and handed me a check for the same amount.

The current business plan doesn’t have the other locations around the United States opening for a few years yet. “I’m all for youth centers, but I feel like they don’t concentrate on the science aspect much. I want as many people as possible to be aware of the plants and trees around us. More importantly, how run off water can contaminate much of the vegetation our world needs.”

Gibs nodded. “I sure do miss the weekly chats we had over the years. Your determination in life is not something I see in many people. Fifteen years you worked to put your father away and find your sister’s killer. Even if that meant putting your own life in danger you continued, never faltering.”

“Well, it didn’t do any good. My father was pardoned and running around doing who knows what. My mom is still behind bars, and during the search of the Creed property, no evidence of my sister’s death was found. Sophie even interviewed a few people who all claim Hazel disappeared that night.”

“The FBI and local law enforcement follow a different set of rules than AA Security. It might take some time, but I have faith that things will change.” He sighed and sat back. “Now you want to explain why you don’t have the engagement ring on anymore? The media’s run a million different stories, and you’ve dodged the question every single time I’ve asked. Tell me what’s really going on, because in the photos I’ve seen of you two together, Zack is madly in love with you, kid.”

Part of me wonders if I’d made a dumb mistake months ago by giving the ring back. I didn’t want our relationship to be about contracts or protection because someone might kill me. The media had a field day when the paparazzi caught us walking down Sunset Boulevard near Miami Beach. Less than an hour after the photo was taken, rumors about our rocky relationship covered the front pages. Even TikTok had a debate about why I wasn’t wearing my ring. Zack and I both agreed to keep it private and ignore the question, and not answer it for the public.

“I never told you the story about how we met, did I?”

Gibs shook his head. “All I know is you went there to find him. We never discussed what had made you both announce the engagement to the world.”

I explained how we met at the bar and how Zack was the one who announced it to the world. “When I realized he liked me, I didn’t want the contract over our heads or anything else. I gave him the ring back and told him he could propose when he was ready again. Maybe he will in a few years?”

Gibs snorted. “My guess is he’s giving you time. Have you thought about asking him? Think about it this way. That man pushed hard for you two to get married.”

“For my safety,” I cut in.

“Bullshit,” he replied. “He had Secret Service agents on you from the moment you were together. He has an entire group of military friends and family. The men around him are the best of the best. Besides, witness protection was always an option. He used your safety as an excuse to marry you. But you gave him the ring back.”

“I don’t understand why he wants to be with me,” I admitted quietly.

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