Page 16 of Hacker Beloved

CJ pushed his laptop to the side and said, "Kat's parents were murdered by people her uncle hired. At the time, she didn't know this, and she went into her uncle's care. He was the director of the CIA. When she turned sixteen, he enlisted her, and she trained to become a CIA Officer. But her uncle used her more as an assassin. Kat didn't have many people close to her for years. I’ll let her tell you the story about how she reconnected with Antonio, but when she did, she started working at the Ross Foundation Women's Center. She had wanted to protect every one of those women and still does. But her years as an assassin tend to lead her into old habits. Which is more than likely why these men have disappeared."

"Wow," Zayla said. Her computer beeped, and she glanced at the screen. "My contact at the police station sent me something."

She clicked on the email, and my eyes scanned each line. The medical examiner had discovered a small incision on the neighbor woman's shoulder that was partially healed. In the report, it said the capsule was activated by an RFID signal, indicating that the neighbor may have had it implanted before her death. And whatever was inside of it cut through her skin.

"Zayla, did you ever wake up or find a small cut you didn't remember getting?"

"No," she replied. "Why?"

"Because he's worried you might have one of these capsules somewhere in your body," CJ answered.

Zayla's eyes widened, "Uh…how do we find out?"

CJ squeezed her hand reassuringly and replied, “We can examine your body to look for small bumps and cuts. That will tell us if you have one of these capsules inside you.”

Zayla whispered and then audibly gulped, "Okay."

My eyes connected with CJ. Somehow we had to be on our best behavior and make sure she didn't have this capsule inside of her.

7

ZAYLA

I movedmy laptop from my lap to the couch cushion and stood up in the middle of the living room. Asher’s eyes flicked from CJ to me as I pulled the bottom of my t-shirt over my head. His gaze lingered for a moment and then he cleared his throat.

“What are you doing?” Asher asked, his voice husky and uncertain.

If the killer had put some device in me, I wanted it out immediately. "You said you would check for the device.”

CJ cleared his throat. “Should we do this in the middle of the living room or the bedroom?”

I hadn't thought the process through much. “What do you think would be easier?”

Asher stood and grabbed my shirt from my hand. His eyes darkened as he studied my face. "Let's head to the bedroom. Xavier more than likely has cameras in the common areas of the house."

“Oh,” I said softly, feeling way too exposed with my shirt off and barely daring to meet Asher's gaze. He moved his hand slightly, just enough to brush against mine when I reached for the garment. "You already have it off. No point in putting it back on to take it right off again."

The three of us walked down the hall toward the bedroom. CJ's hand rested on the small of my back, sending a wave of electricity throughout my body. Now wasn't the time to get turned on, but I couldn't help myself.

Asher flicked the light on when we entered their bedroom. "You'll need to remove your pants as well."

I lowered my jeans and stood in the center of the room. CJ's eyes roamed up and down my body before he cleared his throat. "Why don't you lay on the bed face down, and we will check your back first?"

The moment my head hit the pillow my nose filled with Asher's mountain fresh scented body wash.

Asher started with my arms, slowly digging his strong fingers into the muscle tissue around my wrists and working his way up. It felt like a massage, but much more intimate than a regular pampering session. Every stroke of his hands seemed to send waves of comfort through me, and I found myself beginning to relax into the sensation.

CJ brushed aside my long hair and massaged gently at the base of my neck before pushing his fingers deeper into the muscles. His touch was calm and steady, utterly different from Asher's but no less intoxicating. For a moment, I could only focus on their magical hands running all over my body, making my worries feel far away.

I let out a deep groan as CJ's strong fingers pressed into the knot in my back, kneading the tight muscles with slow, deliberate circles. I felt the tension dissipate under his expert touch.

"Were you a masseuse in another lifetime?" I asked, not wanting him to stop his ministrations.

"No," he stated and chuckled softly, "but I've had many massages from Asher over the years, and I know what feels good."

Asher shifted on the bed just behind me, and then I felt his hand brush lightly up my leg. "I'll stop when I get further up your leg. Are you comfortable with me checking everywhere? The only other option would be for you to do it yourself.”

My breath caught in my throat as I considered his insinuation, already feeling half-exposed lying on the bed in my underwear. After a moment of deliberation, I gingerly nodded my head. "If you're okay with it, I would rather have you check."

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