Page 1 of Hacker Unknown

Chapter 1

Sonali

The heels of my Versace slingback pumps sank into the wet, soft grass, each step daring the world to notice me. Lady Mary Cemetery was the last place I should have been, but staying away was a betrayal to the person who I owed everything. Attending Doctor Devon Bailey's funeral was a reckless gamble—one that could unravel everything I'd worked so hard to protect. Eight long years had passed since our last embrace in Paris, his whispered promise still echoing in my ears. My secret was safe, and no one would come looking for me. Now, as I weaved between the headstones, I could only hope that his vow died with him.

Anxiety coursed through my veins as I spotted the empty seat near the casket. Though the chair wasn’t what had my heart beating three times its normal speed. Benson and Camila Monette occupied the seats to the left. My former best friend and fiancé. They had every right to be at the funeral, but I didn’t know if I was ready to face my past.

I could stand on the edge of the crowd which would be the cowardly way out and give them more power over me. No, it wastime to face my past. I breathed in the hot sticky air and held my breath for thirty seconds and repeated the exercises two more times. When my heart stopped feeling like it was about to break my rib cage, I walked along the edge of chairs and slid into my seat to the right of Benson. He leaned over to speak, but I was saved by the pastor thanking everyone for coming.

My eyes filled with tears as I stared at the deep cherry oak casket ignoring the man next to me as the pastor read from a leather-bound bible. His words muffled into the background as I remembered when Devon told me I was going to live with him. Unlike the sunny day in Florida now, it was pouring rain as he picked me up from my elementary school in the heart of Washington, D.C. and informed me my mother had died. Most kids at the age of eight would be at a loss if they were told their parent died. Except I wasn’t a normal child, and my mother had multiple sit-down conversations with me explaining how things would proceed if something ever happened to her. The day went exactly like she had told me many times over during my childhood if she died or disappeared.

Devon had placed my pink go-bag from the back of my closet and my one stuffed unicorn in the seat next to me as we drove to an airport and boarded a private plane for Paris. Until now, I hadn’t stepped back in the United States.

“Ali, did you want to say something?” Benson squeezed my arm. The gesture was supposed to be nice, but it felt like a snake bite. And I hated that he used my childhood nickname.

I pulled my arm from his grasp and shook my head. Devon Bailey meant the world to me, and I wasn’t sure how I could express that in front of all these people at his funeral. Years of hiding didn’t make public speaking easy.

Camila leaned over Benson’s lap. “I am sure out of all of us, Devon would want you to be the one to speak.”

In the hot Florida sun, chills ran down my spine as I glanced into Camila’s gray eyes. The sweet, fun best friend I remembered was replaced with a cold, Botox-filled smile.

“Maybe later at the house with fewer people,” I whispered back.

Benson didn’t even try to hide rolling his eyes. “Do you still think you are better than us, Ali?”

“You know I never thought that or said those words. Is now the time to have this fight?”

Hushed whispers around us reminded me we were not alone.

An older lady with long gray hair and a diamond ring that shone in the sun stood up from the front row. Benson jumped from his chair to steady her as she walked to the podium. I sighed and leaned back in the chair, relieved someone else planned to say something, so I wouldn’t have to get up.

The woman’s voice cracked when she spoke Devon’s name. “Devon and I met late in life, but I wouldn’t change our time together for anything. Seeing you all here would mean so much to him. His years of research touched the lives of so many.” She paused and dabbed her eye. “If it wasn’t for his research, I wouldn’t be standing here …”

Devon had stopped his research after my mother died. He didn’t want to put me through more lab tests. But her statement could only mean he lied to me. My vision blackened for a moment, wondering how many times he had lied, claiming the tests of my blood were to check my health. Even after he moved back to theUnited States, he’d asked for me to send two vials a year to keep medical records and to make sure I was okay.

Benson nudged my side, and I snapped out of my panic to hear the end of her speech.

“Sonali, he loved you as if you were his own daughter. Our home is covered in your paintings. He always showed them to everyone who came to visit, praising how talented his daughter was. Even with all the achievements he received over his career, he always claimed you were the thing he held closest to his heart. Benson, you already know he loved you like a son …”

Benson had come to live with me and Devon a year after we moved to Paris. Growing up, we never acted like brother and sister. Even at a young age, we proclaimed we were boyfriend and girlfriend. The relationship lasted until we were twenty-one, and I came home early from work and found Benson and my then-best friend Camila in bed together.

The pastor read Psalm 23 to end the funeral. Before I could stand, the woman who spoke earlier said my name and headed straight for me.

“Sonali, I am so glad you made it.” She reached out and gripped my hand harder than I expected. Her long red nails dug into my skin and didn’t match her tone. “With you here we can settle the estate today. Everyone is heading over to our house to talk about my late husband and meet with his attorney.”

“My flight just arrived only an hour ago. I need to run back to the hotel, and shower, before coming over to the house.”

When Benson stood, he towered over me. “Ali, stop making everyone cater to you. If you had arrived sooner, this wouldn’t be a problem. Everything is already scheduled, and you need tohead to the house now for the planned lunch.” He didn’t wait for me to respond before he turned to the older lady whose name I still hadn’t caught. “Camila and I will bring the car over to pick you up and take you home. You know I am always here for you, Suzanne.”

She released her grip and dabbed her eyes with a black handkerchief. “Thank you, Benson, Devon knew how much you helped. I am positive you will get what you deserve. Not sure why Sonali is requested for the Will reading.”

The sweet woman who gave the speech a moment ago was nowhere to be found. This woman was a bitch.

Benson nodded at Suzanne and glanced at me one more time. “It’s best you ride with us to make sure you aren’t late.”

“I will get there on my own.” Before any of them could say another word, I turned on my sunken heel and walked toward the row of cars. My hands hadn’t stopped shaking as I yanked my phone from my purse and tapped the Uber app. Seeing Devon and Camila plus meeting Suzanne for the first time had thrown my instincts off so much, I missed the slender man dressed in a black suit who stepped out from behind a tree and grabbed my arm.

“What—?” He pulled me behind the large oak tree and slid his cold hand over my mouth.

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