Page 10 of Hacker Unknown

Kat tapped her finger on the table before she spoke. “Fort Lauderdale isn't safe for you right now,” she stated the obvious. “We have local safe houses, but I want you in Houston with Paulo. He's about to go work on a case there. We can send you on the private jet and in disguise so nobody knows where you are.”

Disguises, safe houses, private planes—it was all happening too fast. “I have a show in Paris in a month,” I added. “I can’t just go to Houston for an unknown amount of time. Not only do I need to head back to Paris, but I also need to paint three more pieces.”

Antonio's expression hardened. “The show won't happen if you're dead,” he said sharply.

“I know my hotel room was torn apart and they took my passport, but can I at get my stuff?” I asked, picturing the wreckage. "I have nothing to wear with me.”

Antonio stood. "Key card." I dug to the bottom of my purse and wrapped my fingers around the white and red card, and placed it in Antonio’s open hand. He flipped it over and tapped the name across the front. "This will make things easier. You're staying at one of my family's hotels.” Without another word, he left the room.

Kat squeezed my hand. "Don't stress. We'll figure this out. Zayla's been wanting to talk to you. I’ll send her in and go brief Paolo. It won’t take long for Antonio to retrieve your things. The pilot already has the jet ready to leave at three.” She poured me another glass of vodka before she strode out of the room.

The alcohol from earlier still coursed through my veins. I pushed the chair away from the glass conference table and strode to the large windows overlooking downtown Fort Lauderdale. The people below looked like small ants rushing home more thanlikely to their family. With Devon gone, I had no family left that I knew of. When I was older, I asked Devon who my father was, and he’d told me that it was a sperm donation. The donor’s names were never imputed.

Part of me wondered if that was true. If the experiment worked, they would want to account for all aspects. Maybe it was time I did a DNA test to see if I had any living relatives.

The conference room door hitting the wall startled me and I let out an unlady like squeak.

"Sorry! I didn’t mean to push the door that hard," Zayla admitted, now dressed in a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt.

"It's fine," I said, forcing my heart to stop beating so hard. "I was just watching the people below."

Zayla dropped a folder onto the conference room table before she strode over to me. She picked at her nail for a second, neither of us knowing what to say. Her cheeks turned light pink. “About earlier, what you saw.”

I held up my hand. “I am so sorry. You have nothing to explain, I should never have walked into the office. Let’s just pretend this is our first-time meeting.”

Zayla’s shoulders relaxed and she held out her hand. “I’m Zayla Solace daughter to Nathan Solace.”

I ignored her outstretched hand and pulled her into a hug. We both squeezed each other, neither of us saying a word. After a couple of minutes, we pulled back. “It’s so nice to meet you. Your father would send me letters when I was younger and then they just stopped.”

"Probably stopped when he was killed," she sighed. “Let’s sit. I think I remember going with dad to D.C. once and we played on a swing set in the park while our parents talked. Not sure if you have heard about my podcast?”

“Yes. Kat and Antonio also filled me in with what they have found. All of this is over, that’s what they think. From what I understood they didn’t see any research.”

Zayla nodded, “You’re correct, but the reports from when the mafia would follow my father when he came to D.C. to see your mom is what they are going off. Not sure who, but someone years ago must have talked. Is Antonio planning to put you in a safe house? It seems like their go to.”

“No. They are sending me to Houston with a bodyguard.”

“Oh, that must be Paolo," she said. "He saved my life in New York. His brother's a detective in Houston. I overheard Asher and CJ talking about a new mission. They must think it is safer for you outside of Fort Lauderdale.”

The problem was the answers I needed were in Fort Lauderdale. Antonio had told me that his team would investigate Benson and Sawyer. They would give a report to Paolo to let me know what information they find or if they need anything else from me.

“I’m not sure anywhere is safe for me,” I sighed.

Zayla grabbed a silver pen from the table and scribbled her phone number on a scrap piece of paper. "Call me if you need anything, even to talk. Believe me, I know what it is like to be told to go into hiding. When you’ve been independent it is hard to listen to these men. They tend to be very demanding and persuasive. And most importantly if Paolo pisses you off and youdecide to run, call me first. I will probably try to talk you out of it … if I can’t Kat and I will fly to get you."

Kat walked back into the room as Zayla was finishing her words, and a smile spread across her face. “Are we already planning our mission to help Sonali escape Paolo? Oh, I knew I liked you. Zayla is correct if Paolo makes you angry. Call me or her. We will be there to help you.” Kat paused for a second. “I do have some bad news your hotel room was cleaned out. Everything's gone. CJ's checking the hotel cameras. Sasha, Paolo’ sister-in-law is arranging clothes for you in Houston. You have about thirty minutes before you have to be on the plane. Zayla, take her to the locker room. She can shower and change into one of the workout uniforms that we have and grab one of the blonde wigs from the storage closet.”

“What about my laptop?” I asked, panic rising.

“CJ was able to pull your computer information down from the cloud and will have a spare laptop ready for you and will remotely wipe your other one. Here is your phone back,” Kat said as she handed it to me.

“Thank you, Kat.”

Kat stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. She looked so tiny, but her squeeze took the breath out of me. “Don’t do anything stupid without calling me. I will always have your back even if it pisses Antonio off …Well I would be even more willing when it makes my husband mad. I must keep him on his toes.”

“Not sure why you both think I am going to run. I did come to you guys for help,” I pointed out.

Zayla shrugged, “It’s how most of the love stories go around here.”

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