Page 20 of Hacker Unknown

“You're at one of our friend’s private clinics. Vincenzo slipped sleeping pills into the food and given how much you ate, combined with your exhaustion, you’ve been out for about three hours now.”

“Why did they try to knock me out?” she asked weakly.

“Well, they intended to knock both of us out,” I explained. “But I didn’t eat.”

Quinton raised a brow, “So, you don’t have an appetite either?”

I ignored his tone and squeezed Sonali’s hand. “How do you feel?”

“I’m still tired.”

Quinton nodded. “You will be. I want you to finish this IV bag and then you can be on your way.”

Antonio and Kat strode back into the room.

“We need find another safe house for Sonali. Houston is too dangerous now.”

I started to step back from the bed and Sonali reached out, grabbing my hand. “Please, don’t leave me,” she whispered, her plea hitting me like a ton of bricks. “I promise to be more careful when we go to Texas. I'm sorry I messed things up. I shouldn’t have eaten the food. I was so hungry,” she murmured.

“You have no reason to be sorry. Honestly, it’s my fault. I let you get hurt,” I replied softly.

She rolled her eyes. "You can’t protect me from the unknown."

Antonio cleared his throat, “Your brother reached out to the app developers. With everything going on and so manyunknowns, we’ve made some changes. Jared Black, the owner of Nova Satellite Security, has a private island with only a few reservations this week. They’re letting us use it, and your brother is already en route to the island with Callie and her boyfriend. They’ll all meet you on the island.”

“Are we vetting every single person already on the island? We haven’t even said who Sonali is. She’ll go by her fake name on the island. We’re all playing this as the CIA mission, and nothing about Sonali’s condition will be mentioned,” I ground out.

“Jared used Blackwood Mercenaries for the vetting process we are good.”

“That solves that, I said, “but I still have an issue with Vincenzo. He needs to pay for what he’s done.”

A smile crept across Kat’s face.

“Why don’t you let me handle that for you?”

Antonio groaned and said, “Kat, you cannot take out the mafia boss and assume his position. We’re not joining the mafia or becoming its head. We can solve the problem, but you must promise not to try to take over.”

Antonio glared at me, as if I were the one to blame for not controlling his own wife. I didn’t comment—any word about Kat pulling his strings would put me on the chopping block too.

Solina, now more alert, spoke up, “We’re going to a private island. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but ... this might sound selfish—could I grab some art supplies before we go? I have a gallery showing in less than a month.”

Antonio crossed his arms. "Keeping you alive is a lot more important than a gallery. Call your assistant and cancel it."

Sonali glared at him. “I’m not canceling my show. Even if the threat isn’t gone. I’ll be back in Paris within a month.”

I squeezed her hand. “I’ll make sure you have all the art supplies you need.”

Paxton entered, holding a bag of medicine. “Take these.” He shoved it against my chest before turning to Sonali lying in bed. “Make sure he takes his meds and comes back here in no less than two weeks.”

Sonali raised an eyebrow. “Are you sick? Should we be going to an island if you need a doctor?”

“He’s just over acting.”

Paxton cocked his head. "This guy rushed you to our clinic to ensure you were okay. Do me a favor, while you’re gone if he has any spells where he is fatigued, or coughs blood call me.”

“What the fuck do you have?” Antonio demanded.

I grumbled, "I can take care of myself."

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