Page 27 of Hacker Unknown

Each state is a place where new kingdom is created, and every month’s states compete against each other. Inside of the state there are alliances. These alliance also compete with each other to who will run the state and organize the players during the state vs state competitions.

I bit the inside of my lip to stop myself from smiling. “Isn’t the game supposed to be anonymous?”

“So much makes sense now. The state chat has been unhinged mostly because of Alligator Queen. She is taking people out left and right. She has also sent in multiple requests to the developer chat about wanting the game to allow her to have a pet alligator. But back to the game. Every day new states open, and people join. Many don’t go back and join older states unless they are moving around to find an active one. This one had a group that destroyed it, and active players transferred away. So we took it over as our own state to play in. We were surprised when a batch of new players showed up.”

Sonali drank the last of her wine and the waiter walked over to fill it again. I leaned closer to her before I whispered, “If you want to go to the club later you are only allowed to drink two glasses.”

She nodded and told the waiter she didn’t want any more. I reached under the table and rested my hand on her bare leg. My fingers trailed along the inside of her thigh.

I turned back to Callie. “Is Ninja Ned part of your group or someone from before transfer.”

Callie opened her mouth to answer, but Master B cut her off. “He was on another state before it merged with the current state. He doesn’t chat much, but what did they want with him?”

On the outside the guy appeared chill, but I could tell it was an act. This fucker was hiding something and I sure as hell didn’t trust him. Even if everyone else at the table did. “According to the CIA, he is the one running the guns. They want his identity.”

Thomas and Master B glanced at each other. Before Thomas spoke this time. “He barely logs into the game. I know our group’s talked about kicking him out of our alliance. You would think he would be active if he was using it for something like that.”

I didn’t know what Ninja Ned was up to, but I knew something was there. “Callie would it be possible to get a copy of Ninja Ned’s private chats? I won’t turn them over to the CIA. Just to look at and make sure there isn’t anything.”

Before she answered she glanced at Master B. “Each of my games has a board of five developers. We set the rules before we develop the game. This one we created for privacy. Even if I wanted, I couldn’t access it without each person on the board inputting their code. We head back to Houston tomorrow. I can meet with the team and ask, but I am not sure you will like the answer.”

“I would greatly appreciate you trying.”

For the rest of dinner, the conversation changed to stocks and when Jared next planned to send a rocket up. My fingers kept a tracing on the inside of Sonali’s leg. Later when I got back to the room, I would report everything to Antonio. I also planned to corner my brother later to see if he knew what the hell was going on. During dessert Callie’s phone dinged and she glanced down and groaned. Apparently, Kat was going after their alliance.

When dinner came to an end Master B offered to give me that tour. The girls were going to wait for us in the lounge of the club. Kayleen was going to explain the club rules to Sonali while we were surveying the grounds.

I pulled Sonali into a hug and kissed her deeply before we split. She followed the women out of the room. Master B excused himself to use the restroom. While he was out of the room I turned toward my brother.

“Are you in on it with them?” I asked.

Brandon narrowed his eyes. “What do you think?”

“I don’t think you are, but are you in their alliance group?”

“Sasha and I are both in the group. Neither of us play often, so I honestly can’t tell you much about anything. Other than Ninja Ned is in the chat each day. I don’t think it is only Master B hiding something. Thomas and Callie seemed to be helping him.”

“I agree. What is Master B’s real name?”

Brandon scrubbed his hand over his face. “I only met him yesterday. You would have to ask Jared. My guess is he doesn’t want this island tied to his real name. Not sure if you will get your answers.”

Probably wouldn’t, but Jared did make a mistake. He claimed he was one of the owners. I would send CJ on a hunt to figure out who this guy was. Once I knew I couldn’t trust the people around the table I didn’t bring up how Sonali was connected. If Master B wasn’t coming with us on the tour, I sure as hell wouldn’t be leaving Sonali alone either. Deep down I hoped something came up bad on the guy so I could take him out myself.

“Ready?” Jared asked when Master B walked back into the room.

I was ready to figure out what he was hiding.

Chapter 9

Sonali

I’d followed Kayleen out of the dining room and into the lounge. Callie and Jasmin chatted behind us with the lady next to Master B. My stomach turned when I recognized Master B was Sawyer Ledger, the one person who held all the research about me. I’d opened my mouth to let Paolo know, but Sawyer had shaken his head.

Fingers gripped around my upper arm causing me to jump.

“Sawyer, you scared her,” Jasmin said.

He dropped his hand. “Can we talk for two seconds?”

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