Page 43 of Hacker Unknown

“Yes,” the entire room answered in unison.

Each day I went into AA Security with Paolo, I found out how often things happened in the world that nobody knew about. Three of Paolo’s coworkers went on a mission to South America to save three people who were kidnapped, and not one news story covered it. Or last week, half the team flew to California and defused a bomb at a public sporting event. The call had come down from the White House to look into a possible threat. By midnight, the team had returned, and not one story appeared anywhere. The public had no clue what had happened.

“Sawyer isn’t going to tell us his connection. But Bryson owes me for when his now-wife was in danger. I’m going to head back to the office and make a call.”

CJ packed up his laptop, and the three of them left the room. I was alone with Paolo.

“Are we going to talk about it?” Paolo asked.

That was a loaded question.

“Us?”

He nodded. “We’ve put it off, but you leave in a couple days.”

“Yes,” I answered. “What do you want?”

The door to the room swung open, and a nurse I hadn’t seen before walked in. She also didn’t have a name tag. “Hi, I’m Jackie, and I am here to finish up your treatment.” She walked over and pulled the IV from his arm. “The doctor wanted me to give you these pills as well. He said to start taking them approximately twenty-four hours from now. They are supposed to boost the treatment.”

She handed me the bottle, and a sharp piece of plastic stuck on the side cut my finger. “I’m so sorry about that. Let me help you.” She pulled some gauze from her pocket, dabbed my hand, and then wrapped it with a bandage.

When she finished with Paolo, we left the facility. My mind couldn’t get over the nurse; something wasn’t right about her. Paolo pulled me into his arms when we reached the car. “Let’s go get dinner, and then we can talk.”

My mind was no longer on the nurse, but thinking about how my heart was going to shatter.

Chapter 14

Paolo

The meeting with the CIA had been torture. I wasn’t sure how many ways Antonio could tell them that nothing in the game had led us to an arms or drug deal, but if they were looking for something else, they should tell us.

Antonio had confirmed with Bryson that Sawyer and his dad were part of the Royal Bones Society, which is based in the United Kingdom. Bryson said he didn’t know anything about a project Sawyer was working on for the UK government, but it didn’t surprise him. The society provided the funding for his company.

Bryson also stated that Sawyer was a good guy and wouldn’t be doing anything to harm the world. I tried to point out that if he was good, he wouldn’t be hiding the information. Antonio shrugged it off, claiming it’s how all spy shit works. I did offer using my past experience to try and get information out of him. Kat agreed with me only if she could watch, but Antonio said no.

The meeting had taken way longer than I’d planned. I only had one day left with Sonali—her flight was tomorrow. Each time we sat down to talk, it ended with us having sex instead of talking. Iplanned to take her for a nice dinner and then talk. I had to keep telling myself: no sex.

I rounded the corner and walked into the gym to find her bent over, her tight ass pointed up in the air. Her gym shorts were riding up, almost exposing the place I had spent last night feasting on. My dick immediately pressed against the zipper of my pants.

Instead of interrupting her, I leaned against the wall and watched. She leaned back and stretched her right arm forward, causing her shirt to ride up her back.

She rotated to the other side, and her eyes landed on me. “Oh, when did you come in?”

“Just now. You can continue. I’m fine waiting.”

“I was just finishing.”

I walked across the gym and pulled her into my arms, my lips coming down hard on hers as a slight whimper escaped. When my tongue slid across her lips, she opened, and I was lost. Not caring about a moment ago when I told myself no sex until we talked. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for this woman.

When I broke the kiss, she pressed her hands against my chest. “I’m all sweaty.”

“That is just how I like you, but I want us to go grab some food. So, why don’t we go take a quick shower?” I whispered against her lips.

“We?”

I nodded, linked my fingers with hers, and led her through the gym over to the men’s locker room. The team had left after themeeting with the CIA. Was there a chance of someone walking in on us? Yes, but it wouldn’t be the first time that happened at AA Security.

A year ago, Antonio had the bathrooms remodeled. They were a hell of a lot nicer than the one at my apartment. At least he enclosed each one, making it so nobody could see inside the shower, because my plan involved us getting very dirty before we got clean.

---