Page 47 of Sypher

Sighing, Gadget leaned back in his chair and told me everything.

“I know, and I’m sorry. The doctors didn’t think I was going to make it. My wounds were life-threatening—but Reaper really didn’t give them or me a fucking choice. They either saved me or he would kill them. While the club waited anxiously for news, my brother and his team waited in the wings ready to transport me here if I survived the operation. When I finally woke up weeks later to the smell of antiseptic and the low hum of machinery, Reaper stood over me, his voice a low growl as he issued me a mission he knew only I could accomplish. I despised deceiving my sister and the brothers, but Reaper adamantly insisted that such deception was the only way to ensure the safety of everyone involved. You see, when Babyface returned and handed over his dad’s journal—which contained the key you needed to access Pop’s thumb drive—Reaper knew the war with theSocietywould pale in comparison to what lay ahead for the club. And he was right, because when you started decrypting Pop’s files, Reaper sent me on a wild goose chase. While you’ve been doing your part, I’ve been collecting the data that verifies everything you have uncovered so far.”

“And them?” I asked while Matthew and Jason’s team all sat listening to us talk.

“Well, they’ve been helping me while maintaining their security front. There is a lot we need to discuss, Sypher, but you need to see this first,” Gadget said just as his older brother Jason slid a file toward me.

“Before you go down this road, you need to know exactly what you are getting yourself into.”

Opening the file, I read the contents slowly, my eyes scanning page after page.

When I was done, I closed the file and shut my eyes.

“How did you get this information?”

This couldn’t be happening.

Dante would lose his fucking mind if he ever found out.

“How do you think? I’m good at disguises. They never suspected.”

“Where is she?”

“Hidden in an undisclosed off-site military instillation,” Phantom’s older brother spoke up. “One that my team has tried for months to break into—unsuccessfully, may I add. The place is impenetrable.”

Narrowing my eyes, I glared at the fucker. “Nothing is impenetrable.”

“Was hoping you’d say that, ‘cause I need you to get me in there. There is someone else they are hiding in there, and Reaper wants her out like yesterday.”

“Who?”

Gadget smirked. “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”

Chapter Eighteen

Sypher

February 21, 2024

“Goddammit, Dante!” I roared, throwing my coffee cup across the room.

For the last few days, I’d tried every way I could think of to get that stubborn bastard to answer his phone. I tried calling him at work, texting him. I sent numerous emails to his personal address and work address. I even sent a certified fucking letter, which he returned to sender.

The stubborn fool flat out refused to give me the time of day.

“Throwing a tantrum won’t get him to respond.”

Growling, I muttered, “Shut up, Ace.”

“Just saying, a little honey is a lot sweeter,” he added, clicking away fast on the Xbox controller while he playedGrand Theft Autowith Gadget.

I groaned. “That doesn’t even make fucking sense.”

“What he meant to say was get off your ass and go see him at the clubhouse. He won’t be able to avoid you there,” Gadget said, right before jumping to his feet, pumping his arms in the air. “Boo-yah, fucker! And that’s how you do it!”

“I can’t,” I groaned, plopping down on the couch. “Montana banned me from the club.”

“Since when?” Ace asked.

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