Page 18 of Throne of Secrets

“Star, sweetheart,” he said, his voice low. “Do you know how much information someone can get about you—your finances, your habits, your entire life—from this phone?”

Star froze with her cup halfway to her lips. “You called me sweetheart.”

The growl that rumbled from Ethan’s chest was entirely involuntary. “I’m sorry if that offended you,” he said through clenched teeth. “But you need a security code on this phone—minimum of six digits. And you should never, ever give it to anyone. Hackers can crack a phone like this in seconds. Even amateurs could get enough information from this to wreck your life.”

Her smile faltered. “I guess I never thought about it. I mean, when I need to open an app or get directions, it’s just easier to swipe. Or use the face recognition thing.”

“Yeah, convenient. But convenience comes with risk. And there are some very bad people out there, Star. People who go after easy targets.”

She lowered the cup and rubbed the back of her neck. “You think someone could get my information just like that?”

“If I had my laptop, I could probably tell you your banking balances, loan histories, credit score, and all the numbers of your debit and credit cards within ten seconds based on what’s stored here.” He tapped the phone for emphasis.

Her mouth dropped open. “And that right there is why I called you last night!” She jabbed a finger at him, then at the phone. “You're the security expert, right? I mean, you have your own security business.”

“Yes,” Ethan said, his frown deepening. “I am, and I do. And now, I’m wondering if I need to give you a crash course in personal data safety before you broadcast your social security number on social media.”

Star huffed out a breath. “Okay, okay. I’ll add a security code. But that’s not why I called. I was at the hardware store yesterday and?—”

“You mentioned that,” Ethan interrupted. “But you didn’t tell me what happened.”

“Right. Okay, so,” Star continued, launching into a flurry of words, “I was at the hardware store yesterday. Well, actually, I went to the deli first and had coffee with Mrs. Harvey—you know her, right? Sweet lady. Anyway, we were chatting about her new garden gnomes, and then I picked up dinner, which I totally forgot to eat.” She frowned. “Huh. I probably should’ve eaten that. So … after I left the deli?—”

“You forgot to eat?” Ethan cut in, brow arching.

She gave a sheepish laugh. “Yeah, happens sometimes. Anyway, after the deli, I went to the hardware store. I needed varnish remover. Which I did get, by the way. But then I saw the caulk display. I can’t resist wandering around a hardware store. So, I was checking out the caulk aisle—because, seriously, who knew there were so many types of caulk? Then, the hardware store clerk told me about this big stain display. I needed some samples, so naturally, I went over.”

Ethan rested his forehead on his fist, bracing himself. “Naturally.”

Star’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t judge me. And you know how I feel about asking for help when I know I can totally solve a problem myself.”

“Yeah,” Ethan muttered. “You ignore logic, climb something, and it all ends in disaster.”

“Exactly!” She paused. “Wait, that wasn’t nice.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s true. So, I climbed up to get the stain—carefully—and the next thing I know? I’m sprawled on the floor with a mountain of paint cans all around me. Like, full-on avalanche.”

Ethan shook his head. “Of course, you were.”

“But that’s not the weird part,” Star said, voice dropping to a whisper. She took the phone back and pointed to it, almost whispering, “While I was lying there, two guys walked around the corner and looked at me. They asked how long I’d been there. And what I’d been doing. Not if I was okay or what happened.”

Ethan sat up straighter. “Weird. What did you say?”

“Right? Completely out of left field. I said I’d been there maybe five minutes. I mean, that’s true. And I told them I was looking at the stain colors because, well, I was. But they just looked at each other. Like I’d said something important.” Her lips pressed together in a worried line. “It was weird. Super weird. And when the clerk came over to help me, they left.”

Ethan’s expression darkened. “Did you recognize them?”

Star shook her head. “No. I mean, they looked … average. Regular guys. But it freaked me out. Especially when I checked my phone at the checkout and realized my dictation app had been running the whole time. I dropped my phone in the cart before climbing Mount Stainerest. I’d forgotten I’d started dictating about the caulk.”

Ethan’s pulse kicked up a notch. “Let me see.”

She slid the phone back across the table like it might bite her. “Here.”

Ethan stared at Star and wondered, not for the first time, if any thought-tracks in her brain ever ran parallel. Or even in the same direction.

“Right,” he said slowly. “So, the conversation is …?” He tried again to piece together her chaotic narrative.

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