Page 58 of Exposing Adonis

“Blame Brett, this is his hacker’s work, not mine!”

“It’s always Brett’s fault.” It was incredibly easy to blame a guy called Brett. Or Chad. Or … Trevor? There are just certain names that go with popped collars and sunglasses worn on the back of the head.

“I mean, I like to think so,” Joe said, with a friendly smile. “I’ve known him for almost ten years, and he’s usually the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.”

“Ten years?” I said, shocked. “What, since you were like… thirteen?”

“I’m thirty-years-old.” He looked offended. “Did you forget that we Asians don’t raisin?”

“Is that really a phrase?” I wrinkled my nose. “Asians. Don’t. Raisin?”

He chuckled. “Not a lot of words rhyme withAsian.Or Filipino for that matter …”

The distant conversation caught our attention again.

“We need to end this. Maybe some good could even come of it.” Callum’s voice sounded mournful, and I finally felt bad for the son of a bitch. The hall was still clear, but we were going to run out of time.

“Boom.” Joe said, pulling the USB out of the computer.

With slow deliberateness, he gingerly closed the laptop and put it back into the drawer. Then he walked towards the door, retracing his footsteps.

“Come on,” I tried to hurry him with a flip of my hand.

“Hold on. I have to make sure my shoes didn’t leave any marks.” He looked up and down the path he had taken.

“Are you serious?”

“He’ll notice.”

“Really?” That couldn’t be true.

We closed the door, remembering to re-lock it, and stepped out into the hall with a sigh of relief.

“Oh, he’s nuts. I promise.” Joe looked up and down the hall. It was strange to hear the distant conversion with such clarity.

“This house is very echoey,” I mentioned to Joe.

“Yup, it sure is. We think it’s because he likes to hear everything going on,” he whispered. “I swear, he’s paranoid as fuck.”

I chuckled. “If Brett’s right, it makes sense.”

“I’ll let you know the results when we get this to Brett’s hacker.” He held up the flash drive as we separated. He went downstairs to the servant’s area, and me to the guest quarters.

I sighed as I walked through my door, tilting my head back and running my hands over my face to ease the tension off. I took a deep breath, and smiled. Then frowned.

The deep scent of sandalwood in the room made me straighten. When I opened my eyes, he was there. On my bed, his lips curved up in a sly smile.

“You’ve been a very naughty little spy.” His voice rumbled in the space between us. “Now, darling, why don’t you tell me where you’ve been.”

Shit.

Chapter 27

Callum

Irosefromthebed, and walked to her. She was perfectly still, like a mouse in a snake’s trap. I cupped her face in both my hands, tilting her head up to look at me. Her little pointed chin, and wide, brown eyes were fearless as she cocked a brow.

My mysterious Atalanta.

---