Page 64 of Blue Embers
“And?”
“And that’s an alert that someone has just gotten through my security and hacked into my database.”
Draven narrowed his eyes and set the phone down. “Where’d you transfer everything?”
“A bunker down south near the sector four border. I pay a lot of money for it to be maintained while I’m not there. Either someone got in to hack everything onsite or they’re hacking it remotely. Either way, not just anyone can get past my security. This is someone who knows what they’re doing.”
“If it is Haera, what could she find in there that could hurt us or help her?”
“I know a lot of people. All of their contacts are there. I could have located Artemis’s child days ago with my connections. I chose not to in case Haera would try to pick my brain, which she did.”
“Saxon will find the kid,” Draven said, standing up from his seat to give Saxon a call and relay the news.
Just as he pressed his cell to his ear, mine began vibrating with new alerts. I reached over, picking it up to see what new problems had risen, and saw a message coming in from an unknown source. I opened it.
Your information is safe,the message read.From the real enemy, that is.
Who is this?I sent back.
A friend. Sort of. I’m just after someone and I think you could help. In fact, we could help each other.
And why would I help you?
Because I’m holding your database hostage. That and we’re playing for the same team, more or less.
What is it you want?
I want Ares Nite.
The mention of the name made me look up at the room with surprise only to see everyone’s eyes on me, impatiently waiting for me to explain what was going on. I typed out another reply and hit “send.”
You’re going to have to give me more than that,I said.
I’ll give you much more than that. I’ll give you the biggest Falcon compound in the outer territories.
I looked up again, this time directly at Draven. His eyes were like lava searing into me, his Archon presence potent and almost stifling when he was on edge. He was waiting for me to relay what was going on to him and the rest of the room; patient on the outside, but eager in every other way. I turned my phone to face him and as he reached out to take it, I cleared my throat with realization.
I didn’t often take offense to things, but this mysterious presence that was holding my data hostage had challenged me. I felt insulted and far more than willing to hunt him down and show him how I dealt with offense.
“Whoever it is, they’re very good,” I admitted, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. “I’ve designed layers and layers of security on my work and my records. He’s cracked them in a matter of days.”
“Or she,” Everly shrugged, part of her clearly getting a kick out of my unease.
“They want Ares,” Draven said, his face tightened with aggravation.
“Don’t we all?” Malice scoffed.
“He specified that Ares is what he wants,” I clarified. “He said nothing about being after the resistance. In fact, he’s exchanging the location of a Falcon compound for any information we have on Ares.”
“Seems personal if you ask me,” Lukan said.
“Personal or not, he has some of the most sensitive information at his disposal.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“We’re going to go to your bunker,” Draven exhaled toward me, tossing my phone back. “And we’re going to meet this hacker face to face.”
“Generally hackers aren’t the social type,” I pointed out. “How do we know he’ll meet us?”
