Page 63 of Burning Ivy (The KORT)

We pull into the garage, and I give them each a kiss on the cheek with a, “Thanks, boys,” before hopping out of the back seat.

As weird as this all is, there’s something so satisfying about being welcomed into their universe. It seems like a far more exclusive invite than La Lune Noire did.

Liam is on the couch when I make it inside, working on his laptop.

I dangle the bag of treats. “I got you a hot fudge sundae. Want it now?”

“Nah. I’ll save it for later or tomorrow. Thanks.”

After setting his sundae, some ice cream sandwiches, and somePopsicles for Wells in the freezer, I saunter into the room and plop down beside him on the couch with my frozen lemon cup. Ty and Gage pass through, motioning to the patio bar, but Liam jerks his head toward me. Looks like he’s on guard duty until I go to bed.

“What ya working on?” I ask.

He smirks. “Money management.”

“Yeah?” I shovel a spoonful of the frozen lemon into my mouth, letting it melt. “You guys have a PNC account you’re balancing?”

“Something like that.” He chuckles. “A few on the corner of Switzerland.”

“A few?” My eyebrows reach for the two-story ceiling.

He hammers away at the keys. “Ten. Twelve. Who’s counting?”

“Ahh. That explains the twelve luxury cars and four sporty motorcycles in the garage.” Another spoonful of my dessert to hide my smile.

His fingers don’t slow down, but he spares me a quick sidelong glance. “Listen here, High Society. We’ve earned it. Some might even say we paid with our lives,sold our souls.”

I fake an exaggerated shiver. “So ominous. Is there some soul-selling happening on there right now?”

“You could say that. I’m manipulating a pulse point.” He grins, and it is in every way a grin of someone who would willingly work for the Grim Reaper.

“How so?”

“Someone pissed us off. They’re trying to take something that’s ours. So, I found some accounts connected to their organization and emptied them.” His fingers pause as his eyes find mine with a twinkle. “Into ours.”

An astounded breath puffs out of my lungs. “Wow. That’s impressive pulse-point manipulation. Lucrative too. Can all of you do that type of hacking?”

“Yes. All four of us can do anything needed, but we each have a role we fit into best. I’m the best athacking.” He says that like I’ve insulted him somehow. “Although I prefer tech genius, or Godis fine.” I laugh while he continues, “Wells leads and keeps everything—big picture down to the microscopic details—in line. Ty helps Wells with in-person dealings and leads our pro bono work. And Gage is our enforcer.”

Enforcer.My stomach knots. I think I’ll skate on past that for now. I’m coming to love the Big Guy and don’t want to think about what being an enforcer entails. Or the fact that all four of them can step into any of those positions.

“Will you teach me?” I ask. “Some of your godlike tech genius?”

He stills, his hazel eyes lit up and concentrated on me. “You want to learn this?”

“Yeah. My father had me take some coding and programming classes in college, so I know the basics, even some amateur hacking tricks. And I’m fascinated that with a few swipes of computer keys, you can decimate someone’s life.”

His brow line furrows, as though what I said confounds him.

“Assuming they deserve it,” I add.

He laughs. Actually, he cackles. “Of course. Since you’ve got your priorities straight, High Society, I’ll teach you. The basement is where my elaborate setup is. We’ll start after training tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” I chirp, scooping the last bit of lemon ice into my mouth and setting the empty container and spoon on the coffee table.

As I sit back, Liam scoots closer, wrapping his arm around me, and I can’t tell what the intent is. He’s talking about something on the screen—computer jargon, like I requested. But his clingy arm and the thumb casually dusting my skin aren’t in teaching mode.

When his instructing lulls—him probably noticing I’m preoccupied—I wrench myself out of his embrace but turn toward him and prop my elbow on the back of the couch, my fist supporting my temple. We’re a bit closer now, and I connect my eyes to his.

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