Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
“Who knows what he’s put into your line?” Zero cocks his head toward me. The question is clear.
“I haven’t checked it. I’m sure it’s full of angry messages. I was supposed to get back to my handler. I gave him a small heads-up about Cyberius playing with Logic Byte Labs.”
“I know.”
“He told you?” Zero shrugs.
“You’re such a teacher's pet. The favorite.” I roll my eyes.
“I respond to him,” he points out. See, teacher's pet.
“I do too, just slowly.” A girl has to be mysterious, and also I have my father in me. I’m not as crazy and leery of the government as he is, but I am still leery. I don’t think I’ll ever not be that way.
Ronan is the only one I’ve ever truly opened up to. Well, he stalked me so hard that he already knew basically everything before I could tell him but still. I would have told him if he hadn’t already known.
“Are you going to check in with Bruce?”
“Ah…” I didn’t have plans to. My hands are kind of full at the moment. I lean back more into Ronan. “Maybe?”
“I’m only asking because he and I figured out a few things. I also want you to check your server with him.”
“Why? Did he send me a bunch of grumpy messages?” That will be a hard pass.
“My offer stands.” I peek over my shoulder up at my man.
“I know, but I’ll let him live another day.” Ronan gives a slight nod of his chin.
“Who are we not killing today? This Bruce person. Please don’t say Bruce Willis.” Cosima’s eyes bounce around to all of us, trying to figure out who we’re talking about.
“Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!” I couldn’t help myself.
“Best Christmas movie ever.”
“This is why we’re best friends.” I high-five Cosima between Zero and his computer screen.
“Wait til I tell Tova you said I was your best friend.” Oh noes. I need to control-Z that one, but that doesn’t work in real life.
“Don’t! I love you both, and she still has the Italy thing over my head,” I plead.
“Hmm,” Cosima sighs. “Fine, but I get to paint your nails.” Not the worst thing she could have come up with.
“I pick the color.”
“Deal.” She holds her hand out, and we shake on it.
“There is a timetable here we’re working with,” Zero reminds us.
“Right, Cyberius, Bruce, Logic Byte Labs, and checking my server to read my ass-chewing messages.”
“Hey!” Cosima slaps her hand down on the counter. “Only my brother eats your ass.” We all stare at her. “Sounded better in my head.” She cringes. “But it’s still true,” Cosima whispers softly to herself.
“Oh, it was good.” I let a small laugh free.
“And true,” Ronan deadpans.
“All right, it’s not cool when you’re like jumping into the sex talk, so lock that up. You’re my brother,” Cosima tells him. “And timetable.” She smacks her hand on the counter again.
“Logic Byte Labs was bait,” Zero says.
“What?” Now he has my full attention.
“I took Cyberius’ bait?” The fuck? That’s the second time I’ve fallen for bait that I’m aware of. When I ate up Ro’s, that was fun. I want to vomit Cyberius’ right out.
“You were being nosy, weren’t you? Looking for some tea.” Cosima gives a knowing smirk because she’s right. There is only so much reality TV a person can watch before you have to go find your own real life entertainment.
That curiosity of mine might burn me this time. My mind is already trying to filter through how Cyberius knew what kind of bait to set. Shifting through the information.
“Why does he know Logic Byte Labs? It’s not the tech. You would all be interested in that.” Ronan is right. That is where my mind had gone too.
“You tell us.” Zero turns slightly in his chair. “Why the interest in LBL?”
“That doesn’t matter.” Ronan cuts in before I can answer. “Why does he know she even has an interest in it?” His fingers, resting on my stomach, flex.
You might not hear it in his tone, but I feel it. Ronan is getting worked up. He is also stopping me from having to tell why LBL has interested me in the past, but that’s the thing. The reason is deeply personal.
“It’s fine, really.” I place my hand over his. “It goes back to insurance and healthcare stuff. LBL has absorbed other big companies. Ones I don’t much care for.”
“Your mom.” Cosima gives me a soft smile, and I return it.
“He shouldn't know anything about your mother.” This time a note of that anger bleeds out into Ronan’s words. Zero flicks a glance over at him, not missing it either.
“Check your server.” Zero pushes the laptop over to me.
The server he’s talking about is the one with our handler. The thing is, it’s beyond secure for people on both ends. Every now and then, I get a message from another hacker in that box. Most don’t leave notes with a bunch of details. It might be secure, but you can never be too safe.