Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Oh for fuck’s sake, the network segmentation covers that,” Aleks says with a near-growl.
“Hmm,” I say, stroking my chin. I lift my phone. “Are you sure about that?”
Mikhail looks from me to him. “I can’t tell if you two are getting along or fighting.”
“Neither,” we say, again in unison.
Aleks crosses his arms across his chest. “What’s your favorite scripting language for penetration testing?”
“Can you stop saying penetration?” Mikhail mutters but I’m already thinking.
“God, that’s a hard one. Ruby’s a fave, but Python…”
“Infinitely more readable minus the simplicity of Ruby,” he supplies.
“Mmm.” I’m starting to warm up to him, but he can answer a question of mine now. “Best way to handle the aftermath of a data breach and compromised system?”
“Murder and bloodshed, obviously,” he says with a shrug of his shoulders.
I laugh out loud. “You are so brothers. Okay, so murder and bloodshed aren’t my methods, but of course they would be yours, after you lock down encrypted data and issue an alert. Real question. Protocol for if and when you encounter a WAF and have you ever successfully bypassed it?”
“Web Application Firewall,” he says to Mikhail. “And yes, of course I have. My methods have, in the past, involved evasion through encoding and protocol tunneling, but there’s no goddamn way I’m going to give you details on anything else.”
“Hmm. Touché.”
Apparently Aleks doesn’t get in trouble for swearing. That is so unfair.
Mikhail crosses his arms on his chest so they now very much look exactly like brothers.
My computer dings. I pump the air.
“Your shipment is on the way via expedited shipping and will arrive on time. Your name is Gladys Anderson and you’re a multi-billionaire old lady, if anyone asks.”
Aleks snorts. “She got one right.”
Mikhail reaches for my chin and cups it. “Well done, little hacker,” he says. My chest warms at his praise even as my mind does a somersault.
Multi-billionaire?
God.
Mikhail’s phone rings. Silencing it, he starts to shove it into his pocket when it rings again. He exchanges a look with Aleks.
What’s going on?
Mikhail blows out a breath and answers the phone. “What?” He listens, his eyes darkening. “I’ll handle it.”
He’ll handle…what?
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Mikhail
I watch my wife get ready for our gala, a bit stunned that she’s mine. I stare at her from a distance, sitting in my desk chair while she puts the finishing touches on her makeup.
Is she pregnant? I don't know, but I hope that it's just a matter of time.
It's not just that I need to secure my place as pakhan of the Romanov Bratva. It's so much more than that.
I want to solidify my relationship with the only woman I have ever loved. I need to make sure my family is secure, and establishing ourselves as a family unit with a solid footing in this world is the easiest way to do just that.
"You are a million miles away, Mikhail,” Aria says with a twinkle in her eyes. The nausea from this morning has abated, due in no small part to her ability to spar with Aleks. He is excellent at what he does.
She's better.
Aria comes alive under the light of a monitor, her fingers flying as if she's dancing. She circumvents every firewall, every safety mechanism in place until she gets what we need.
If the FBI knew about a woman like her, they would pay top dollar to secure her. Or put her in jail.
But Aria Romanov is mine.
Finally, she places her lipstick on the vanity I've installed in here for her and walks over gracefully to me like a satisfied kitten ready to purr. I reach my hand to the back of her neck and bring her mouth to mine while I hold her body to me.
“Lipthtick,” she mutters though her eyes twinkle at me. “Do you really want Pretty in Pink smeared all over those lips?”
I shrug and drag a lazy hand across my lips. “Take a part of you with me? Of course.”
She places her hand on my shaven jaw, holding my eyes with hers.
“Listen, I know that we're basically swimming with sharks tonight. I further know that I'm basically diving in there with fresh blood on me. I know that they're prepared to attack, but I further know that you,” she reaches for my tie and adjusts it just so, "will do everything within your power to stop anyone from hurting me." She holds her head high. "Let's show them who we are.”
Pride surges through me and I press her to me. I don’t want to let her go.
“The hair! First the lipstick and now the hair!”
I let her go with a teasing smack to the ass. “You’re beautiful. Let them see smeared lipstick and mussed up hair and know you’re mine.”
I like to think we're untouchable, but past experience has taught me well. Still, I spin her around and place her in front of me, so we stand in front of the mirrored doors to the closet. Me, much taller than her, dressed in formal attire that I hate. My queen, dressed in luxurious black satin.