Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Brilliant.”
We were quiet for a moment. “Anything bother you about him?”
He shrugged. “He’s odd. Many computer geniuses are.”
“His anxiety was evident.”
He nodded. “He was a little friendlier yesterday. I think you made him uncomfortable.”
“Really?”
“You are kinda intimidating. All tall, silent, and brooding.”
I chuckled. “I see.”
“I think our presence did that. I also think he doesn’t like the fact that we found a weakness.”
That made sense. “Agreed.”
“Maybe we’ll find something now. Or he will.”
“Do you think he’ll share?”
Egan scratched his chin. “I think so. I think he also feels badly, which is why he was so nervous.”
He was probably right.
Egan clapped me on the shoulder. “Now you can buy me lunch.”
“Okay.”
I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening worried, pissed off, and anxious. I failed at finding any trace of Andy on another site, here or in any other province. I even dug into the dark web, finding nothing. He was like a ghost.
When Raven texted, saying she was ready to come home, I was already in the car, on my way to get her. I had internally shaken my head at my behavior.
She was right. I was as obsessed with her as Andy. But in an entirely different way.
I was pleased to find a spot, and I parked outside the bar and went in, surprised to see her alone at the bar, sipping from a tall glass. Beside her, a man was talking to her, and she seemed to be ignoring him. He crowded into her space, and she frowned. I headed over, calling her name. She looked over her shoulder, surprise etched on her face. Reaching her, I slid my arm around her waist, tugging her close possessively. I bent and kissed her. “Hey, baby,” I breathed out. “Sorry I’m late.”
She blinked, then smiled. “You’re forgiven.”
I lifted my gaze to the man beside her, meeting his eyes with a glare. He shook his head and mumbled something under his breath before moving toward the end of the bar and his pack of friends waiting for him. They all made jokes about his failure, slapping him on the back and offering him another beer to “douse the flames.”
“That’s right, asshole,” I muttered. “Keep moving.”
Raven followed my gaze. “He was harmless. He asked me if I was lost.”
“Lost?”
She picked up her glass and took another sip. “He said he assumed I’d fallen from heaven and was looking for a way to get back.” She winked. “He offered to help.”
“Motherfucker,” I swore, turning in his direction.
“Oh, stop it, Damien. He was just looking for a bit of fun. I have been propositioned in bars before, you know. I can handle myself.”
“Oh yeah?” I took her glass and drained it, grateful it was just water. I leaned on the bar, resting my hands on either side of her stool, caging her in.
“How was your night?”
“Productive.”
“Good.”
“I met the infamous Stew. He was leaving with a group of businessmen when we sat down. She introduced us.”
“And?”
I shrugged. “It was fast, but he seemed nice. Deb certainly likes him.”
“Where is Deb?”
“She left.”
“You’re not supposed to be alone.”
She rolled her eyes. She knew I had someone in the bar. He was, in fact, just walking out the door, not even glancing our way.
“How’d you get here so fast?” Her eyes narrowed. “You were already on the way, weren’t you?”
I lifted one eyebrow in acknowledgment. “You want a proposition, Ms. Raven?”
She batted her eyes at me.
I leaned close, well aware that asshole Andy was probably listening in. “You. Me. Our bed. Me tasting you everywhere. You riding me hard. You screaming my name when you come.” I drew a finger down her neck. “At least three times. Maybe four.”
She shivered. “That’s quite the proposition.”
“It’s all yours,” I murmured, nuzzling the soft skin at the base of her neck. “I’m all yours.”
My car alarm went off.
Frowning, I took her hand, and we hurried outside. Splintered and shattered glass was all that was left of my windshield. It was like an intricate cobweb, but the spider that made it sat in the middle. A rock thrown with deadly accuracy, and from the location and force, I would say from above. I pulled Raven back to the awning at the door of the bar, sending a quick text.
Me: Don’t move. Keep your eyes open for perp. Scan the rooftops around us.
If Andy was watching, which I was sure he was, I didn’t want him to know I had two others looking out for Raven.
Raven stared at the destruction as I turned off the alarm and called CAA. A crowd was gathering around the car and I studied them all, but Andy wasn’t among them. I was certain he was crouched on the rooftop overhead, wanting to see my reaction. Or gone by now. He was such a coward, it was probably the second. Raven turned to me, and I laid a finger on her lips, shaking my head. I knew why Andy had thrown the rock. I had pushed to see if he was listening.