Black Hat Hacker (Chicago Syndicate Book 6)

by Soraya Naomi

  Then I see two guys coming from the direction we came, approaching Henry. He gets up to meet them halfway, and after he hands over the leashes, they dip their chins to me.

  Oh, they’re Syndicate soldiers.

  Henry walks up to me, rubbing his hands up and down my arms. “You’re completely flushed. Let’s go. They’ll take the dogs back to the vet’s and Strawberry to your apartment. Give them your keys and they’ll meet you at the entrance of your building later to give them back.”

  “Okay. And what are we doing?”

  “We’re not done yet, baby. Now our date starts.”

  “More surprises!” I exclaim, biting my lip, and his eyes follow the movement closely. “I’m impressed.”

  “I felt like an ass for not taking you on a proper date before now.”

  “Wow! Henry feels guilt over how he’s treated a woman?”

  “You’re not just a woman,” he retorts and tangles our hands, leading me back toward the garden path.

  We retrace our route along the shore to an area that’s separated by a stretch of picturesque lawn and contemporary buildings leading into an open garden. By now, it’s midday and the sun is hanging high in the clear blue sky.

  The real world invades us as other people go about their lives around us, and of course, two women gawk at Henry. I smirk at how he ignores them, but as they pass me, all long and lean, I feel very short and a little plump, more so than normal.

  “What’s wrong?” Henry questions, since I’ve apparently betrayed my emotions with my facial expression.

  “Nothing. I just felt a little plump next to those skinny girls.”

  His brows shoot up. “Plump? Why? You’re just as skinny as they are.”

  I send him a blank stare. “Um, no. I have Betty Boop hips and ass.”

  “Trust me, not one guy I know prefers a flat ass over your delectable behind,” he teases, groping my ass with a possessive squeeze.

  “So that’s why you seem to always be with model-like types? For example, bartender girl, Jordana,” I point out and instantly regret not holding back.

  Yet he throws his arm over my shoulder and kisses my temple, uttering, “No. That’s why I was with her only once, but you’re in my arms almost every damn night.”

  Then he folds his hand around my neck and angles my head up to capture my mouth, thrusting his tongue inside once, twice. Kissing like this drives women to sin, and I take it. All of it. With pleasure before he pulls back.

  As we reach the garden, Henry guides me to a white, fenced gazebo with branches running up the posts into a braided roof. The inside benches have ivory cushions, and I notice a platter of scrumptious food without any meat – only cheese, roasted vegetables, fresh bread, and a wide array of strawberries and grapes.

  Henry takes the two steps up to the entrance, holding out his hand for me. When I look up, I gawk at his gorgeous profile as his hair is highlighted by the sun and he wears a smile he only bestows on me – I hope. And with that, he conquers another piece of my heart.

  After I place my small hand in his large one, he escorts me inside. “Did you arrange all of this in the hour you were gone this morning?”

  He nods and sits down, taking me with him and placing his arm behind me on the wooden structure.

  “Oh, my god,” I blurt out dreamily, “no one has ever done anything like this for me.”

  “Really?” he asks, a wrinkle in his forehead.

  “Really. My dates usually take me out for coffee or dinner,” I remark, picking a grape from the cluster and holding it up for him before, lightning fast, he bites my fingers and steals it, keeping my fingers locked between his teeth.

  Amused, I try to yank free. “You’re hurting me.”

  Immediately, he opens his mouth. “Fuck, sorry.” And he lifts my hand to inspect the mark.

  I snicker. “Just kidding. What kind of wimp do you take me for?”

  He nips the corner of my mouth. “Not a wimp. You’re just so petite that I need to be careful not to break you.”

  “You fuck me senseless – in my ass, I might add – and now you’re worried about breaking me?” I counter huskily, and he laughs loudly.

  “That, I know you can handle.” He looks down, our eyes meeting. “And you like it when I fuck you senseless.”

  “That I do,” I admit right before I hear voices, and then a couple strolls into the garden.

  Henry gives me a devilish smirk, his hand skimming up my thigh, so before he opens his mouth, I say, “No! People will see us.”

  In reaction, he grins wider and brings up his palms. “I didn’t say a thing.”

  “Oh, please. We both know what you were thinking.”

  He shrugs, tossing a strawberry into his mouth. “Your delicious ass brings it out in me. My brain can only focus on one thing.”

  “Well, tell your brain to save it for later.”

  “I will if you let me lick your pussy when you suck my cock later,” he whispers around a wicked grin.

  “Fine,” I compromise, needing to stop him before I let him seduce me right here, out in the open.

  Adjusting his slacks, he pacifies jokingly, “Ah, that works. Later then, baby.”

  Henry stretches his legs as I break off chunks of bread and feed us. We finish the platter in record time since we’re both hungry, talking and relaxing for over two hours before Henry announces, “I guess we better get going. I need to go home to change and stop by the club. Then I’ll see you tonight.”

  I relish how he comes to me every night, without question, and that we’ve had this routine ever since we first slept together. “Okay. I’ll probably be watching Netflix.”

  “Don’t watch Narcos without me, Mary,” he warns me with a smile as he rises.

  “I wouldn’t dare,” I retort right before we return to the car for Henry to drop me off at home.

  ***

  As we pull up to my building, I remember something. “By the way, can we keep it between us that Rosalia was with me the night of the dogfight? Logan will go off on her if he finds out, and I promise we’ll never do anything like that again.”

  Henry narrows his eyes. “Only this once, Mary. And you two owe me.”

  “Thank you!” I smile at him as I step out of his vehicle.

  When I get up to my apartment, I hurriedly get Strawberry to take her out for a quick walk at the park across the street. It’s busy, as usual, for this time of day, but as I wander around, I notice the same man twice. He’s wearing ripped jeans, and both times, he’s smoking a cigarette.

  To make sure I’m not being paranoid, I turn around and go back the way I came, passing him again. Then as I continue, I refrain from glancing backward until Strawberry pulls the leash toward my right and I get a chance to peek sideways, catching him behind me one more time.

  This is weird, and I’ve promised my brothers and Henry to be more aware and cautious. So when three joggers move past me, I rush forward, tugging Strawberry with me, hoping to disrupt his line of sight while my hands get sweaty and nervousness rakes up my spine.

  Who is he and what should I do?

  CHAPTER 27

  Henry

  When I check my rearview mirror, I see my own smile. My life, which has been an endless string of bad luck since I was born, has finally changed, due to the Syndicate and due to Mary. It’s been such a long time since I felt so connected to a woman, and I think I might actually be happy. Yet until I’ve sorted out my problem with Tara, I refuse to risk whatever this is. I should’ve told Mary about Tara, because if she ever finds out now, it’ll hurt her that I didn’t trust her enough. But this feeling of guilt, which up to now has been a foreign concept for me, is nagging at that small part of my conscience because Mary never pushes me, never questions me, and trusts me blindly. She’s kept everything between us private, not telling her brothers about us for my protection – she’s wrapping me around her finger, and on a certain level, this entire situation frightens me.

  So regardles
s of what happens with Tara, protecting Mary is most important to me. I want this between us too much. Maybe I’ve even reached the point where I need it?

  Deep down, I always knew I wanted more than one-night stands. Only, Tara crushed that dream when she became my wife and cheated repeatedly, but Mary’s bringing it back to life, much faster than I would’ve ever imagined.

  Eager to return to Mary right away, I veer into the left lane as my phone interrupts my thoughts, and I answer, putting it on speakerphone, “Yeah?”

  “Henry,” a Capo greets, “Keano escaped from the warehouse where we were holding him.”

  “How?” I bark, hitting the gas toward the intersection and speeding through a yellow light to make a U-turn while I ignore a honking car that I’ve cut off.

  “He managed to overpower a soldier who was taking him food.”

  “When?”

  “Two hours ago,” he replies.

  “And you just now call me?! Wasn’t he cuffed? And beaten-up?” I demand in a low voice.

  “The soldier had uncuffed him. He has multiple injuries, and I can’t imagine he’ll get far. He ran into the woods, so I sent three soldiers to scour the area.”

  “Find him. NOW. And inform Carmine,” I order before I cut the call to contact Mary, gripping the steering wheel and hightailing it to the West Loop when she doesn’t answer.

  “Goddammit, Mary!” I snarl to no one.

  How many times do I have to emphasize to her that she needs to obey me and always answer my calls. Trying to call her three times while I skate through red lights, I park halfway on the curb at the front entrance of the glass high-rise where she lives, jumping out without locking my car.

  Tearing past the reception area, I press the button for the elevator forcefully. It swooshes open, and I ascend to the tenth floor within seconds, leaping out and toward the left, once again opening her door with my credit card.

  “Mary?” I shout, glancing inside the empty bedroom before I sprint through the entryway into the living room that’s empty as well. “Christ. Where did you go?!”

  Without hesitation, I decide to call Adriano. Her safety is now my fucking priority.

  Rushing out of her apartment and into the hallway, I press call but end it when the elevator pings and slides open, revealing Mary with Strawberry.

  “I’ve been calling you!” I run up to her when she steps out, cradling her ashen face. “Are you all right?” My hands brush her curls from her forehead.

  “I think someone was following me,” she explains with a shiver. “Are you okay? You look frantic.”

  “Why didn’t you answer my calls?” I practically bellow. “How many times do I have to tell you that? You can’t ignore my calls, Mary! It drives me crazy.”

  She frowns, reaching for her phone in her jacket pocket. “Oh, shit. It was on silent. Sorry, I really didn’t do it on purpose this time. I was just trying to get home as soon as possible.”

  I grind my teeth in agitation, grasping that my worry for her is borderline obsessive. The second I can’t reach her, I seem to lose it. There’s a need inside me to protect her always, and the essence of that emotion might have nothing to do with Tara or guarding my position within the Syndicate. Just one minute ago, I was ready to give up what I’ve worked so hard for and call her brother. It concerns me how reckless I’m becoming – because of her, yet I’m powerless against it. Nevertheless, I have to get a grip.

  “Who was following you? And where were you?” I ask.

  “I was at the park. And I kept seeing the same guy, like he was watching me.”

  “Did he see you enter this building?”

  “No, I made a detour to check to see if he was still behind me and didn’t see him after that.”

  Impressed with how fast her mind works and that she kept her promise and wasn’t naïve in handling the situation makes me feel better – slightly.

  Then she continues, “And if it was a Syndicate soldier who was simply guarding me, Adriano would’ve told me. Is something going on with the organization?”

  I inform her, “Keano was being held at the warehouse and he escaped.”

  Her hazel eyes widen until the whites are visible. “When?”

  “Over two hours ago.”

  “But if it was Keano following me, I would’ve recognized him. Do you think Keano’s escape is connected to that guy?”

  “I don’t know.” I plow a hand through my hair in frustration.

  What the fuck’s going on?

  Mary’s being followed, Keano escaped, Anonymous hacked into my computer once and disappeared, and Tara’s also in the Loop. This is becoming a goddamn clusterfuck!

  Wanting Mary away from this compromised address, I tell her, “Pack some clothes. You can’t stay here.”

  Amazed, she straightens. “But this is my home. I don’t want to stay at my parents’ or brothers’.”

  “You won’t. You’ll stay with me,” I answer, motioning toward her apartment. “Get your clothes while I think about what to do.”

  “Okay. Hold Strawberry.” She hands over the leash and I wait out in the hall.

  Unfortunately, I don’t have a plan but refuse to let her remain here. I’ve been so distracted by Mary and this attachment to her that becomes stronger every minute of every day, and at the same time, I’ve been trying to handle my past, yet I haven’t sorted out anything.

  “Let’s go.” Mary returns with a bag in each hand, which I take from her so that she can lock her door, and after she picks up Strawberry, we hurry to the elevator and go down.

  When we exit the building, I scan both ends of the street – seeing nothing out of the ordinary – and nudge Mary to get into my car, storing her luggage in the trunk. Then I choose the quickest route to my apartment and we’re on our way as the sun is setting on the horizon.

  ***

  Inside my apartment, I dump Mary’s bags on the couch as she sets Strawberry on the floor. Quietly, she regards me, probably wondering what my strategy is, yet I have no course of action.

  Sinking down onto the sofa, I lean back. “I need to go to the club. Adriano or Carmine will call you when one of them hears that Keano escaped. If we tell them that you’re going to stay here, we’ll get a shitload of questions.” Questions I’m not ready to answer. As soon as they know I’ve slept with Mary, the Syndicate will watch me more closely, and I don’t need that as long as Tara’s around.

  But Mary catches me off guard by saying, “Then we tell them.”

  Since she’s never pushed me for more before, I didn’t expect this.

  “You’re not concerned about them knowing about us?” It won’t go over well if they discover we’re fucking around.

  I merely stare at her, and her entire demeanor changes to suspicious as her eyes get thinner, making me feel like an absolute ass because she’s right to distrust me.

  She hesitantly continues, “Why would I be? I can’t understand why we kept it a secret before we made lov—slept together.”

  Jesus Christ! She’s talking about love; the one thing I’ve avoided for so long. I’m not even sure I know how to.

  Tell her the truth about Tara and how it can affect your position in the Syndicate and even your life. You can trust her.

  I mull over being honest with Mary as I look up into her upturned eyes that I’m drowning in, entirely confused like I’ve never been before. The harsh bitterness I’ve harbored inside ever since my fucked up marriage with Tara isn’t easily overcome, and I have no idea what this is between us, but I have this uncontrollable need to keep her from harm. On the other hand, now that she’s with me and I can think clearly, the hacker and trained Syndicate member takes the reins again.

  I shut the discussion down, anticipating that she won’t push me any further. “I don’t want anyone else interfering between us, baby.” And I stand up to kiss her, but she skids backward.

  “Are you sure it’s just about that?” she asks point black, yet I disregard her question.

>   Instead, I command, implying that this conversation is over, “I need to go. If you can help it, don’t answer Adriano or Carmine’s call until after I’ve spoken to them. If one of them contacts you, just text them that you’re having dinner with a friend or something and that you’ll call them later.”

  “But what’s the plan? Am I going to stay here or not? Because it seems like you’re backing out,” she accuses me, standing tall.

  “I’ll let you know as soon as I know something for sure, Mary,” I mutter and stride to the door, realizing that I’m exasperated with myself and taking it out on her before yanking it open. “Lock it.” And as I shut it, she throws up her hands in annoyance.

  Satisfied that she’s safe in my apartment but without a strategy, I head to Club 7 to talk to my boss. Somewhere along the way, this day has gone from perfect bliss to an impending disaster.

  ***

  “When did Keano escape?” Adriano roars, surging up from behind his desk in his office. “And why did no one bother to tell me about him sooner?!”

  “I told the Capo to inform Carmine,” I reply, standing across from him as Carmine and Luca enter.

  “He called me and I came in immediately,” Carmine explains while Luca joins Adriano. Aggravated, he continues to Adriano, “Call our sister because she isn’t answering my calls.”

  Adriano’s glare intensifies as he snatches his phone from his desk, relocating to the adjoining security room. Much to my chagrin, I can’t hear what he says to Mary, but he’s talking heatedly, so she answered her phone.

  Fuck!

  Carmine, who’s just as impatient as I am, paces toward the adjacent door, but Adriano returns as he hangs up and points his device at Carmine and me, “You two should’ve ended Keano when you had the chance. Fix this! Mary stays with me or Mom and Dad until Keano’s caught.”

  No! What did she tell him?!

  Although, on second thought, this does work out because now I won’t be forced to spill the beans that I’m fucking their sister and explain why she’s at my apartment. Yet I hate that I won’t be able to go see her at night.