Jeremy shook his head in frustration. “Not yet. You think he did it?”
Alethea stood straighter. “No, he’s innocent. I know he is. The proof is there if you dig deep enough. If I were you, I’d ask myself how Sliver would set him up.”
“Sliver?” Jeremy frowned. “Why would he go after Stephan? If Sliver wanted to hurt Dominic, wouldn’t he choose someone closer to him?”
The secretary behind them said, “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but Mr. Walton is losing patience.”
As the three of them headed toward the door, Jeremy’s tone revealed he was beginning to see the merit of Alethea’s idea. “Sliver would know how to cover his tracks, but why waste his time with easily fixable coding errors?” He stopped before opening the door. “You think the errors are a decoy, don’t you? Something to keep us chasing our tails.”
It was apparent that through years of working together Jeremy knew Alethea well, and it gave Marc a twinge of jealousy. But he knew Jeremy’s chance, if he’d ever had one, was in the past. Still, there was a bite to Marc’s tone when he said, “Enough. Let’s go in.”
Jake turned when they entered. “Jeremy. Good. We’re all here. Stephan has offered to give you full access to his server. I want you to take my parents over there and find out who is doing this.” He turned back to Stephan and said, “Everyone in this room wants to clear you. And we will. Hopefully before this explodes. I was hoping to have something concrete by now.” He was referring to Dominic—another person who hadn’t been blessed with the patience gene.
The door to Jake’s office flew open and Dominic’s voice boomed through the room. “Which one of you thought having this meeting without me was a good idea?”
Jake went to his side and said smoothly, “You gave me twenty-four hours, Dom. So technically, you did.”
Dominic strode to the middle of the room and faced Stephan. The air was charged with the threat of imminent violence. “If I find out you’re involved in this, that you’ve been using my sister to get to me, there won’t be any place on earth you can hide from my wrath.”
Normally sarcastic, Stephan wisely chose not to be for once. He met Dominic’s angry gaze with the steadiness of an innocent man. “I love Nicole. I don’t know how this is happening, but you have my full cooperation and access to whatever you need to figure it out.”
Letting out a breath that sounded a bit like a hiss, Dominic didn’t look away from Stephan as he asked, “Marc, you’re a good judge of character. Do you believe him?”
Without hesitation, Marc said, “I do.”
Dominic swung to look at Jeremy. “Jake must have you looking for proof. Have you found anything?”
“Not yet.”
Looking around slowly, Dominic’s attention settled on Alethea. “What do you think?”
Everyone stopped breathing . . .
“He didn’t do it. Someone must have access to his IP address.” Marc waited for her to say more, but she didn’t.
Dominic punched his leg. “Shit. I wanted it to be you.”
Stephan’s eyebrows rose. “Sorry?”
Still angry, Dominic took his phone out of his pocket and opened his messages. He held his phone up so everyone could see a photo. “I received this from Stephan this morning.”
It was a slightly blurry color photo of Judy sleeping in her crib.
Stephan said, “I didn’t send that. I haven’t been in your child’s bedroom.”
Marc moved closer. “Can I see it?” Dominic handed him the phone. “It was taken from her baby monitor. I know that feed.”
A chill settled in the room. Jake asked, “Are we sure Abby didn’t send it?”
Marc handed Jake the phone. “It’s from Stephan’s email.”
Rising to his full height, Dominic roared, “How could someone access Judy’s monitor? I thought we were using encrypted video.”
Alethea interjected, “My guess is Abby didn’t get that memo.”
Dominic turned to Marc. “Marc, I want the security at my house doubled.”
“Already done, Dom.”
Shaking with a fury that had no outlet, Dominic growled, “What did you know that you failed to tell me?”
Jake accepted the blame easily. “I told him to keep it between us until we could confirm that we were dealing with more than a simple hacking.”
Grabbing his phone back from Jake, Dominic snapped, “I’d say we’re dealing with a hell of a lot more than that. I want the bastard who thinks it’s funny to taunt me with my daughter. And I want him now. What do we know?”
Jake said, “All we have is a theory.”
Looking down at the photo on his phone as if it caused him physical pain, Dominic snarled, “A theory?”
“Alethea’s,” Jake clarified.
Dominic spun back to address Alethea. Marc kept a hand on her lower back and felt her tense beneath his aggressive approach, but she kept her expression calm. She took a breath and said, “I think it’s Sliver.”
“We dealt with him. Jeremy, you said that we sent him so far underground he wasn’t a threat worth pursuing.”
Jeremy looked uncomfortable and admitted, “I may have underestimated his obsession with you. This isn’t someone trying to make a name for himself. This is personal. Vendetta level.”
Marc said, “Alethea believes that Sliver could be the same man Stephan gave your server codes to last year. He worked for Stephan in the past. That would have given him the opportunity to access his server as well.”
“What are you basing that on?” Dominic asked forcefully.
Alethea raised her chin and said, “A gut feeling.”
“So why the photo of my daughter?”
“A taunt and a warning. He wants you to know how close he is.”
“I want this guy. I don’t care what it takes. No one threatens my family and lives. Do we understand?”
Stephan stepped forward and said, “Dom, every resource I have is yours in whatever way you can use it.”
Rage still simmering close the surface, Dominic said, “Hope you’re not holding out for a thank you. You gave this bastard access to my family.”
Stephan corrected him. “Our family.”
Rubbing his eyes in frustration, Dominic took a deep calming breath. He looked across at Marc. “I don’t want to scare Abby, but I want my home to be a Secret Service wet dream.”
Marc nodded. “Consider it done.” He stepped away to make a couple of calls to his men. When he returned, Jake had a large dry-erase board out and was making a web that had Dominic in the middle.
Jake said, “There has to be a piece we’re missing.” He put a line connecting Dominic to Stephan. He drew another line connecting Dominic to Jeremy and then to Sliver. An additional line connected Sliver to Stephan. “What is the pattern?”
Alethea asked, “Jeremy, when did you first notice Sliver online?”
“About two years ago, I guess.”
She asked, “When did Jack leave your company, Stephan?”
“About that time.”
“It has to be him,” Marc added. “But why connect with Jeremy?”
Alethea studied the board. “I don’t think he meant to. I believe that’s the only mistake he made. Jeremy challenged his ego online. If this is the same guy, he thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. We used that successfully against him last year. We can use it again.”
Jeremy looked across at Marc and said, “Alethea excels at shit like this.”
Marc watched Alethea study the web on the dry-erase board and couldn’t agree more. Alethea continued, “You know this guy. His name isn’t Stanley or Jack, but you know him. He’s someone who feels wronged by you. Who has a reason to hate you, Dom?”
With marker poised, Jake said, “We’re going to need a larger board.”
Marc added, “It wouldn’t be anything recent. This guy has a festering hate.”
As Jake and Dominic brainstormed for people involved in deals where the other side might have felt
cheated, the list did indeed overflow onto sheets of paper.
Alethea suggested, “What if we broke it down by year? Work backward from when he started working for Stephan.”
Jeremy watched the growing list and whistled, “Dom, you’re lucky you’re still alive.” He looked at Jake. “Is your list as long?”
Jake held up two fingers. “Two, maybe three shady deals.”
Dominic’s eyebrows rose. “Really? And here I thought you believed in doing everything above board.”
Jake shrugged. “I’m only human.”
Alethea pointed to the list. “Add those deals, too.”
When they had an exhaustive list, Alethea paced the room and said, “Is there anyone on this list who would have the skills to pull this off? Maybe someone isolated from society by their awkward level of intelligence?”
“Hey, hey,” Jeremy said, “not all geniuses lack social skills.”
Jake opened his mouth to agree, then closed it with a snap. “She’s right. That type of personality profile fits this scenario.”
Eyes collectively went to Jeremy, who bristled a bit under the sudden scrutiny. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t know any of you before Alethea asked me to hack into your system.”
Alethea instantly stiffened, apparently preparing for them to adapt her theory to include her.
Before things got more heated, Marc said, “The likelihood that it’s someone in this room is slim, and doubting each other is just what this guy wants. That’s why he used Stephan. We’re not going to get anywhere if we don’t trust each other.” He picked up the stack of papers and said, “I suggest we start here. I’ll track down what everyone on this list is doing now. Location. Financial standing. Everything.”
Dominic rubbed his forehead roughly. “That’s going to take you awhile.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dominic nodded in approval.
Jeremy started toward the door. “I’ll go back with Stephan and see what I can find on his side.”
Jake walked over to a briefcase and took out a laptop. “I’ll pour over our records to see if we forgot anyone.”
Dominic checked his watch. “I’m going home.” Then he strode out of the office.
Alethea said, “I—”
“You should stay close to Abby and the baby,” Marc said, not giving her a chance to finish her sentence. “Give Dominic tonight with them, but you have the perfect excuse to spend the day with them tomorrow.”
“The tea? Are you kidding me? You want me to sit there having scones while the rest of you figure this out?” She looked ready to stomp her foot like a petulant child.
He wisely suppressed his amusement. There would be time later to kiss that pout off her lips. “That’s where we need you. Close. Watching without alarming them.”
Jake inserted, “I agree. They don’t need to know about this yet. So far all we have is a theory based on coding errors and one photo. There is no need to scare them. We have all angles covered.” He took in Alethea’s obvious displeasure with the idea and said, “Why don’t you help Marc with research tonight? I’m sure he could use your help.”
Alethea shook her head in disgust and turned to leave.
Jake stopped Marc when Alethea was through the door. “Marc, you need to keep this contained until we can figure it out. Alethea is as potentially volatile as she is an asset. If it gets out that we’re onto this guy, he could disappear before we can nab him. And I want him.”
“Then I’d better catch up with her fast,” Marc said, and strode to the door. “I’ll do my best, but she’s not going to fall for the bunker thing twice.”
Seated beside Marc in his Lexus, Alethea closed her eyes for a moment to clear her head of the jumbled emotions surging through her. Stephan was where he needed to be. Dominic and Jake were aware of the gravity of the situation and would remain on high alert until whoever was doing this was caught. With Jeremy and Jake’s famous computer-geek parents working on the IP address that led back to Stephan, it wouldn’t be long before they could trace it back to the true origin, and with Marc working the other end they should be able to flush out even the best alias. Whoever was doing this was close and he was getting cocky.
Which meant he’d probably slip up.
And we’ll catch him.
Tea with Abby and Lil? Bullshit.
I wish they’d say what they think.
They don’t want me involved.
Does Marc seriously think I didn’t hear the exchange between Jake and him as he left?
Marc’s main job is to contain me, by whatever means necessary.
She thought back to the night before and a wave of nausea rose within her. It’s still all about keeping me occupied and out of the way. I knew it wasn’t real, but there is a difference between knowing it and hearing it said aloud.
With a slow, calming breath, Alethea opened her eyes and said coldly, “My car is still at Stephan’s building. I’d appreciate it if you took me there.”
Marc started the car and drove toward the exit of the garage. “I need your help with the research tonight.”
Gripping the clasp of her seat belt, Alethea kept the ice in her tone. “We both know you don’t. I heard what Jake said as we left.”
Marc’s jaw clenched, but he pulled out into the street traffic without hesitation. “That’s a shame, but it doesn’t change anything. You’re coming home with me tonight.”
“Really? So, we’re back to manhandling to get me where you want me to be?”
The hot look he gave her sent a flash of responding desire through her. The business-first Marc was gone, replaced by the man she’d woken next to in the bunker, who was looking at her like he wanted to pull the car over and take her right there. Job or no job, he wants me.
A sexy smile stretched across his lips, and there was a glint in his eye that said he was enjoying their exchange. “Too late to pretend you don’t want this as much as I do. You will spend the night at my place. I’ll leave how you get there up to you.”
Alethea looked out the passenger window to give herself some distance. “Last night was fun, but not necessary to repeat. It’s been a long day. Drop me off at my place, and I’ll pick up my car myself tomorrow.”
He didn’t answer, just kept driving. Since he was headed toward neither Stephan’s office nor her apartment, she could only conclude that he was stubbornly driving to his place. She turned back toward him and snapped, “I don’t want to spend the night with you. Not even the evening. I’m not sure I can stand five more minutes in this car before I snap and grab the wheel.” When he looked at her quickly, she warned, “Don’t think I won’t do it. The risk of injury is worth it to get the hell away from you.”
However Alethea expected Marc to respond, she didn’t expect him to take one of her hands in his and chuckle as if she’d made a sweet joke. He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Now all I can picture is how you looked in that jujitsu stance when I took your clothes. You were so angry. I’ve never met a woman who could be that fierce while naked.”
Alethea tried to pull her hand free. “I’m extremely serious.”
He laid her hand on his thigh beneath his. “I know. That’s what makes it so hot.”
Alethea would have pulled away, but the heat from his thigh burned up her hand and through her. Memories of how that thigh had felt bare and rubbing against hers the night before sent a blush up her chest and warmed her cheeks. She wanted to be angry with him, but all she could picture was how he’d looked naked: confident and teasing. And how it had felt to wake in his arms, knowing that he was watching over her.
She wanted him as she’d never wanted anyone before.
And he knew it.
He also knew she would never hurt him.
No wonder he was laughing at her. She’d given him all the power.
She decided to try another method. Turning toward him, she deliberately looked down, then up at him from beneath her lashes, rubbing her hand ever so slightly up an
d down his thigh. “Take me to my place, Marc. Please.”
He studied her expression briefly as he drove. “You’re good. I wish I could say yes, but you know I can’t.”
“Because Jake told you to watch me.”
He didn’t look comfortable with answering, but he did. “Yes.”
She whipped her hand off him and clenched them in her lap. “And none of you think I should be part of this, do you? People pay me big money to test their security systems. My skills are in high demand internationally.”
With a slight frown, Marc said, “Next you’ll say we hurt your feelings today.”
She folded her arms over her chest and looked away.
“Seriously?” He chuckled again, patting her thigh. He spoke with the sweet tone one would use with a child when they find their actions adorable. “Oh, I didn’t know you were so sensitive.”
She looked out the window. “You’re such an asshole.”
He pulled up to valet parking in front of an uptown apartment building. “I can carry you upstairs. I doubt the valet will say anything—I already tip him outrageously well. I’ll tell him that we love to role-play. It won’t be the strangest thing he’s seen if he’s lived in New York for long. Or you can maintain your dignity and walk. Up to you. I’m easy.”
A young valet opened her passenger door. She stepped out. Marc was beside her in a flash. She said, “I could get away if I wanted to.”
He smiled. “Maybe.”
As they walked side by side into his apartment building, she said, “I’ll help you with your research tonight, but that’s it. You sleep on the couch. We’re not repeating last night.”
His hand settled on her lower back as they entered the elevator. As soon as the door closed he pulled her to him, his mouth hot and demanding. Her hands splayed across his strong chest. Everything she’d said, both to him and herself, faded away in the face of their intense desire for each other.
Maintaining their kiss, he carried her to his door and, after typing in a code with one hand, opened the door, swept her inside, and then slammed the door behind him. He returned her to her feet and ripped at her clothing. She tore at his with every bit as much enthusiasm. Buttons flew. It was an animalistic need to mate. No gentle foreplay. Only a burning desire that demanded to be sated.
Breaching the Billionaire, AR, Kobo Page 15
