A wave of warmth swept over her as Liv stepped inside Café Italia and spotted Sophie, Kat, and Carley already seated in a corner booth. Not only would dinner with these women soothe her overly-taxed nerves, it would give her the opportunity to ask for advice about Thunder. She mentally giggled at their reaction when she asked for their help. How ironic that the woman who normally made matches for a living now sought help for a match of her own? The thought didn’t bother her in the least; there was no shame in seeking help. Besides, if nothing else the subject would provide interesting dinner conversation. Anxious to fill them in, she headed toward the three other women.
“Hi,” she said as she slid into the booth next to Carley. “Have you guys ordered?”
Kat smirked. “Your usual? Yes.”
“Thanks.” The temptation of spaghetti and meatballs further soothed the aforementioned nerves. “You guys know me so well.” She glanced around the table and frowned. “Where’s the alcohol?”
Sophie’s lips split into a smile. “Did you drive?”
“Of course not,” she said matter-of-factly. “Did any of you?”
Kat was the first to answer. “No. I probably don’t even remember how.”
“Me either.” Carley giggled. “But I’m having fun with it.”
Sophie raised an eyebrow. “Do share.”
“Well, since Ace insists on escorting me everywhere I go, I make absolutely sure we shop – a lot.”
“And he goes along?”
“He did at first. Now, he’s agreed I can go alone as long as I take my parents’ limo.”
Sophie shrugged. “I grumble about it, but I really don’t mind. If you think about it, we’ve all been escorted since birth.”
“True,” Carley agreed, “but I don’t remember drooling over my drivers in the past.”
Kat nodded. “That alpha gene is one potent cocktail.”
“Speaking of cocktails,” she prodded.
Sophie rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, the sangria is on the way.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, their server appeared with a pitcher of the fruity alcoholic concoction and four wine glasses. Liv filled each of the glasses, pushed them toward her friends, and then lifted hers to her lips. Two swallows later, she was well on her way to relaxation – and courage.
“So.” She cleared her throat and placed the glass back on the table. “I need some advice.”
Sophie didn’t hesitate to take the bait. “Of course. About what?”
“Men.”
Six eyelashes blinked several times in unison as her friends fell remarkably silent. She uncrossed and then re-crossed her legs, lifted her glass, swallowed another drink, and then patiently waited for the shock to pass.
Kat finally spoke. “I take it you and Thunder have spent some alone time together.”
She didn’t need a mirror to see the syrupy smile that split her lips. “Yes, we have.”
“And?”
And I’m madly in love with him. Although her silent confession covered her skin in goosebumps, it also caused a slight chill.
Sophie reached across the table and covered her hand with her own. “What’s wrong, Liv?”
“Nothing, really,” she answered carefully.
“Lay it on us.” Kat moved a strawberry around in her drink. “You’ll feel better.”
She couldn’t help but grin. Kat’s no-nonsense attitude gave her strength. “He’s gotten a couple of mysterious phone calls when we’ve been together.”
Carley frowned. “Mysterious?”
“I’m fairly sure there’s a female on the other end.” She swallowed the lump of disappointment in her throat.
Sophie squeezed her hand and then released it to grasp her wineglass. “What makes you believe so?”
“His voice gentles. His whole body relaxes and although I can’t hear what he says, the tenderness in the tone is unforgettable.”
Kat tilted her head to one side. “Have you asked him?”
“No,” she mumbled. “His kisses distract me.”
Kat smirked at Carley and Sophie. “Told ya.” She moved her gaze back to Liv. “Thunder has too much honor to lead you on. Ask him.”
“Thunder’s private life is really none of my business.”
Carley raised both eyebrows. “Uh Liv, you mentioned kisses, in the plural.”
She gave a slow nod in response.
“Seems to me that you are part of that private life.”
“Want me to interrogate Sgt. Taylor?” Kat’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I’m really good at it.”
Liv grinned as she briefly contemplated accepting her friend’s offer and ultimately decided to let Chaos off the hook. “No thank you, Kat. Besides, I’m sure he wouldn’t sell Thunder out.”
“Not on purpose, but I have ways of making him confess things he didn’t even do.”
Laughter filled the previously tense moment while their server returned, this time with food.
Liv took a look at each plate. “All of you ordered spaghetti and meatballs?”
“Yep.” Kat stuck a fork in her noodles and twisted the utensil in several circles. “You always make it look so good.”
Sophie nodded and attacked her noodles, as well. “Have we convinced you to talk to Thunder?”
“Yes.”
“You need back-up?” Kat lifted her fork to her mouth and then paused.
Carley giggled again and rolled her eyes. “Obviously that alpha gene is contagious.”
“I think I can handle it, Kat.” Liv cut into a meatball with her fork. “But keep your phone handy.”
Kat nodded and slipped the pasta into her mouth.
“Thunder asked me to organize another fundraiser for Camp Hero,” Carley said as she glanced at Liv. “It’s tomorrow afternoon and you’ll need a costume. I’ll give you the specifics for the website.”
“Tomorrow afternoon? Where am I going to get a costume before then?”
“The party was another of Thunder’s snap decisions so I reserved one for each you at the party shop.”
Another wave of heat passed over her. Not only was the man an extremely fine specimen of male, his compassion and dedication was solid and endless. Good grief, the man never ceased to amaze her.
Someone kicked her under the table and she looked up to see Carley’s gaze focused on her.
She frowned. “What?”
“While you were daydreaming, Sophie asked if you’ve heard anything else from the hacker.”
“Not me, but Chandler Rhoades received an email. Alpha Four went to talk to him while we have dinner.”
“Geez,” Kat mumbled. “This guy is persistent.”
Carley frowned. “Do we even know if the hacker is male?”
“No, we’re just assuming.” Liv shrugged. “Studies indicate males are usually responsible for cybercrime.”
Sophie lifted her glass. “No threat of blackmail?”
“No.”
“Weird.”
She agreed. Really, why hack someone if there was no gain, financial or otherwise? Power? Perhaps. She took another bite of pasta, swallowed, and then released a heavy sigh. She never really was good at puzzles. Maybe Thunder had additional information by now.
“Have you hired a new assistant, Soph?”
“Yes,” her friend answered, “and I’m hoping she’s not a diamond smuggler.”
Liv grinned. At least Sophie didn’t appear traumatized by the fact that her last assistant nearly killed her; in true hero fashion, Rebel had made absolutely sure Robert Dailey had been put away for good.
“I’m impressed so far,” Sophie continued. “She did an amazing job while Rebel and I were honeymooning.”
“You didn’t worry about business did you?”
Sophie’s dark chocolate gaze sparkled. “Not one bit.”
“Good.” Liv pushed her empty plate away. “I’m stuffed.”
Kat smirked. “No dessert?”
“No way.”
“Too bad.”
“Why?”
“Because,” her friend said as she gestured with her head toward the entrance. “Dessert just walked through the door.”
Liv moved her gaze in the direction of Kat’s gesture and darn near swallowed her tongue. In his usual I’m-on-a-mission manner, Thunder headed straight for the booth.
“Party’s over,” Carley mumbled before she drained her glass. “Guess you’ll have to let me out.”
Sophie followed suit as she stood. “That probably means our rides are here too.”
“Ladies.” Thunder nodded as he approached. “Did you enjoy your dinner?”
Kat nodded. “We did. Are the troops waiting?”
“At the curb.”
“Call me later.” Kat gave her a quick hug.
Carley repeated the gesture and then slung her bag over one shoulder. “I’ll send you that email this evening.”
“You’re in good hands,” Sophie whispered as she bent to give the third hug.
As her friends left the table, Liv reached for her purse, intent on leaving with him.
“Hold on a minute.”
His request stopped her in mid-grab.
“Can we sit?”
Curious, she nodded and slid back into the booth. He took the opposite side and reached to palm several packages of sugar.
“I have to tell you something.”
She nodded again, concerned that he began to fan the sugar packets like a deck of cards. Suddenly the calm, controlled commander appeared off-kilter and, well, nervous.
Curiosity pushed her to help put him at ease. “Does this have anything to do with the phone calls you’ve received when we’re together?”
“Yes.”
She waited patiently in the silence for him to elaborate while she tossed the idea of excusing herself through her head. On one hand, she wanted the mystery solved. On the other, she may not like the outcome. She released a long, slow breath in an effort to remain calm.
“I have a visitor,” he said finally.
Her heart pounded while she desperately waited for information. As usual, she had to prod. “A female visitor?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “My sister.”
Her eyes widened as the words left his mouth. He said sister, not wife, girlfriend, or lover. Yet, even the semantics weren’t what shocked her. No, Thunder had just shared an intimate part of his life with her. The earth may possibly start shaking any minute.
“Sister?”
“Yes, younger. A lot younger.”
“My age?”
“Younger. Anna is twenty-six.”
Thunder’s love for his sister coated his explanation. Obviously, the age difference between them only strengthened their bond.
“Does anyone else know?”
“Alpha Four. Your crew has no clue and my men are scared to death they’ll retaliate when you tell them.”
“Do you want me to tell them?”
He smirked. “You will.”
“Not if you don’t want me to.”
“I told you so you could share.”
She gave him a genuine, appreciative smile. “No retaliation, I promise. It’s not unusual that you don’t share personal details.”
“In my line of work, it’s for her protection.”
“Do you see her often?”
“As much as I can. She teaches second grade so usually during the summer.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
“There’s more.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “She’s at my house as we speak. Probably camped out on my sofa with a bowl of popcorn and a bottle of chocolate syrup.”
“Sounds interesting.”
He shrugged. “Actually it’s not bad.” He fanned the packets one more time and then replaced them in the holder. “I’d like you to meet her.”
She worked hard to keep her excitement in check. Not only did he confess he had a sister, he wanted them to meet. Another big step for him – gargantuan, actually.
“I’d love to.”
“Now.”
Her eyes widened of their own accord. “Now?”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
“Rebel is checking out Rhoades’ computer activity and then the team is going to meet at the Dusty Cover to wrap things up for the evening. I figured it would give you two time to get to know each other.”
“And you’re not concerned?”
“Should I be?”
“Well, I don’t know the nature of your relationship but I’m wondering if she might not have some secrets under her belt.”
“She has secrets.” He released a boyish smile. “But so do I.”
She noticed he didn’t seem bothered in the least, a fact that made her want him even more.
“Anna has my back,” he said as he stood and extended a hand.
She waited until they were in the private confines of Thunder’s truck to bring up the investigation.
“You mentioned you were going to visit the Dusty Cover. Does the store have something to do with my hacker?”
He steered into traffic. “Beachwood’s email was generated over the public network there.”
“He’s making this as difficult as he can, isn’t he?”
Her question was a rhetorical one. Of course the invader would take measures to mask his activity – she just wished he’d make a mistake somewhere along the way.
“We’ll check out the network activity and surveillance tapes. Maybe his arrogance made him sloppy.”
“Maybe.”
“Rebel’s been watching your system closely. He hasn’t taken the bait.”
His information both annoyed and calmed her. Personally, as long as she didn’t receive any hits on Thunder’s profile she was happy. Yet, the suspect needed to be caught.
“Good. Although I’d like to put a name to this nonsense, I’m not too keen on him nosing around.”
He reached across the seat and squeezed her hand in what she interpreted as a gesture of support. She took a brief moment to analyze his silent response. Extended time with him had shown her that although he was a man of few words, his body language spoke volumes. She learned quickly that when he was angry, his jaw tightened and his gaze narrowed on the subject of his ire like a laser beam. When he was amused, he raised one eyebrow and one corner of his mouth. And when he smiled, the gesture split his full lips and put a definite sparkle in his gaze. The only thing she didn’t know was what body language he used when aroused. Did his gaze soften or intensify? Would his posture stiffen or did he exercise such self-discipline that he would appear controlled? Would his heart pound? Would he become breathless in speech? She bit her bottom lip to keep from moaning out loud. These thoughts pushed her very hard to tear off her clothing and ride the wild stallion all the way home.
“You okay over there?”
Both startled and further aroused by his husky voice, she quickly reeled in her thoughts. “Yes, of course.”
He turned left into a paved driveway and brought the truck to a stop. She gazed out the window, impressed by a gray, two-story, colonial house with a wraparound porch that stood proudly before her. A series of tall, white columns supported the porch and a flight of six steps led to the front entrance.
“Here we are,” he told her. “Hang tight while I come around for you.”
He left the driver’s side and within seconds he opened her door and helped her out. As soon as they stood at the top of the steps and outside the front door, bright white light flashed at them. She blinked several times to clear the spots from her vision while he stuck the key into the lock.
“Anna?”
A soft ringing tone filled the silence as he entered and pressed several numbers on a keypad near the door. She couldn’t resist taking a jab.
“You locked your sister in the house?”
“Funny.” He smirked. “She knows the code; she can leave any time she wants to.”
“Fat chance.”
Liv moved her attention to the petite woman who spoke, almost identical to Thunder except for her size and breathtakingly beautiful midnight blue eyes.
“I’m Anna.” The other woman swooped in to give her a tight hug and then stepped back. “And I’m a hugger. You must be Liv.”
She nodded, surprised yet again by Thunder’s obvious conversation with his sister and warmed by Anna’s obvious acceptance. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Come on in.” Anna gestured to another room with one hand. “We’ve got a lot of talking to do.”
Thunder released a hard sigh and turned from the alarm pad. “Hang on, Anna Banana. I’m leaving you two to gab. Set the alarm after me.”
“Geez, you are paranoid,” the other woman mumbled.
Thunder wasn’t swayed. “I can do it from the driveway.”
“No, I’ll do it.” Anna moved her hands in a sweeping motion toward the exit. “Go on, we’ll be fine.”
He hesitated a split second and then leaned down and placed a soft kiss against her lips. Heat invaded her cheeks and traveled the length of her body.
“I’ll be back as soon as we’re finished. Have fun.”
“We will,” Anna answered for her. “Just take your time.”
Liv couldn’t stop the wide smile that split her lips. He gave her a wink and then left the house.
“He’s such a nervous Nelly,” Anna mumbled as she punched numbers into the keypad and then led the way into the living room. She grabbed a bowl and extended it toward her. “Want some popcorn?”
Liv eyed the black and white contents of the bowl that Anna offered. Thunder’s assumption about chocolate syrup had been correct. She shrugged and reached to pluck several chocolate pieces. As soon as the sweet, salty treat touched her taste buds, she labeled Anna a true popcorn genius.
“This is so great,” she said as soon as she swallowed.
“It is, huh?”
Anna left the room and returned a minute or so later with an extra bowl and a bottle of chocolate syrup.
“Thank you.” She accepted the extra bowl and bottle of syrup. “How long are you visiting?”
Anna smirked and gestured with her head to the sofa. “I told Thunder I’d play it by ear. My lack of a schedule drives him crazy.”
“You two are very close.” She sat down on one end of the sofa, tipped the syrup bottle, and coated the popcorn.
“We are.”
“He takes his role of big brother seriously.”
“To the extreme sometimes, but I’ve learned to cope.” Anna set her bowl on a nearby end table, repositioned herself to sit cross-legged, and then turned to face her. “Are you coping?”
Liv grinned. This woman was extremely intelligent. “Yes. He’s actually been very accommodating. Other than escorting me everywhere I go, we’ve managed to negotiate.”
“Something tells me you’re good for him.”
“We’re just in the learning stage.” Liv set her bowl on a table next to her side of the sofa. “Luckily, I have Kat, Sophie and Carley to turn to for advice.”
Anna giggled. “Ah, yes. The women who tamed the men of Alpha Four. I haven’t had the opportunity to meet them yet.”
“I’ll make sure you do. In fact, there’s a fundraiser scheduled tomorrow afternoon for Camp Hero. Is Thunder going to bring you?”
“He hasn’t said a word, but I’m sure he will. Just like you, I’m not allowed to be alone a lot of the time. Do you know anything else about it?”
She shook her head. “Carley is going to email me the details. All I know is you’ll need a costume.”
“What kind of costume?”
“Sorry, I have no idea. Sometimes Thunder doesn’t provide a whole lot of detail.”
“Tell me about it. In fact, I’m under the impression he’s in the middle of some sort of investigation but I know nothing about it.”
“Unfortunately, it’s my mess.” Liv swallowed the annoying lump of apprehension in her throat. “My computer system was hacked and we’re afraid some sensitive client information was stolen in the process.”
“Client information?”
“I’m a professional matchmaker. In fact, Thunder’s profile was included in my database.”
Anna’s eyes widened. “A matchmaker?”
“Psychologist by training, but I have an exclusive dating service.”
“Thunder registered with you?”
Liv bit her lip. “Not exactly.”
The other woman frowned and tilted her head to one side.
“I added him without his permission.”
A mischievous giggle filled the living room. “Oh my gosh, that’s so great! How did that work?”
“He took it much better than I expected, actually. He was more curious than irritated.”
“So am I. Did anyone ask to meet him?”
“Not yet.”
“He’s still in there?”
She nodded. “Alpha Four thinks we can use him as bait.”
“Rebel’s a whiz at technology.” Anna shrugged. “This might be very interesting.”
“Maybe.”
“How do you feel about that?”
Liv hesitated, taking time to consider her response. If Anna were anything like her brother, she’d see right through a cover-up.
“I’m not entirely sure,” she said finally.
“You love him, don’t you?”
The accusation stopped her dead in her tracks. She hadn’t even admitted that deep, dark secret to her friends. Very intuitive, this woman.
“Yes.”
“He loves you too.”
She cleared her throat. “We’ve never discussed our feelings for each other.”
“Good luck with that,” Anna snorted. “You know him well enough to know he’s not exactly the discussing type of guy. Believe me, he’s head over heels for you.”
Anna’s conclusion warmed her heart. Still, she would proceed cautiously until she heard it from the captain’s mouth.
“Thank you for the reassurance, Anna.”
“You’re welcome.” The other woman reached to retrieve her popcorn and then gave her a sly smile. “Now, since you’re practically family, have I got some things to tell you.”
***
Under the dusky evening sky, Thunder stood outside The Dusty Cover and listened while Rebel briefed him and his other teammates on the progress of research.
“The email sent to Rhoades came across another public network, this time from The Perfect Brew. Although I can’t identify the exact device used to send it, the IP address matches the one sent to Liv and Beachwood. We identify the device; we hang our guy.”
Thunder folded his arms across his chest. If only it were that easy. He moved his gaze over the perimeter around him and made a general, mental analysis. Single story, brick building approximately two football fields in length. Dark green canopies hung above two large windows in front. Two, tall green doors with brass openers framed the entrance. Typical retail storefront with signs that advertised sales in the windows.
He moved his gaze to Ace. “What about the logistics of this place?”
“Sniper’s dream. The four buildings that surround this one all have flat rooftops with access from the inside and from the top of building four, I can see through the front window all the way to the counter. The range of the Wi-Fi signal reaches the tops of every single building.”
“The place is built to attract young professionals,” Chaos continued. “Inside, there’s a complimentary coffee bar in the back and several tables and chairs with copies of the Everglade Springs News and Wall Street Journal on each surface.”
“Employees?”
“Evelyn Short is the general manager and has been for over twenty years. The business is corporately owned so the surveillance should be adequate. There are four other part-time employees, all students at Everglade State.”
“How did Short react to our inquiry?”
“Positively. She’s willing to help any way she can.”
He turned to address Rebel. “Was she on duty during the breach?”
“Affirmative, but Intel reveals that the store’s computer doesn’t match our address.”
He pushed Rebel’s admission to the side as he took mental note of the cameras positioned over the front entrance and tucked into the eaves above both windows. He hoped to high Heaven they’d catch a break; the chances were slim to none unless the cameras provided insight, but they were still chances.
He opened the door and led the way inside, cautiously optimistic until he took in the scenery. Even in the early evening, the place was littered with men in suits or pressed khaki pants and collared shirts focused on computer screens, phones, or tablets while holding an insulated foam cup in one hand. Not one of them looked up at Alpha Four’s arrival. He released a slow breath while his optimism began a severe downward spiral. Obviously, the store’s clientele wouldn’t be much help.
“Hello, gentlemen.”
He moved his attention to an average-sized woman who approached, dressed in a beige business suit with a knee length skirt and matching shoes. With her dark hair secured in a tight bun, everything about the woman screamed librarian. Evelyn Short, for sure.
“I’m Evelyn Short.” She held out a hand to him. “You must be the men of Alpha Four.”
He gave her hand a slight squeeze, careful not to overdo it. “Beck Raines. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us.”
“My pleasure. If you’ll follow me, we’ll talk in the employee lounge.”
She led them to the back of the store, pausing only to gesture with a hand at a young girl who wore a green apron to go to the front of the store. He raised an eyebrow, impressed by the manager’s authority and her employee’s obvious respect.
“May I get you each of cup of coffee before we begin?”
“No thank you, Ms. Short,” he answered for all of them. “We’ve had our quota of coffee for the day.”
She gave him a smile as she gestured with one hand for them to sit at a nearby table and chairs. “Very well, then. How may I help you?”
Again, he fought the urge to grin as they complied. A woman after his own heart – not afraid to cut right to the chase.
“As my teammate told you on the phone, we’re investigating a hack of a client’s electronic database. The activity was generated from this network and we’re hoping you have information to help up identify the perpetrator.”
“Certainly.”
“The range of the store’s network is significant. Do you have a rough idea of how many users you have per day?”
“I’m sure the number is large. The store is normally steadily full from opening until close and I’m confident the network is utilized outside the building as well. We can access a report from the server to clarify the numbers.”
“Would you be willing to provide that report to us?”
“Absolutely, and I’m assuming you’d like to access the network activity as well.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Rebel answered. “Does the store use video surveillance?”
“Yes. Our discs each contain a twenty-four-hour loop.”
“Would you mind if we took a look at those?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. I’ve attempted to explain the importance of registration and password protection to the corporate office, but my advice has fallen on deaf ears.” She released a soft sigh. “The world is so different now.”
“It’s a scary place, ma’am,” Chaos agreed.
Thunder silently agreed, thankful that she probably had no idea just how scary. “Do you happen to know Olivia Blackwell?”
“Yes. I’ve known the family for quite some time. Lovely woman.”
“She’s the victim of the breach.”
“Oh, dear.” Evelyn shook her head. “She found my Leo after the death of my first husband. Such a shame someone would target her, she’s made so many people happy.”
“How many other employees are there?”
“Four.”
“Have they been here long?”
“Yes. All four are students at Everglade State and began working in high school. Fortunately, we don’t have a high turnover.”
“Do they have access to the network?”
She nodded. “In fact, they are allowed to use their personal devices when assisting customers.”
“How so?”
“The store’s computers are located at the front of the store. Sometimes it’s faster to access the store’s inventory on a personal device rather than keep the customer waiting.”
“Are they required to log in to search the database?”
“Yes.”
Chaos tilted his head to one side. “How often is each log-in changed?”
“After fifteen entries or if information is entered in error three times.”
He scrubbed a hand across his jaw. At least they could track employee activity, but he didn’t put too much hope in finding a perp in the bunch. Unless the whole operation was some kind of initiation-based prank, these kids had no logical motive.
“I realize this is a busy operation, but have you noticed anyone out of place?”
“No. We have quite a few regulars and usually, the new faces are introduced by one of them.”
“We plan to find out who’s behind this.” Thunder squeezed the top of her shoulder as he stood, effectively ending the interrogation. “Thank you for your assistance.”
She stood next. “You’re welcome. If you’ll follow me, I’ll get the information you requested.”
Chaos smirked as Rebel and the store manager left the area. “Any bets that the system is another dead end?”
“What is it with you and this need to bet?” He frowned. “Are you hard up for cash?”
“Nope.” The other man smirked. “Easy money.”
“We’d be fools to take that bet.”
“Okay, how about this one: I’ll bet you fifty bucks you haven’t told Liv about Anna.”
As badly as he wanted to call Chaos out on that bet, he practiced great restraint. In fact, he had the upper hand in this deal and he intended to take full advantage.
“I’ll take that bet.”
“Don’t be so cocky, Sergeant,” Ace warned. “He’s still in one piece.”
Chaos grinned and shook his head. “He hasn’t told her.”
“As a matter of fact, I did one better than that.” He returned his friend’s grin and went in for the kill. “Liv and Anna are together at my house, probably camped out on my sofa while they stuff themselves with chocolate popcorn.”
Without further elaboration, he issued the next directive while both of the other men sat in silence with their mouths hanging wide open. “Call me if anything shows up on the network.”
Insanely satisfied he’d put an end to the obsessive wagering of his team, he turned and left the area, determined to negotiate the distance home as quickly as possible. Personally, this perp had taken up entirely too much of his time and he was more concerned about keeping a close eye on Liv. He smirked. It was a risky move, leaving Anna and Liv together, but he was a risky kind of guy. No telling what Anna had told her.
He finally parked in the driveway and headed into the house. He punched in the alarm code and then paused at the soft conversation floating from the living room. Although he couldn’t hear the words, it relaxed him enough to know they seemed to find common ground.
He stopped next to the sofa and propped himself on one hip. “Did you eat all the popcorn?”
“Of course.” Anna rolled her eyes. “I’ll pop you some more later.”
Liv smiled. “Sorry, we couldn’t wait.”
“The interrogation took longer than I expected.”
“Did you find anything else?”
“The email sent to Rhoades came from The Perfect Brew.”
“Another public network.”
He nodded. “Same IP address that sent your email.”
“He’s not trying to hide very well.” Anna frowned. “You can’t trace it?”
“Not without the device in hand. We’re confident it’s the same perp, though. It appears he uses the same message and forwards it to random addresses from the breach.”
Liv nodded. “Did you find anything at the bookstore?”
“Not on the surface. Rebel will check out the network and security cameras. Chaos and Ace will run the backgrounds on the employees.”
“Did Chandler say anything about blackmail?”
“No. No one’s been approached for money or any other form of collateral. And, Beachwood’s the only one who seems to be bothered by the message.” He glanced at his sister, somewhat wary of her comfortable camaraderie with Liv. “I’m glad to see you two found something to talk about.”
“That wasn’t a problem, Big Brother.”
He moved his attention to Liv. “Are you ready to go home?”
“I should.”
“You could stay here.”
He paused at the suggestion that spilled from his lips before he could stop it. Damn, no way would Anna ignore it. He widened his stance and crossed his arms over his chest, prepared to give the discussion that would inevitably ensue his best shot.
Instead, Anna cleared her throat and grabbed both popcorn bowls. “I’ll just take these to the kitchen.”
Silently surprised, he practiced great self-discipline to keep from smiling.
“You embarrassed her,” Liv said softly as she stood.
He let the smile materialize as he stepped near her and placed his hands on her hips. “Hardly.”
“I really like her.”
“Me too.”
“You two are a lot alike.”
“So I’ve heard.” He caressed the tops of her hipbones with his thumbs. “Do you want to stay?”
“I want to.”
It was all he could do not to fall to his knees and plead. “I have three spare bedrooms.”
“We both know where I’d sleep, Thunder.”
His cock twitched while his subconscious taunted: What the hell are you waiting for? Still, he wouldn’t press. She had to be absolutely sure.
“But not tonight,” she said finally.
His heart jumped in his chest, both disappointed and relieved by her response. Disappointed because he now had to deal with his pissed off cock; relieved because one night wouldn’t suffice. When he finally had her to himself – and he would – he would make absolutely sure they were completely alone and that they had ample time.
He leaned forward and placed a kiss against her lips. “You’re right.”
“You agree?”
“You didn’t want me to?”
“Well yes, but I’m suspicious about why.”
“Two reasons.” He tucked a wayward tendril of hair behind her ear. “One, when you do stay over you won’t sleep. And two, I prefer not to have an audience when you scream at the top of your lungs.”
He grinned when her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.
“Anna,” he hollered in the baited silence, “the coast is clear. I’m going to take Liv home.”
***
Under the cover of a clear, dark, warm Florida evening, he sat behind tinted windows and pressed keys on his laptop computer as he worked furiously to complete the task. As expected, he sent another coded message without issue.
He paused as he waited for confirmation that the mail had been delivered. This whole job confused the hell out of him. Why did his contact insist on this continued communication? Anyone with half a brain knew that more activity risked exposure. Normally, he wouldn’t care but something told him this operation wasn’t his normal hack and his goal was financial security not prison.
Yet, he hadn’t hacked anything this time. He simply sent information to an email address in an undiscoverable method. He had no idea what he sent or to whom it had been sent and that was precisely his intent. In the event someone questioned him, it would be extremely easy to play dumb.
He began to relax when the computer confirmed the transaction successful. The message now safely flew through cyberspace without a trace of involvement. He quickly forwarded the confirmation to his contact and then snapped closed the computer and pushed it into the passenger seat. No more cyber-activity for tonight.
He started the engine and pulled away from the curb while beads of sweat danced on his forehead. Never had he been this nervous about a job and for his own sanity, he may consider a move he had never considered before. His services were complete and as soon as payment hit his account, he would contemplate referring his contact to another source.