When I advised him of this yesterday, he asked me to come on board to help him fix the problem he has. The first step I took tonight was to see if I could hack my way into his building. It turns out that’s achievable in three minutes. Granted, I have skills not many do when it comes to this, but still, if I can do it, others can too.
“Who’s in charge of your security?” I ask as my gaze locks onto the caveman I met downstairs. Not that I know if he’s caveman-ish, but his muscle-packed six-foot-five frame and shoulder-length dark hair make me think of him as one. He’s huge, especially next to me. I can imagine him doing caveman things like throwing his woman over his shoulder when he gets home at the end of the day. I can also imagine him doing wild and rough things to his woman. Things I’ve clearly gone too long without if I’m standing here thinking about them when I should be focussed on my work.
“Devon,” Zane says in answer to my question. “He’s only been here for three months, but he came highly recommended by a friend.”
I cock my head and ask the question I’m sure is currently running through his mind. “How good a friend is this person?” I mean, Zane runs the leading security firm in Australia and one that’s also highly regarded worldwide; his system should be impenetrable. And it was the last time I checked six months ago. My guess is Zane’s not dealing with anyone he should be here.
He inhales a long breath before slowly releasing it, his frustration written all over his face. Then, motioning at the caveman, he introduces us. “Echo, Colt. I hope you’re both ready for a long night.”
I eye Colt, wondering how he’s tied to Zane. “I thought it was just gonna be you, me, and Liam tonight,” I say to Zane. Then to Colt, I say, “No offence.”
Colt smiles and my vagina decides now would be a good time to cheer me on in ways I haven’t been cheered on since my husband screwed me over six months ago.
All from a fucking smile.
It’s a hell of a smile, though.
When he opens his mouth and says, “None taken,” the cheering intensifies.
What the hell is wrong with me? Smiles and rumbly voices from men don’t generally affect me this way. It usually takes a whole lot more for a man to gain my attention. And besides, I decided just yesterday that I’m gonna try celibacy for a while. It feels a whole lot safer than the wild, wild west of men I’ve been subjected to this year.
“Colt’s with Storm,” Zane says. “They were put at risk by the security breach we had. He’ll be going through the files I mentioned to you.”
Mr Caveman’s a biker.
I’ve never met a biker, but I’ve had fantasies about them—holy hell, have I had fantasies.
Zane narrows his eyes at me. “Did you hear what I said?”
“Yes,” I say while wondering if he said something other than the bit about Colt and Storm and the files we’ll be going over together. If he did, I missed that because I blanked out on sexy biker thoughts for a hot minute. “I know those files are a top priority, but we’ve got more important shit to take care of tonight. We need to secure your network before we start digging into who your mole is.”
Colt eyes Zane, his forehead wrinkling. “I thought Channing was your mole?”
“I’m convinced I have another,” Zane says.
“Are Griff and Scott up to date on this?” Colt asks.
Zane nods. “Yeah.” Then to me, he says, “How long is it gonna take you to secure the network?”
“I can’t answer that because I don’t know the level of your problem,” I say. “But prepare to settle in. And when I say settle in, I mean, we’re gonna need a lot of coffee and doughnuts.”
I glance around the room noting the wall of screens and the two rows of desks filled with computers that face that wall. Those who know Zane know he has not only the latest equipment and software but also stuff that hasn’t been released yet. I don’t know for sure, but I’ve always suspected he runs black ops. Liam has been evasive with his answers whenever I grill him over this, which is enough to keep fuelling my suspicions.
Looking for which desk to claim, my eyes land on the only one with a plant and I head for it.
As I set up my laptop, Zane says, “Whatever the fuck you do, don’t touch that plant.”
I glance at him. “Because?”
My brother joins us, the heavy thud of his boot as he enters the room drawing my attention. “Because it’s Easton’s,” he says like that explains everything. It doesn’t. Easton is new to the team and I barely know him.
“The plant was his mother’s,” Zane says. “She died a few months ago. He’s attached to it.”
And just like that, I know I’m gonna like Easton. Any man who’s attached to a plant because it belonged to his mother is a man I’ll like because that’s something I’d do. Plus, I like men with a sensitive side like that, who aren’t afraid of embracing their feelings.
Liam comes my way, his eyes firmly on me. I know why he’s watching me so closely; he’s in protector mode, something that’s his specialty. Seven years after he was born, I came kicking and screaming into the world. Our mother loves to tell the story of how it took her three days to coax me out of her womb. The doctor tried everything to get me out, but I was happy where I was, my heartbeat steady all those days, my desire to leave my mother non-existent. Finally, I was delivered by C-section and my bond with my mother has always been strong. I’ve also never stopped kicking and screaming my way through life, fighting anyone and anything who challenges me. My mother is a fighter too and Liam is the steady presence in our lives who approaches everything with a level of practicality that drives both of us crazy at times. But through it all, he’s our rock and never fails us.
“Did you get a chance to see Mum?” he asks as I tap away on my laptop.
I shake my head. “No, I came straight here after dropping my stuff off at the loft.”
I arrived back home in Brisbane just over two hours ago. I haven’t been home in six months after leaving town when the shit hit the fan with my husband and our business. Liam has been worried about me, not only because of that but also because of the main reason I came home: our mother. She’s decided to move to London and I’m a hot mess over her decision. I’ve come home to spend her last month here with her. I’m attached to my mother like Easton’s attached to his plant.
Liam doesn’t say anything further. He’s a man of few words. But he continues watching me. I know he does even though I’m not looking at him, simply because he’s also a highly predictable man. He’ll spend the next month circling me making sure I’m okay while I deal with the fact our mother won’t live in the same country as me soon.
“Is someone gonna get doughnuts?” I say.
“No one’s getting doughnuts,” Zane says, hitting me with his look of frustration I know all too well. I’ve been bringing it out in him for decades. “We don’t have time.”
“Correction: I don’t have time. One of you does.”
“I’ll get them,” Colt offers, his gaze zeroing in on me. “Let me guess, you’re a fancy doughnut girl. I’m thinking something from Krispy Kreme with loads of toppings.”