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I stiffen. “Anyone can get those details.”
“True. But could anyone tell you that calling her ‘Mary’ would get your balls cut off with a serrated knife? Could anyone tell you that she’s a self-taught hacker who uses her skills to take out evil in the world?”
Heaving a sigh, I lower my weapon. He has a point. If Jez trusted this guy enough to know what she uses her hacking skills for, then he must not be so bad.
“Fine. What are you doing here, though?” I ask.
“I haven’t been able to reach Jez in five days,” he says, worry evident in his tone. “That’s not like her.”
“So, what? You thought you’d come break into her house and play white knight?”
“Actually, I flew in andthenbroke into the house.”
“Flew in?”
“Why are you here?” he asks, dodging my question.
I thrust a hand through my hair. “Same reason. She was acting sketchy the last time I saw her, and when I couldn’t get a hold of her, I came here.”
“Dammit, Jez,” he mutters. “Look, I’m guessing since you’re in her brother’s club, she trusts you, which means I can trust you, right?”
I should tell him no, tell him to fuck off, but I can’t. I need to find Jez, need to calm the fear building inside me at her sudden absence.
“Yeah, you can trust me,” I tell him.
Phantom begins to pace the room, and I watch his every move, recognizing the emotions driving him because they mirror the same ones driving me.
“For the last few months, we’ve been working this case,” he begins. “I could tell it was getting to Jez more than normal, but…”
“Case?” There’s nothing going on with the club that I know of.
“Yeah, the Hellfire Hackers have been?—”
“Hellfire Hackers?” I snarl, arching a brow.
“Right,” he confirms like I know what he’s talking about. Then he waves his hand dismissively. “Anyway, our current target is a real piece of shit, the worst of the worst, ya know? And Jez…” Phantom shakes his head. “I don’t know… Ted McCormick and the shit he’s done is getting to her.”
My heart stops beating for a moment, and my breath hitches. “T-Ted McCormick?”
His head whips around, and he levels his gaze on mine. “Yeah.”
My knees threaten to buckle at the memory that name evokes.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
My stomach clenches at his words, and I slowly turn around to face the man across the room. Ted is the youth pastor at our new church, and it didn’t take long to realize he’s not the holy roller he pretends to be.
“I’m leaving,” I say, averting my eyes from the sight in front of me. “My parents will be picking me up soon.”
Ted often holds events at his home for the kids at the church, and today was one such event. When I arrived, everything was normal, but I should’ve known he was saving the depravity for those of us who have stayed longer than the others.
“They’ll be another hour,” he snaps as he takes off his belt and tosses it to the floor. “Now get over here and help me.”
My eyes slide to Missy, the thirteen-year-old he has strapped to his dining room table. Tears run down her cheeks, but she mouths ‘It’s okay’.
Gritting my teeth, I stride toward the table. When there’s mere inches between us, I reach out and cup Missy’s cheek.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble, knowing what I’m about to do makes me just as bad as Ted.