Page 87 of Stolen Temptation

Finn casts a dark look out the window. “Two.”

My stomach drops down to my knees. I know the guys who were on the Tyson job. They weren’t top-tier enforcers like we are, but one day they might’ve been. Those were guys who reported to us, who drank with us in bars, who took bullets meant for our bodies. Six of them.

Gone.

I can’t process that right now, so I wipe my face, blind rage and frustration blowing up inside me like helium. “How the hell did the cops even know about it?”

We planned the Tyson job with immense secrecy. Close to a million dollars’ worth of illegal substances hung in the balance.

“From what we’ve gathered, the cops received an anonymous tip.” I can see Finn’s tight fist shaking. “But I know it’s the mole.”

“Let’s go.” I stalk out of the alcove and all the way to my office, Finn on my heels. Ignoring the mess, we wade into my lair full of computer screens, prototypes, files, files, and more files.

I grab the back of my wheeled chair and swing it toward my body. Plopping down, I roll myself over to the fifth of eight monitors perched on my desk. Fingers zipping across my keyboard, I wake everything up and get moving.

“I’m going to deploy the EDR software I had us get. Remember?”

Finn grunts. “You forget I don’t speak geek.”

Why do I even bother?

Intent on my screen, my fingers punish the keys for a few more seconds while I toggle into the software interface where all my many controls are laid out before me.

“I had to twist your dad’s arm to get it.” It cost a ton. “We put it on almost everyone’s phones. It detects unauthorized processes.”

I glance up. Finn’s confused face squints back at me. “Malware?”

“Sometimes. Can also identify anomalous behavior. If someone was in touch with someone we didn’t expect. Or with someone they shouldn’t be.”

I keep working. I’m searching for any alerts to the system.

If the mole is the one who tipped off the cops, there might be a record of a blocked phone call to a precinct in here, but nothing’s coming up.

Not a single alert or notification in sight.

Finn drops into a chair behind me and exhales heavily.

“I’m not finding anything out of the ordinary.” I swallow down my frustration. “If you’re right and the mole’s responsible, they probably used a burner phone.” I slump back in my chair, pushing away from my desk so Finn and I are facing each other once again. “That’s what I would’ve done.”

“Would you?” Finn’s question is quiet. “What about Kiara? Still nothing?”

My heart stumbles in my chest, but I still sound natural when I push the excuse between my lips. “No, but I’ll question her later today to see if she knows anything.”

Finn’s face grows stormy again, dark and ominous.

“Is that what you’re doing when you two are together?Questioning her?”

I push my chair farther back from his, eyes low as I size him up. “What is this fascination with Kiara and me?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” Finn retrieves a lone cigarette from his pocket and lights up. “Unfortunately, neither of us has the time right now to unpack what’s going on in that skull of yours, but I can’t help but wonder.”

My shoulders collapse as I expel the breath I’ve been holding. “There’s nothing going on between us.” Finn’sunamused expression compels me to tack on “besides sex” at the end of that sentence.

I really don’t want to talk to Finn about this.

In fact, I would rather break one of my fingers than talk to Finn about this.

But I can’t deny what he witnessed with his own eyes.