Page 33 of Always Been Mine (Always #2)

“One of my hacker buddies is very active in the IP-MESH. You see, to get into these clandestine cell networks you need to know someone via Internet Relay Chat. I already do, so all I had to do was set up my own peer-to-peer public key encryption network where only me and that person shares the key. But I also have a private key that would validate—”

“English, Cat,” Beatrice interrupted dryly.

Caitlin scowled, exhaling in irritation. “These networks are highly encrypted and are by invitation only. My hacker buddy managed to get me on some of them, and I think I’ve zeroed in on the Red Bridge auction for the ST-Vyl virus.”

This got Beatrice and Gabe’s attention.

“The moderator is Redrook843. There’s a short description of the virus. Its mode of delivery is in a liquid vial that breaks open and vaporizes; they call it a liquid evaporate. It also has a compilation of some test results and pictures.” Caitlin shuddered.

“But didn’t the admiral say they suspected it was in powder form?” Gabe asked.

“Redrook said this final composition of the virus is for the sample sale. For bulk orders, its mode of delivery is different.”

“It sounds like a basement sale for designer clothes,” Beatrice muttered, turning her attention to Travis. “I don’t get why you’re so pissed. I’m sure Cat’s smart enough to cover her sleuthing. Dad can take it over from here.”

“That’s not everything.” Travis glared at his wife.

“Um, I kinda sorta put in a bid,” Caitlin said, not looking at her husband.

“What?” Gabe exclaimed. “Are you fucking insane? What do you think is gonna happen if you don’t honor your bid when it goes through?”

“My point exactly,” Travis muttered, still glaring at his wife.

“Okay, guys, let’s calm down.” Beatrice thought what Caitlin did wasn’t a bad idea at all. Besides, the whole point of the Black Plane was anonymity. “How much did you bid, Cat?”

“Five hundred.”

“Grand?”

“No. Five hundred bitcoins,” Caitlin said. “That’s almost two hundred thousand dollars depending on current exchange rates.”

Bitcoin was an internet currency that was fast gaining popularity, especially on the Black Plane where anonymous transactions were preferred.

“When will you know you’re in?”

“A week. Well, there’s about fifteen buyers interested, five samples being sold.

So my chances are pretty high. There are three vials in each sample.

Redrook will be sending a private message to those selected.

I was hoping if my bid gets selected, the admiral can take it from there and send someone to the meet. ”

“I don’t like the sound of this,” Gabe said. “That was way too easy. What if it’s a set up?”

“The opportunity was there; the bids were about to close,” Caitlin said. “But I did consider that possibility.”

“Did you also consider that you’re FUCKING PREGNANT!

” Travis roared, obviously unable to hold in his anger any longer.

“That you don’t need this stress, not to mention you could have put yourself in danger again.

Jesus Christ, Cat! Is it too much to ask for some fucking peace and quiet for a year, if not for the rest of our lives? ”

Beatrice could completely see where Travis was coming from. Losing his wife and thinking she was dead for three years had changed him, and he was only now piecing himself back together. Travis was terrified of losing Caitlin again.

“I know, but Redrook must be stopped. He’s taken away so much from so many people already, Travis. You think he won’t come after me eventually? I’m a loose end with Project Infinity.”

“She has a point,” Gabe said.

Resignation was evident in the slump of Travis’s shoulders. Caitlin stepped into his space and he clutched her tightly to him, burying his face in the curve of her neck.

“I don’t want to lose you, Cat,” Travis whispered hoarsely. “I can’t lose you again.”

Caitlin murmured back words of comfort.

Beatrice tugged Gabe away to give the couple a moment.

Everyone was crammed into the control room of the safe house.

The admiral arrived within the hour of Gabe calling him about Caitlin’s breakthrough.

Travis and Porter greeted each other cordially.

Gabe thought that was an improvement. There was no use harboring grudges at the moment because with what Caitlin had done, there was no room for second guessing, only action.

“What are Redrook’s precautions for himself?” Porter asked. “Is it going to be a drop-off or a face-to-face meet? I don’t think he’d risk exposure.”

Caitlin suddenly looked unsure of herself. “Technically, I’m already vetted by the person who invited me into the network.”

“Except you don’t really know the person who invited you. You know him online,” Travis said.

“He’s been my chat buddy since I got my skills back, Travis,” Caitlin said. “We’ve worked on hacks together actually.”

Travis scowled at her. “What kind of hacks?”

“Um, we instigated a denial-of-service attack against an Al Qaeda website,” Caitlin mumbled.

Porter chuckled. Gabe didn’t think it was funny, because he could feel Travis’s frustration.

“What else?” Travis’s voice was soft.

“You know, other similar stuff.” Caitlin threw up her hands nervously. “So you see, I trust him and his causes.”

“Let me play devil’s advocate here, sunshine. Why would he be on IP-MESH networks that auction off mass-destruction weapons if he was fighting terrorism?”

“Because he was trying to prevent it?”

“Exactly,” Travis said, “and why would he want you onboard?”

“So I can help him?”

Travis shook his head. “Babe, you’re too trusting. Yes. He wants you to do the dirty work. Let you take the fall, maybe? Well, over my dead body.”

“I don’t think Saber Boy wants to see me hurt.”

“Saber Boy?” Gabe’s lips twitched.

“Saberboy528. What can I say? He’s a Star Wars fanatic. Anybody who’s got a Luke Skywalker fixation is set on fighting the dark side, don’t you think?”

“I see you’ve been catching up on the movie list I gave you,” Beatrice grinned.

“I have to agree with Cat. But I’d still take precautions, okay, sweetie?

Once you get confirmation of how Redrook wants to do the transaction, you’re done.

” She turned to the admiral. “That’s as far as Cat goes. Right, Dad?”

Porter nodded. “Of course. We’ve got agents ready to take over, but we still don’t know what Redrook looks like.” He turned to Gabe. “We may need you to do surveillance. During meets like this, the main player is usually in the background. You are the only one who can potentially identify him.”

Beatrice looked ready to argue; instead, her gaze locked with his. They both knew everyone had a role to play if Redrook and Red Bridge were to be taken down once and for all.

For a safe house, there seemed to be a constant rotating door of people coming and going.

Porter left a few minutes earlier, Travis and Caitlin stuck around for a late breakfast, and now, Doug called to say he was coming over.

Gabe had reservations about too many people knowing their location, especially with the risk of being followed.

But Beatrice assured him that Doug, being an assistant to a security consultant, was adept in all manners of evading and shaking a tail.

Would he ever spend one whole fucking day alone with Beatrice?

Apparently, Beatrice had been helping Caitlin with some interior design ideas for the Blake residence as he watched the two women look up shit on the laptop.

Gabe realized he wanted Beatrice to put her personal touches in his home, too.

Their home . He bought that house for them, but if she didn’t like it, he’d go wherever she wanted.

Hopefully, she would give up the condo, because no way would he and Rhino be comfortable there.

The two seemed to have formed an unbreakable bond after their shared ordeal, so Gabe was sure Beatrice would consider Rhino’s comfort if they were to move.

Christ. You haven’t even asked her, you moron .

There was no question in his mind that Beatrice was it for him. He just needed to convince her there was no other man for her as well.

“Things going well between you and Bee?”

Gabe turned his attention to Travis. Both of them appeared content watching their women share an animated conversation.

“I hope so. It’s hard to gain traction in our relationship with all this crazy stuff that’s been going on.”

Travis nodded in understanding. “I hear you, man. When I got Caitlin back, I couldn’t wait to get started with our life together, but aside from her amnesia, shit just kept on happening.”

“She never got any of her memory back at all?”

“Nope.”

“She got her skills back though.”

“The brain is a complex organ.” Travis shrugged. “Her aptitude for computers was always there, I guess.”

“You’ve got one smart woman.”

Travis grunted. “Too smart for her own good if you ask me.”

Gabe chuckled.

Both women glanced their way.

“What are you two talking about?” Caitlin asked.

“How much of a pain in the ass you are,” Travis said, deadpan.

Caitlin grinned cheekily; Beatrice snickered.

Gabe sighed. His woman was so fucking beautiful.

“Jesus, I thought I had it bad. You’re just as pussy-whipped,” Travis murmured.

“Guilty.”

Travis smirked.

“Shut up,” Gabe muttered.

The driveway sensors alerted them of an approaching vehicle .

“That’s probably Doug.” Beatrice hopped out of the chair and glanced at the CCTV screen. “Yep, sure is.”

Gabe intercepted Beatrice before she could get to the door. “Babe, when I’m around, I answer the door. Got me?”

Her brows furrowed.

“A familiar car doesn’t always translate to friendlies,” Gabe added. “I’m not being paranoid, Beatrice, just cautious.”

“I know that, Gabe.” She pursed her lips. “I wasn’t simply going to throw open the door.”

“Glad we have that clear.” He wasn’t taking any chances with her. He knew she worked in the security business, so she understood, but sometimes when one was the person being protected, it was hard to gauge the danger surrounding you.

They watched Doug exit the car before opening the door. Beatrice’s assistant was carrying a big box.

Beatrice was like a kid at Christmas when she picked up the coffee beans from the container even before Doug lowered it.

She grabbed the coffee grinder and started pulverizing the beans.

Gabe took over for Doug and lifted out Beatrice’s fancy coffee machine.

Soon enough, the aroma of freshly brewing coffee permeated the house.

A twinge in his chest wished he was the one who put that look of excitement on Beatrice’s face. He was looking forward to that day.

“So, honeybee, Mr. Zach Jamison wants to talk to you,” Doug called out from across the room.

“Yes, I’ve been avoiding work messages,” Beatrice responded. “Figured you could handle them.”

“What did he want?” Travis asked, standing up. “If this is about Nate being included in the senator’s security, he should talk to Nate.”

“That’s what I told him. He said Nate wouldn’t give him a straight answer about the security change. If there was a known threat against the senator to include a very senior security person on the detail, the office of the senator should know. ”

“And he thinks I have the answers for him?” Beatrice asked.

Doug shrugged. “No idea. What’s your schedule like tomorrow?”

“I’m taking her to a sketch artist friend of mine,” Gabe said. “I’m still investigating her abduction. No way am I waiting for them to make their next move. This catch and release scenario bugs the fuck out of me.”

Too late, he realized he had spooked Beatrice again. Her face had turned pale.

“I’ll protect you,” Gabe said.

“We will, too, Bee,” Travis added. “BSI’s got your back as well as Gabe’s.”

Gabe nodded as Travis clapped his back in reassurance.

Brotherhood.

“My abduction stays under wraps,” Beatrice said. “I don’t want any of our clients losing confidence. Thank goodness it’s still winter and I can wear long sleeves.”

Gabe scowled at her. “Can’t you take a break from work until we get a handle on what’s going on?”

“He’s right, Bee,” Travis said.

Beatrice and Doug exchanged glances. Her assistant shrugged. “I’ve already cleared your appointments tomorrow and rescheduled them for later this week. But Tuesday’s are still on.”

“Keep them the way they are,” Beatrice said. She looked at Gabe. “I can’t let the bad guys win. Hiding out here is letting them win. Besides, it’ll drive me crazy waiting for their next move.” She linked her hand with his. “You got me, don’t you?”

“I’ll assign Sam Harper to you as well,” Travis said.

“I like Sam.” Beatrice’s face lit up.

“Who the hell is Sam?” Gabe growled.

“He used to be my bodyguard,” Caitlin said. “I gave him a dislocated shoulder and a very bad headache. ”

Gabe wasn’t sure if Caitlin was joking and looked questioningly at Travis.

Travis rolled his eyes. “Poor Sam. You’re not going to conk him over the head with a vase, are you, Bee?”

Caitlin glared at her husband.

“Of course not. I’m not some ninja chick like Cat,” Beatrice said.

“All right, stop teasing the pregnant woman,” Caitlin grumbled.

Everyone started laughing as Travis hugged his wife affectionately.

Gabe glanced around him, and seeing how Beatrice’s friends cared so much about her, he started feeling guilty about his earlier resentment.

He guessed he would get used to them, although he still couldn’t wait to have her all to himself.