Page 163 of Beautifully Ruined

He smiles. It’s full of oil, and it makes my skin crawl, but I don’t move as he scoots around the side of the booth to be closer to me. He puts a hand high on my thigh and squeezes. “We’ll see. You’ll need special training.”

Panic flutters. “Of course.”

“Personal special training. I’m happy to?—”

“Thomas!”

I look up, a wave of relief passing through me.

Macy. Thank fuck.

Irritated, he glances at her. His hand stays on my thigh. “You shouldn’t be here. Shouldn’t you be at the training center?”

She nods and waves a small booklet. “I forgot my training notes. I always use this with newbies.”

“Take it, go, I’ll be along in a while.” Thomas stares her down.

But she stares right back, wide eyed, innocent. “Is she joining the crew?”

“You have a problem with that?” Thomas asks.

“No, I…” Macy looks down. “No. Is she coming tonight for training?”

He looks from her to me to her again. “I think she will be, I’ll take her.”

“I’ll wait then and go with you. If she’s new, then she won’t want to miss a thing.” She looks at me. “Will you?”

Allistair watches the exchange closely.

“No. I won’t.”

Inside, I’m shaking.

I think Macy just saved me from Thomas’s brand of training.

And as we finish our drinks and head out, I cling to the fact I know I’m doing the right thing.

Chapter Thirty-One

CADE

I head home,wanting to collect some of my favorite tools for a hands-on job.

If we’re going in, then just the USB won’t be enough. After talking things through with Enzo, we’re in agreement.

Get a copy of everything, yes, but also if there’s some kind if intranet link up—and there’s got to be something to link the center somehow to the world, it’s just we don’t yet know what it is—planting a couple of viruses is smart.

If the wrong or right file is opened, one could cause havoc and crash everything. The other would open up that other access point for us by leaving a trail to follow.

It’s complicated in some ways and exceptionally beautiful in its simplicity when it works.

And best of all, they’ll never know about either until too late.

So, I want my tools, and I want to tweak a virus I already have. It’s The Ghost stamped, but I can remove that particular calling card in minutes.

But first things first. Get the USB in place to operate the remote access, and if we can, find Gianna.

My place is empty when I step inside the loft.