Page 76 of Brazen Defiance (Brazen Boys #4)

RJ

T he first message we get from Clara has me shouting for Walker. He sprints into my room, both of us staring at the simple word.

Hi.

“Oh my god,” Walker whispers. “Write back. We don’t know how long she has.”

Are you okay?

I hold my breath, and then more words appear on the screen.

Mostly healed. And thanks for the hand-off. We’re good on that front. How are things there?

I freeze. “What do I say?”

Walker yanks the keyboard away, typing a response instead of talking.

We’re good. Jansen’s getting some help, but that’s a good thing, so don’t worry.

“Don’t tell someone not to worry. That makes them worry more,” I growl, yanking it back.

I add my own explanation.

That was Walker. And really, Jansen’s good. He’s where he needs to be, and soon he’ll be the one stealing my keyboard to talk to you.

Walker glares at me. “That’s not a lot better.”

Her response stops our squabble.

I don’t have much time, but we’re being let out tonight. Orchestra Hall.

Got it. We’ll be there.

I don’t have anything for you.

It doesn’t matter. We’ll be there.

I can practically see her, a small grin on her face as she accepts that she’s wanted. That just seeing her is worth any barrier, any danger.

Got to go. Love you. Both of you.

My heart stutters, the emotion so big I can barely think. Walker takes the keyboard, his glance weighted.

Love you too, princess.

Then she’s gone, my chance to respond with it.

Fuck. I love her so much that I can’t seem to make the words come out, either my mouth or my fingers. But I need to find a way. I know she knows, but the words are important, maybe more important than actions at this point.

With a sigh, I check my unlisted message board which shows a visitor a few minutes ago, so at least she read the coded updates before she had to sign off.

I wish I had more of an update for her. We’ve gotten access to about half of the devices on the Westerhouse estate’s network. And in a few more weeks, I should have access to the other half.

Bank accounts, calendars, security codes, I’ll collect every one until we have everything we need to take that devil down.

I just wish I had it all in hand now.

Walker grabs my mouse, and I stop him.

“Dude, stop messing with my set-up.”

“If you want me to stop messing with your set-up, you have to use your set-up.”

I glare, and he leans against my desk like he’s going to be there for a while. “Come on. We have orchestra tickets to buy.”

I decide it’s not worth fighting with the one person I’ve got on my team right now, so I pull up the information on the concert tonight.

It looks like it’s some hometown sensation playing after intermission, so it’s nearly sold out.

I grab two tickets, one in the middle of the main floor and a second one on a balcony, not sure if sitting together would be better.

Walker’s already left to rifle through my closet, tossing his selections on my bed. “Do any of these still fit?”

“The pants are okay.”

“But the shirts?”

“Tight across the shoulders.”

He spins back to me, my favorite pink dress shirt in his hands. “Same.”

“Don’t say what I think you’re going to say.”

“We’re going shopping.”

I groan, hating that the rest of my afternoon is going to be split between shopping and visiting Jansen, with no chance to check on GoldenRod69, my new personal itch that I just can’t scratch.

As soon as I find that bastard, he’s the first name I’m handing off to Officer Reed.

The deeper I’ve dug, the more groups I’ve found him in.

He’s spread himself so thin he’s practically translucent, making him look like a dabbler when he’s anything but.

And I want him caught in a net that can make him pay for his wide-reaching interest.

If it wasn’t for my obsession, he’d probably get away with it forever. He’s no programmer, but he’s learned just enough to keep him safe from the casual observer. I almost didn’t notice him. But he’s been there, ‘enjoying’ the terrible videos I keep finding, for years.

Fuck being a knight. I’m going assassin mode on this guy.

But not tonight. Tonight, I’m going to put on fancy shit and see my girl. And if we get some luck, maybe even speak to her.

Touch her.

Kiss her.

God.

I miss her so much.