Page 41 of Broken Ties
With the music and laughter ringing in my ears, I send another smirk over my shoulder at my so-called friends as I check if they’re still following my lead as I make my way through the house, dodging the drunk idiots and servers littered all over the place. I don’t bother keeping an eye out for who’s watching us leave, the bigger Resistance names are attending tonight, and it’s not until we make it to the servant’s stairs that we’re somewhere we’re not technically supposed to be.
When I slide the panel out of the way and duck into the windowless, dark space, Kyle finally realizes what my plan is and groans dramatically. He’s quiet about it, having been down here enough to know how much shit we’ll be in if we’re caught, but he’s not going to just acquiesce quietly, fuck my life.
When we’re far enough down that there’s no chance of someone at the top overhearing us, he all but hisses at me,“What’s your sudden obsession with your dad’s files? I really don’t need my parents finding out I’ve been helping you and taking away my allowance. Not all of us have trust funds to splash around, you know.”
My father doesn’t just keep the archives for the Resistance, he also collates information. Mostly for Davies, specifically, but many of the other high-ranking families as well. He’s a middleman, but he’d never admit that. He’s the go-between for a dozen different factions who either refuse to cooperate with each other or are in deep-cover positions. He has his own team, of course, and pet projects to keep himself busy, but this is the real reason my mother has been so successful in keeping my Bond out of Davies’ hands.
My father knows everything.
He also has no fucking idea that the people in his house, living under his rule, are actively siphoning that information out for their own purposes. If anyone found out, he’d be ruined. If Davies found out, or my aunt Athena, Jesus fucking Christ—biblical. His death would be like something you only read about in old and forgotten textbooks.
He deserves worse.
Chuckling at Kyle, I don’t pause for a second in taking the steps two at a time, but if I thought he was just going to drop it at the derision in my tone, I’m sorely mistaken.
When we reach the computer in the middle of the room, the stacks of files lined up are a last resort for me, he hesitates at taking the seat, even after I gesture at him to sit. He’s the only person I know who can get into the network without detection, who won’t run his mouth about it. I can’t do it without him.
Sharing a look with Walker, Kyle blurts out, “You’ve been acting fucking weird about this sort of thing lately, Bass. I’m starting to worry about you.”
This asshole doesn’t worry about anything but himself, and maybe Walker, but if I don’t give him something to pin this on, they’re both a liability to me. A gaping hole in my security, a leak waiting to rip open and drown me. Glancing around as though there’s any chance someone has followed us down here, I make a big fuss out of getting them both to crowd closer, like it’s a huge deal I’m telling them.
Then I peg Kyle with a serious look. “Look, man, I don’t want this shit getting out.”
And just like that—hook, line, and sinker—he’s too fucking easy to catch. Eyes lighting up, he’s leaning in and practically shaking with excitement. How did I never see this side of him before? Guess I was far more complacent than I thought.
“Look who you’re talking to, Bass! We’ve been best friends since we were in diapers, I’d never rat you out.”
Walker huffs, side-eyeing me because we both know he would. Theybothwould, in a heartbeat. As furious as I am with her, my Mom is the only person who would actually do anything to protect me.
Her and my Bond.
Scratching at the back of my neck, I groan before I speak like the secret is spilling out of me in a rush. “I’ve been seeing someone. Sneaking out to meet with her as well, lying about where I’m going. She’s hot as fuck. I mean it, she makes Sierra Carpone look like a dog.”
The only canine around here is Kyle as he laps this all up eagerly, ignoring Walker’s instant glare of disapproval as he whoops in excitement. “Holy shit! Sierra is number one spank bank material, who the hell is this chick?”
He’s been obsessed with Sierra as long as I can remember, she’s probably in their Bond Group as well, but her parents won’t let her get tested until she’s twenty-five.
Blowing out a breath, I nod like I’m being murdered. “That’s my problem, man. She’s from a Lower Tier family. My Dad would rather cut his own dick off than let me keep her, but fuck, I’m not giving her up so easy. It’s the best lay of my life.”
I send a silent apology to my Bond for talking like this, even if the other woman is entirely hypothetical and I’m having to picture my own Bond to get my voice to sound even a little convincing.
Kyle smirks, nodding along. “Fuck no, I wouldn’t give that up either. Hell, you’ve banged all the Top Tier girls around here anyway, this one must be something.”
Ireallydon’t want another reminder.
Wincing, I turn back to the computer. “I just need to get into my Dad’s security tapes to wipe some shit. If he finds out I’ve been sneaking out, I’m fucked. I can’t lose this girl, Kyle.”
The tapes are irrelevant, but the saved files of footage there aren’t. They only save important shit, stuff they’re investigating or people they’re keeping an eye on, and I’ve sifted through hundreds of hours of intel already. What I’ve learned is invaluable for getting my Bond out of the country and away from Davies, but I’ve run out of files. Kyle is my only option for getting more.
I might not be able to get into the network without him, but thankfully Icansend myself the files without Kyle being involved or knowing about it. God only knows what horrors might be on it, but if there’s any chance it could help my Bond, I’ll risk it.
I’d risk it all for her.
He nods along eagerly, his fingers flashing across the keyboard until the screen changes and I’m looking at a dozen security cameras, hundreds more listed. Subtlety out the window, I’m scanning each and every one of them for some sign of danger to my Bond. There’s nothing out of the ordinary,nothing to suggest they know anything new about her or the rest of the Bond Group, but my hand tightens around my phone regardless.
“Which tape do you need wiped? Shit, your parents have too much freaking security on this—wait, Bass, holy shit! There’s an anomaly at the new Hub, the mall they cleaned out? The cameras are picking it upright now. You know they think that shit is the Dravens, right?”
My stomach drops to my feet.