Page 26 of Hacked For Love

We have a lot to do. There are people to save—and people to get revenge on. I’m already planning to cause some trouble for her uncle, who has been sending her several nervous, unanswered messages since the first paparazzi photos of the pair of us together started making therounds.

He must recognize me. And he must know that in me, Robin has an ally far more powerful than her uncle ever dreamed. That’s big trouble forhim.

I wonder how he’s sleeping. Probably notwell.

I’m settling back in and closing my eyes when my phone buzzes on the shelf beside my bed. I reach for it as Robinstirs.

It’s a message from John. As she uncurls and rolls toward me, stretching against my body, I read the text, andsmirk.

Marcone gave himself up to police after receiving a…request…from Yoshida regarding the return of his missing Bitcoin. It was apparently delivered to one of his safe houses by courier. He’s asking forprotection.

I start laughing, and Robin yawns and stretches against me, blinking up at me curiously. “What isit?”

“You’re not going to believe this, but…” I show her. “Looks like our little bet ends in atie!”

She scratches behind her ear, her emerald hair mussed with sleep. It’s growing on me, though I don’t think I’ll be sporting the merman look myself anytimesoon.

She starts snickering as she reads the text. “If it’s a tie, though, who getstied?”

I rumble contentedly and nuzzle her cheek, then lie back and draw her slight form over me. “We’ll have to taketurns.”

It’s a cold world out there; we’re both intimately familiar with that. But we’re making our own warmth together. I still hate being stolen from—but if I get Robin in return, she can take as much from me as shewants.

The end.