Page 121 of Hacking His Code

“Guided with firearms,” I interject.

Hunter drains his scotch and offers to get me another drink as he gets his own, then remembers I’m nursing a water.

“This whole thing is exhausting,” Cassius says. “Just wait until the babies come. I’m dead on my feet and it’s only seven. I can’t remember the last time I saw the gym.”

“As if you don’t have help,” Gabriel says. “How many nannies do you have?”

“We have two,” Sadies replies, “but Cassius doesn’t want them touching the little nugget and does most things himself. It was like pulling teeth getting him to come out tonight.”

It’s been seven months since I first met Hunter, and my life has yet to calm and reach a semblance of normalcy.

He’s not the only new person in my life, though. We’ve assimilated into Gabriel’s group of friends, and barely an hour goes by without someone entering our group chat with some kind of hilarious emergency.

Neon’s been allowed into the circle, sharing in our secrets and adding to the outrageousness. In perhaps the craziest twist of events, she’s been on more than one date with Sari, and even though they are opposites in every way, they seem to get along well enough.

A knock sounds on the door, and Gabriel dashes to get it.

It’s Jim from the FBI, accompanied by Rand and Lucy. Scarlet embraces her one-time rival in a hug, my mother joining them.

Interestingly enough, Scarlet and Lucy have become fast friends, bonding over baby clothes and poor life decisions. It didn’t happen overnight, but when Scarlet heard that ‘Ernestine’ was expecting her first grandchild, tantrums were thrown, and a big bouquet of flowers was sent to the Davies’ residence. Flowers that Ernestine Whitmore is well known to be allergic to.

Their Hollywood rivalry really was vicious.

Lucy invited Scarlet out, and wouldn’t you know it, they clicked, and eventually, Scarlet was let in on the secret of her identity.

Now, the whole group knows, each of them vowing never to tell a soul.

“We have news,” Jim says.

My stomach twists in knots, hoping the news is good.

“Chet took a plea deal, and he’s going away for life,” Jim says, “I’d love for him to do time at the worst of the worst, but it’s the best we could bargain for.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief. “And the people he forwarded the program to?”

“We were able to raid five sites, and seventeen people are awaiting trial.”

Hunter looks solemn, and I can’t help but hurt for him with what happened to his mother. “Thanks, Jim. For everything.”

“Don’t mention it.” Jim gives me a peculiar look. “Ya know, Gabriel and I have been talking, and we were kind of hoping you’d sign on for a project we have going on with Dallanger.”

Hunter gives Jim a double-take. “Absolutely not! Not with what we’ve been through.”

“I get it! I get it!” Jim says, holding up his hands defensively. “But it is up to the lady.” He looks to me.

“I-I don’t know. I hardly think I could contribute much to the project,” I reply.

“You do realize you’ve already worked on it,” Gabriel says.

I cock a brow. “Pardon?”

“That system I had you trying to crack, it was to see if you could gain access to Dallanger’s AI. Find any weaknesses.”

“No!”

“Yes.”

“I have to get in on this!” I enthuse.