Page 79 of Hacking His Code

“I trust you, Icor, but I can’t let these files leave my possession.”

“I understand. I can try to hunt down the origins of those emails if you’d like.”

“I’d appreciate that, but no involving Dallanger or anyone else. Just you.”

“And my wife?”

“And Remi.”

Gabriel nods. “That girl you were working on this with, I’d like to utilize her.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I’m not headhunting her. I’m trying to run a tight ship. An additional set of eyes is a boon, and you won’t allow me to employ my own.”

His logic checks out, and I could certainly make it worth it financially to Ari, but her mother is in a coma, and she’s about to start school. It wouldn’t be fair.

“Her life has taken a rather difficult turn, and she can’t manage the additional stress.”

“You know as well as I do that money can fix damn near anything, or at least make it better,” Gabriel says.

“Her finances are taken care of.”

Gabriel’s eyes bore into mine, but I refuse to divert my gaze. Men like us are always dick-swinging, as they call it. Alphas of our packs. A clear, strong, dominant presence is essential to our success.

“You are a stubborn man, Davies. And so full of secrets.”

My phone vibrates with a text from Sam, or as Arinessa would call her, Neon.

“This will take just a moment.”

Sam:I did as you asked. She is NOT okay. She feels guilty over her mom and is about to drop out of school and take on like three jobs.

Hunter:But I paid for her college and made sure she was taken care of. Why would she do that?

Sam:She’s not taking your money. This woman is a piece of work. She’s not like any of my clients, and quite frankly, I’m glad. You were stupid to lose her.

Hunter:There’s nothing that can be done about that now, so it’s best to move on.

Sam:I did give her a mini-makeover. You’d be drooling.

Hunter:Do me a favor and keep an eye on her over the next couple of weeks. I’ll make it worth your while.

Sam:Roger that!

Arinessa is never going to make it on her own. She doesn’t have connections and isn’t cutthroat enough.

A notification in my email shows that she’s reversed the cash transaction, and my guess is that it’s only a matter of time before the tuition is returned as well.

God, Ari, why do you have to be so stubborn?

Gabriel sits patiently across from me. I loathe having to ask him for anything else, but I see no way around it.

“I need to ask you another favor.”

Gabriel chuckles, taking a sip of his scotch. “Another one? What would it be?”

“That girl you wanted to assist you, her name is Arinessa. I want you to offer her a job, but you can’t have her working on my stuff, and you can’t let her know I had a hand in her getting hired.”