Page 88 of Stripping Bare

If it was a fraction of what was inside him, they’d need more than a few minutes to discuss it. “We’re not finished with everything we started last night, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let this jackass interfere with that,” he whispered against her hair. Then he pressed a hard kiss to her lips and reluctantly released her to lift his chin at his cousin. “Let’s get me suitedup.”

Ten minutes later, Jonah stared down into the box. He held up the contents so Cash and Tessa could see from inside that it was okay to comeout.

Tessa busted through the door and came at him in a full-out run. “What isit?”

“From the male input jack and these silver electrodes, it seems like some kind of sensor shirt that can be plugged into the VRgoggles.”

“That something you came up with?” Cashasked.

“No.” Because honestly, the thing looked rudimentary. But at least the modder had been busy building something interesting, which was more than Jonah could say about himself. “Haptic suits aren’t new, but no one’s perfected them yet. It takes a shitload of money to develop new tech like this. And investors don’t usually like companies to do R and D when it won’t pay foritself.”

Cash whistled. “So are you telling me someone one-upped the techieking?”

Not necessarily, but it did rub him wrong. Anyone could code a little old mobile app like Jonah’s. Maybe he should set his sights on somethingbigger…

No, it’s not about complexity. Or accolades. It’s about safety. Don’t forgetthat.

Tessa reached inside the box and opened a slip ofpaper.

“What’s itsay?”

She slid a guarded look toward Cash. Whatever was on that piece of paper, she didn’t want his cousin tohear.

“Hey, Cash, can you give us a minutehere?”

“There’s something fishy about this whole thing,” Cash grumbled. “Don’t do something else I’m gonna have to cleanup.”

After he stalked back into the building, Tessa took a deep breath and dropped down to sit on the grass. “I think they’reinstructions.”

Jonah scanned the paper over Tessa’s shoulder. It was another freaking riddle, this one not as obscure as the one they’d received via the moddedgame.

I am alwayshungry.

I must always befed.

The finger Ilick

Will soon turnred.

Below the riddle was alist.

La BelleStyle?

Blues, Brews, &Books?

TupeloHill?

The wood-and-glasscastle?

Only one willfall.

Only two willplay.

If others join, all willpay.

The clock startsnow.

Play orDie.