Page 116 of Undeniably Corrupt

“You’re positive?”

“Yes. It wasn’t easy to find. I have facial recognition software here that I designed, and it led me down an empty path until I thought everything through and realized he knew about my arrest, and only the FBI knew the reason behind it. They’ve hidden it well, and if I didn’t still have a back channel into the FBI, I’d never have found him. I’ve also started getting into your father’s sys?—”

“No.”

My brows pinch. “No?”

“You’ll get caught. He’ll figure it out somehow, or the FBI will.”

“I’ve already hacked the FBI. I’ve been in their system for more than eight years. Even when they arrested me, they never found the computer I had everything on because it was at Stone’s, and with that, I never removed the worm. I have them in all government agencies. I just don’t touch them unless I need them.”

She shakes her head violently. “Don’t tell me that! They’ll catch you. You’ll go to prison.”

I run my fingers along the lines of her face. “Baby, this is what I do. I’m not bragging or being full of myself. I’m one of the best in the world.”

“But you got caught?—”

“I trusted the wrong people. I got arrogant and stupid, and I didn’t have a ton of fucks to give at that point. It wasn’t the hacking that got me caught. It was the people I told. It’s not like that now unless you turn me in.”

“I’d never.”

My chest inflates like a hot air balloon at the vehemence inher tone and expression. “I have everything to lose and therefore won’t risk it.”

“But they know. They’re already onto you.”

“Do you trust me?”

She nibbles on her lip, and I want to bite it for her hesitation.

“Goddammit, Liora. Do. You. Trust. Me?”

“Yes. I trust you. But?—”

“No buts. We’ll continue as we have been. You’ll start looking at apartments to make it clear our arrangement is as we say it is. You’re not fucking moving out, though. We won’t be together in public.” Again. Shit, I took her and Hazel out for dinner Saturday night, and we looked like a family. Even the waitress said we were such an adorable family. Fuck! “We’ll come and go separately. I will have security on you and Hazel at all times. That’s nonnegotiable,” I quickly add when I can see her argument starting to come. “You’ll never see them or know they’re there, and if anyone from the outside is watching, they won’t know they’re there either. Life will continue on. But I will get your father, and I will take him down.”

34

Ihave no idea how to process everything that Vander just told me and all that I told him. Like, how is this real life? I’ve asked myself that question more times than I can count over the years, but there are no satisfactory answers, so why question it at this point?

“I want to see my tattoo again.”

I don’t wait for him. I grab his arm and flip it over so I can take in the ink up close. How I didn’t see it until now feels a bit ridiculous with all the things we’ve done, but in all fairness, I haven’t explored his ink yet, and I haven’t exactly looked at the underside of his forearm.

Black ink swirls into intricate feathers spanning into bold, fully spread wings dripping with blood. They’re strong and resilient despite being wounded. I run my fingers along the lines, my heart fuller than it’s ever been.

“I can’t believe you did this.”

“It was one of my firsts.”

I shake my head, incredulous.

“Oh, and by the way, your student loans are paid back and your college tuition is paid off through graduation.”

Well, there’s a flip I didn’t see coming.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Don’t glare at me. It’s part of your benefits, remember? Tuition reimbursement.”