Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 105813 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105813 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
I angled my body to face her. “You’re careless, Nicola. I can smell you from a mile away, and jealousy smells a whole lot like fear.”
She gripped the edge of the table, leaning in, elbows out. “Fuck you.” She spit, actually sprayed a mist from her mouth. Thankfully, it didn’t have enough momentum to reach my side of the table.
“My God, Nicola.” Kathleen scowled. “Control yourself.”
Trent placed a hand on his wife’s arm. “Congratulations, boy. You’ve successfully demolished any chance you had at winning our cooperation.” The subtle catch in his voice betrayed his lax posture and dormant eyes.
I nudged the chair across from him with the toe of my Chucks, sliding it out of the way. “No one has asked how I know what I know.” I glanced at Kaci’s father. “Maybe Dalton’s figured it out?”
He adjusted the glasses on his nose. “Hacking. We made a call while you were waiting, verified your undergrad in Computer Science.”
“And I’m just one of thousands of hackers. Thousands who could be investigating you right now.” Lowering into a side-perch on the edge of the table, I folded my hands around my bent knee, one foot planted on the floor. “I didn’t come here as an adversary. My intent was to show my appreciation for the underblubber of Trenchant. I’ve seen all your unattractive parts, the dirty weight you strategically keep tucked away from ignorant eyes. You’re not America’s most wanted. You’re America’s best. Kept. Secret.”
Man, the atmosphere was pissed off now, stretching tighter with every second, pulling on my skin. But if I’d walked in here shooting rainbows up their asses, they would’ve chewed me up and spit me out. Assholes respected assholes.
I stifled a smile. “I don’t give a shit what you do. I just want to profit from it.” The lies had rolled off my tongue, but now I told them the truth. “I’m not having coffee with the FBI. I haven’t friend requested the CEO of Newswide.”
The air strained, oxygen thinning, unleashed breaths ready to snap.
“I’m here instead, accepting the job—”
Kathleen jumped to her feet, her eyes afire. “We will not—”
“—you will offer.” I leaned forward. “Because you don’t want an enemy with my skill set. An enemy that knows what I know. You need me on your side.” I glared at her until she snapped her trap shut and lowered into the chair.
A sharp pain pounded through my head. From this bullshit act I was putting on? From the rot I was breathing in? I needed to get the hell away from these people.
How could Kaci willingly work here? Because they’re family? Hard to believe that was the reason. She could nail an executive job anywhere. It didn’t make sense. She had to be involved.
But I needed to be sure. The CEO’s security clearance, the level Benny hadn’t been able to hack, would give me unlimited access to Trenchant’s internal network, personnel files, e-mail accounts, every employee’s every mouse click, if I wanted it.
The only reason I hadn’t shared my evidence with the world was so I could find out who all the players were—Kaci Baskel? Collin Anderson? Whomever else—and take them all down together. “I’m waiting for the offer.”
Looks were exchanged, communicating in whatever silent language sick fucks used. Then three heads turned toward Trent.
Since these people were well-acquainted with risk, they were probably considering making me wait a day or two while they determined if they could contain the damage of my threat. So I upped the stakes. “If anyone tied to the evidence dies—eye-witnesses, bribed cops, relatives of the victims, me—the documents will be automatically distributed.”
Trent tapped a finger on the table, watching the movement, his expression a blank canvas. Without lifting his eyes, he said, “There will be press releases to prepare, a company-wide announcement, the standard HR rundown of compensation and benefits. Your security clearance will take time—”
“You’re forgetting the other matter,” Dalton said with a sigh.
Unbidden, my neck stiffened. “Your daughter’s contract.”
Trent flicked his gaze to mine. “We’ll handle it.”
What the almighty fuck did that mean? It took everything I had to maintain my relaxed pose on the edge of the table. Christ, if she was a victim in this, if they killed her— “Is she an outsider? Or have you let her into the family business?”
A smile slithered over Trent’s face. “She’s our little darling in training. She does what she’s told. You don’t need to worry about her.”
Darling in training? Jesus, that made her sound really fucking nefarious. Did she aspire to be like them? I stole a glance at her parents, and their smirks turned my stomach.
I dug deep, gathering my most agreeable voice. “I’m her boss now. I need to know what I’m dealing with.”
Trent narrowed his eyes. “She’s eager but naïve. Keep her on a short leash.”
Christ, I was even more confused about her involvement than before. It was clear the marriage between her and Collin created a wholesome brand for Trenchant’s right-winged supporters, but… “Naïve? You mean she’s still learning how to”—Cheat? Steal? Murder?—“not get caught.”