The Hacker and his Heart's Desire

by James, Rebecca;

  I took a deep breath and let it out before continuing.

  “I was fifteen when my uncle was killed in a freak tractor accident. Everything changed after that. I was sent to my mother’s brother in New York City. My Uncle Reiner.”

  I glanced at Tony. His eyes remained on my face, his expression unreadable. I turned my gaze back to the ceiling and continued.

  “Uncle Reiner wasn’t a particularly nice man. He was usually away from the house on business, but when he was home, he liked to pit me and his son, Karl, against each other. Everything was a competition. Karl’s two years older than I am and was a hell of a lot tougher even back then. I wasn’t used to fistfighting. Hell, I’d never been in a fight in my life. I learned fast, though. Had to. After fistfighting came fighting with a switch blade—dirty, back alley stuff that my uncle said real men needed to learn.” I swallowed, remembering the countless injuries I’d suffered before I got good at it. The day I beat Karl in a fight was the day my cousin stopped thinking of me as fun to toy with and started actively resenting me.

  “I’d been raised around animals and liked and respected them. Karl liked to torture them, but fortunately we didn’t have pets and didn’t run across many animals in the city. One night, my uncle took us to a dog fight. When I saw what went on there, I ran outside and threw up. I couldn’t go back in. I walked for hours, but in the end, I didn’t have anywhere to go but back to my uncle’s. He was waiting. He berated me in front of Karl and some of the men who worked for him, calling me a pussy and a wimp. Then he’d had his men hold me while he’d beaten me with his belt until I passed out.”

  I heard Tony draw in a sharp breath, but I didn’t look at him, not wanting to see the pity in his eyes.

  “The minute I turned eighteen, I told my uncle I was getting a job and moving out. He’d laughed and asked me what the fuck was I was going to do in New York City when all I’d done was work on a ranch. Then he told me he’d give me a job in his business so at least I’d have some experience. I wanted to live on my own, though, so he said I could move out and live in some flea-infested rat trap if that’s what I wanted to do. I was so glad to get out of there, and to not have to try to think up a way to earn money, that I agreed to work for him. I knew he was right anyway, about needing experience. I started in one of his warehouses loading boxes of health supplements, which is one of our largest businesses.”

  “B-Natural,” Tony said, and I nodded.

  “Sometimes stuff went on—strangers came and had meetings with the foreman that didn’t appear to have anything to do with the products we were shipping—but I kept to myself and didn’t ask questions. When my uncle sensed I was growing bored with what I was doing, he brought me inside the office building downtown to do odd jobs and run errands. Things went on like that for several years. I lived in an okay apartment with a couple other guys who worked all the time like I did. Then my uncle died, leaving everything to his son.”

  “Why didn’t you get away then?” Tony asked.

  I turned my head and met Tony’s gaze. “It’s hard to explain. My uncle was mean, but he always talked about family, and I was a part of that family. He’d loved my mother, and occasionally he’d say I reminded him of her, and during those times he’d be pleasant to me. Almost loving. It didn’t happen often, but those moments of affection and approval sustained me. I had nobody else. Those moments royally pissed off Karl, though, and anytime he could get me into trouble, he did. Recently, I’ve realized Karl thinks his father favored me in some way, which is ludicrous. When Uncle Reiner died, Karl saw it as his chance to take control of me. The importance of family had been ingrained in him too, and he used it to his advantage with me. It wasn’t until later that I realized family didn’t have to mean blood.”

  “When you joined the club,” Tony said, and I nodded. “How’d you get interested in motorcycles?”

  “When I was in high school, there was this garage I used to hang out at every day for a couple of hours after school, telling my uncle I was being tutored. A guy named Devin taught me about bikes.” I paused, thinking back.

  “He taught you about more than that,” Tony guessed.

  “Yeah. He did,” I said remembering the many times I’d fucked Devin in the back room. He was nine years older than I was and an enthusiastic bottom. I’d learned a lot about sex with him. “Anyway, by the time I graduated, I could take a bike apart and put it back together practically blindfolded. I started going to bike shows when I could. Years later I met Blaze at one.”

  “I’m glad you did,” Tony said.

  I chuckled mirthlessly. “Yeah, right. I bet you rue the day I joined the Hedonists.”

  “That’s not true.” Tony put his hand on my leg then quickly pulled it away. I’ve never been sorry you were here.” He licked his lips. “I should apologize.”

  I frowned. “For what?”

  “For throwing myself at you that night. After that scene we did, I got a little mixed up.”

  I let out a disbelieving laugh. “Fucking you wasn’t exactly a hardship, Tony.”

  He dipped his head, running his fingertip along the pattern on the sheet beneath us. “Yeah, but you weren’t looking for anything more, and I tried to take things to another level. Anyway, sorry for that. And thank you for sharing all this with me tonight. It makes it a little easier for me to understand why you don’t trust your cousin.”

  “He’s dangerous, Tony. He does cruel, unforgivable things when he doesn’t get his way. I don’t want you working for him, but I know he’ll do what he’s threatening if I can’t get you to.”

  “And what’s he threatening?”

  “You’ve probably heard Axel say something about the servers at The Yellow Banana being approached about prostitution?”

  Tony nodded.

  “That’s Karl’s doing. He’s got a couple guys working there who are bringing business to the seedier side of his escort service.”

  “I knew he wasn’t just providing dates to the rich and famous,” Tony said wryly.

  “Right. Well, turns out it’s worse than that.” I swallowed. “Karl’s involved in human trafficking. And he’s threatening to take either you or Lake if I don’t get you to work for him.”

  Tony’s shocked gaze met mine, and he scrambled to a sitting position. “What? Human trafficking? Cane, that’s…that’s vile, and…and inhumane! That’s absolutely disgusting and horrible and—”

  I put my hand over his. “Don’t you think I know that? I never dreamed it was going on.” I shuddered. “And imagining you…or Lake…taken and made to…” I trailed off, unable to say it.

  “But think of all the people already being made to do those things!” Tony looked at me intensely. “We’ve got to stop it.”

  I nodded. I’d known that as soon as Karl had said it. Tony’s conviction strengthened mine.

  “How?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know, but we will.” He glanced at me. “You don’t know this, but I’m pretty good at hacking. I learned if from a friend growing up. The guy was a genius. If I have to work for Bruder, I might as well hack into his system and see what I can find.” He grinned.

  And suddenly I saw it—a light at the end of the tunnel. I didn’t want Tony near my cousin, but if it had to happen, and Tony had the ability to find what we needed to take Karl down, shouldn’t we take advantage?

  I smiled back at Tony. “Sounds like a plan.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Tony

  Cane had opened up to me. For so long, I’d wanted to learn what secrets lay beneath his stoic exterior, and now that I knew, I was filled with admiration for him. Having come through what he had without having been completely tainted was a testament to how strong he was. Unfortunately for me, this only made him more appealing. I’d apologized to Cane specifically about the night I’d come to his room in order to close the door on it for good, and as embarrassing as it had been, I was glad I had. It would help me to move forward. Perhaps he and I had co
me together for a reason, and that reason was to take down Karl Bruder. What the man was doing made me sick, and I was determined to put a stop to it. The fact I could use my hacking skills to do it was nothing short of ironic.

  I called Bruder the following morning to tell him I’d changed my mind about his offer, and he pretended to be all surprised and pleased about it. I was to meet him at his penthouse at three. I didn’t know how I was going to manage being in the same room with the guy after what Cane had told me, but I was going to have to if I wanted to find enough evidence to destroy him.

  Cane and I had agreed to go to Blaze about it, and Blaze, after completely freaking out about Bruder’s threat to me and Lake, had contacted a buddy of his in the FBI who promised to notify the correct department and see if he could get them to look into Karl Bruder and his businesses. When Cane and I left for Bruder’s, Blaze and Lake were having a huge argument about whether or not Lake would leave The Yellow Banana now that they knew Bruder had threatened to have him kidnapped.

  “I’m glad we don’t have to stay and hear that,” I said as Cane and I got into the club’s SUV.

  “Bad enough we’ll be hearing the makeup sex tonight,” Cane said. He had insisted on coming with me to his cousin’s penthouse, and I hadn’t put up much of an argument. Frankly, knowing what I did about Bruder now, I was glad to have the backup.

  We took the private elevator to the top floor, and the doors opened into a large living space with a wall of windows displaying a gorgeous view of the East River.

  “Wow,” I said to Cane. “I’m extremely impressed you live at the clubhouse when you could be living here.”

  “Don’t be. Remember who I’d be living with.”

  “I stand corrected,” I said.

  “Welcome, Mr. Sarto. Cane.” Bruder’s girlfriend whom I’d met in his office strode forward to greet us, heels clicking on the hardwood floor. She wore a dove gray, wide-leg pantsuit and held a leather briefcase in her hand.

  “I see you’re back from visiting your family,” Cane said. “Are they well?”

  “Yes, thank you. I had a nice time, but I was eager to get back to Karl.” Something in the way she said it made me think she didn’t entirely trust her boyfriend. “I’m just on my way down to the office. Karl will be with you shortly. He said to make yourself a drink at the bar.” She glanced at Cane. “He didn’t mention you’d be with him, Cane. I’m sure you’ll take care of Mr. Sarto.”

  Cane nodded, and she left on the elevator.

  “Do you want a drink?” Cane asked, crossing to the gleaming, dark wood bar.

  “I think I’d better remain level headed,” I said, watching Cane put some ice cubes into two crystal glasses. He poured water into one and handed it to me. “My cousin likes people to drink with him,” he said, pouring himself a tonic with a splash of vodka rather than the other way around. I wondered how often he pretended around Bruder, and my heart hurt for the kid who’d been taken away from a life he loved and set down in the middle of a snake’s nest.

  We crossed to the large living room and sat down, and I almost gasped when I sank into the chair. I didn’t think I’d ever sat on anything as comfortable. It molded to my body. Looking out at the river, Cane and I sipped our drinks until Bruder’s footfalls sounded on the stairs.

  “Cane, I didn’t expect you,” Bruder said, not looking happy to see his cousin.

  “I thought you might need me to do something,” Cane said.

  Bruder didn’t look like he believed that but crossed over to us.

  “I thought I’d have Tony work in the office upstairs,” he said before looking at me. “I have a list prepared of things I require him to do.” He handed me a paper.

  “It will take some time,” I said, looking over the list.

  “That’s fine.”

  “And you promised quite a fee,” I added.

  Bruder smiled. “I remember.”

  “I’m doing this because Cane asked me to,” I said. “As you know, I have a lot of work already, but he asked me to help you out as a favor.”

  Bruder sent a speculative look toward Cane before turning back to me. “Well, I’m happy you did. Are you ready to go upstairs?”

  I stood and followed him, Cane so close behind me I could feel the heat of his body at my back. The upper floor was visible from the lower with a balustrade facing the same gorgeous view that I imagined was even more beautiful in summer months when boats were out on the water. The stark beauty of winter held its own appeal, though, with gray, overcast skies and trees stripped of their foliage.

  Bruder led me to a room sparsely furnished with a large desk, high-backed leather chair, and credenza over which hung a painting of Medusa. I moved closer for a better look. The depiction wasn’t the normal creepy severed head or evil-looking face surrounded by gaping-mouthed serpents, but rather a young beauty whose head of snakes framed her face like hair. In her hand was an apple, which brought to mind Eve and the serpent in Eden.

  “Do you like it?” Bruder asked over my shoulder. “It’s nothing famous, but it caught my eye, and I contacted the artist to purchase the original. Some men collect art, but I prefer to buy only what speaks to me, expensive or not.”

  “As someone who paints, I’d have to agree with you,” I said, masking my dislike for him behind affability.

  “You surprise me more every time I meet with you. You’re an artist?”

  I turned to face him. “No. I wouldn’t call myself an artist. I paint for fun. Mostly erotic nudes.”

  He looked even more intrigued.

  “Do you have a portfolio?”

  “Of sorts,” I admitted, glancing at Cane, who stood nearby.

  “I’d love to see it. Please bring it next time you come.” Then Bruder turned to the PC on the desk, and I prepared myself to get to work.

  “I believe you have everything you’ll need. There’s a bathroom down the hall.” He turned to Cane. “Since you’re here, I have some things I need you to do for me.”

  Cane’s eyes met mine before he left the room with his cousin, and I settled down to work.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Cane

  For all the time and energy I’d put into not getting close to Tony, the wall fell fairly easily. I’d opened up to him about my past, and now the invisible string I’d always felt between us had become something more like a heavy-duty utility rope. My mind kept going back to that night less than a year ago, remembering Tony’s weight on me, the squeeze of his body around my erection, his smooth skin gently lit by the moon from the window as he slowly rose and lowered himself on me, his beautiful face suffused with longing…I hadn’t been able to forget it no matter how much I’d tried, and now it haunted me even more. And to think Tony had felt the need to apologize for it. If he only knew how much it had meant to me.

  After years of feeling completely alone, I’d allowed someone else in. And as I’d always known would happen if I did so, Tony was in danger because of it. My instincts screamed at me to keep him safe at all costs, but, at this point, I needed Tony to help me to do that.

  Tony and I had agreed he needed to appear clueless to Karl’s blackmail, and relief coursed through me when Karl seemed completely at ease with him.

  It didn’t surprise me that Karl kept me busy all day, but Tony kept his promise and texted me occasionally to let me know all was okay, although I hadn’t expected anything to happen to him. Karl got his rocks off on making me squirm, and having Tony working for him did the trick; he didn’t need to go any further. Yet.

  When I returned in the late afternoon, Tony was seated at the bar eating pasta with Karl and Shika. Shika immediately rose to fill a plate for me.

  “Your friend here is very good at what he does,” Karl said with satisfaction. “He’s already turned the After Hours website into a thing of beauty.”

  I accepted the plate of food from Shika with a smile of thanks.

  “I’m always telling Cane how very important family is,” Karl
continued. “I am very pleased to have you join our circle.”

  “Um, this isn’t permanent,” Tony said.

  “Not at the moment, no. But earning my trust will only benefit you in the future.”

  I was inexplicably pleased that Karl approved of Tony.

  “I hate the way, in spite of what I know about him, I yearn for his approval,” I said on our way home.

  “It makes perfect sense that you do,” Tony said. “Good or bad, he’s the only family you’ve got. Besides, you’ve been conditioned to feel that way. Your uncle made sure you never felt secure, even with all his talk of family. The bastard.”

  I brooded about that while I drove. Maybe Tony was right; my uncle had constantly spouted off about how family stuck together and remained loyal to one another while at the same time holding an unspoken threat over my head. I hadn’t known if he would set me up, kill me, or bring down some fate worse than death on me, but the threat had been there. After my uncle’s death, Karl became even worse than his father. He made it clear he owned me and that I was nothing without him. Lording it over me gave him pleasure. He was a megalomaniac and a narcissist.

  The clubhouse was quiet when we walked in, although both Blaze’s and Skitz’s motorcycles were parked in the driveway.

  “Guess Blaze and Lake settled their differences,” Tony said.

  “That or they aren’t speaking.” I tossed the keys to the SUV onto the table by the front door and headed to the kitchen.

  “Want a beer?” I asked Tony.

  “No, thanks.”

  Skitz opened the back door, knocking the snow off his boots before he stepped into the kitchen.

  “Headache, Adam?” Tony asked, although I wasn’t sure why. Skitz wasn’t holding his head or anything.

  Skitz winced. “Yeah, how’d you know?”