by Donna Grant
What Devon found weird was that distilleries around Scotland and Ireland would go to such extremes to not just safeguard their company but also everything on the their computers.
Though she might not be a big whisky drinker, it had never dawned on her that the industry could be as competitive as any other. But what really drew her attention was the distilleries themselves.
All but Dreagan had been clients of Kyvor for years, returning again and again for updated systems or new technology. Dreagan was a recent client.
More disturbing was that she couldn’t find where Dreagan had gone for their tech needs before Kyvor. There should be a record somewhere of who had installed Dreagan’s security system on the grounds, as well as the one internally in the business.
Yet there was nothing. It was as if Dreagan had just started doing business, or … they had someone internally who could do it themselves.
Ryder. Kinsey had said he was brilliant. It must be Ryder who kept Dreagan from getting hacked or broken into. If one man could do what a company of over a hundred thousand employees like Kyvor did, it explained a lot.
Why then hadn’t Ryder been recruited by Kyvor or other tech companies? When Kyvor went after people like Ryder, they paid a fortune to acquire them.
Money turned people’s heads. It changed lives. And she hadn’t seen one case where a person had refused a raise in pay. What made Ryder different?
Maybe the question she should be asking was what made Dreagan different? Kyvor wasn’t after Ryder specifically. They wanted Dreagan. But … why?
If Kyvor really wanted a distillery, they could buy up any one they wanted. Why gather information on Dreagan as if they were the Security Service? There was something big missing from what she knew, and Anson had all but confirmed it.
Several times as Kinsey and Esther told Devon their stories, they had looked to Anson. Sometimes, he would reply. Other times, he would remain silent.
Apparently, he was the one who got to decide if she learned everything or not. That kinda stung. She was risking her life, and he couldn’t even give her the full story?
When she handed him the names of those who were involved, she was going to ask for whatever it was he held back. And she really, really hoped he told her. She was going crazy wondering what it might be.
“Devon.”
At the sound of Stacy’s voice, she looked up. “Yes?”
“You’ve been working really hard today.”
Devon shrugged and smiled. “I’m trying to make up for yesterday. You know how I hate to miss work.”
“I know,” Stacy said with a laugh. “Harriett’s office just rang. She wants to see you.”
The room began to spin. Devon grabbed her desk in an effort to right her world. It took a moment, but she was finally able to nod. “Thanks.”
When she pushed back her chair and stood, her legs threatened to buckle. This summons wasn’t coincidence. Neither was Harriett’s visit earlier.
She’d been careful in her search of Dreagan, so that meant they had something else on her? Maybe questions regarding why she’d turned off her mobile and laptop?
Or did they know about Anson and Kinsey?
Devon squared her shoulders and kept the dread from her face as she walked out of her office and took the lift up five floors. The stairs were her usual choice, but with the way her body was responding, she might fall down.
It seemed only a heartbeat later that she walked out onto the twenty-fifth floor and toward the back right corner where Harriett’s office sat overlooking the Thames.
“Oh, good,” Harriett said when she spotted her. “Come in, Devon.”
Devon thought she had herself under control until she stepped into the office and saw three Kyvor security guards.
“Come,” Harriett said, motioning for Devon as well as the guards.
Devon had no choice but to follow as Harriett put her arm around her and moved her along to the lift. Devon’s mind reeled with possibilities—none of them good.
Harriet chatted on about something, but Devon wasn’t paying attention. Not once did Harriett loosen her hold. It was almost as if she thought Devon might try to run.
It was definitely something she considered.
If she thought she could get away, she might actually try. As it was, she was too frightened to do much of anything. Which only pissed her off.
Her gaze scanned the floor as the lift doors opened. It was the thirtieth floor. No one paid them any heed as their small group walked around desks to a conference room with a huge, white table and twenty-four white chairs.
This was no normal conference. The windows looking out were made of really thick glass, but it was the walls that caught her notice. As well as the door with its two locks.
Since when did a conference room have locks on the door?
Devon didn’t think she could get any more terrified until that moment.
Until Harriett released her. That’s when Devon saw one man sitting at the head of the table.
“Hello, Devon,” Stanley Upton, CEO of Kyvor, said with a smile. He had dark blond hair with a touch of gray that was styled in the latest cut. His blue eyes were piercing as they pinned her. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Why don’t you sit?”
Her first response was to refuse, but that wouldn’t get her far. So she smiled, acting as if she had nothing to worry about, and pulled out the chair he’d indicated with his hand.
Harriett sat beside her, a smug look on her heavily made-up face. Devon fought the need to turn and vomit her lunch. The only thing that made her feel remotely better was imagining getting sick all over Harriett’s white shirt.
“Do you know who I am?” Upton asked
Devon crossed one leg over the other and looked at his expensive suit, noting the way he held himself as if he were untouchable. “Of course. You’re the CEO.”
“From what Harriett has told me, you’ve blazed quite a trail through our fine company in the six years you’ve been here.”
Devon glanced at Harriett. “I was lucky enough to have her mentor me.”
“This is still very much a man’s world,” Stanley said. “Yet here are two women who have clawed their way up the corporate ladder. Both of you have gone about it different ways, but still managed the same type of success.”
On any other day, Devon would’ve been over the moon to hear such praise heaped upon her. Except she knew it wasn’t a compliment. Kyvor wanted something. They were buttering her up before swooping in for the kill.
“Thank you,” she said, making her lips lift in a smile she hoped looked more genuine than it felt.
He ran his hand down his blue, striped tie, pressing his lips together. “It was a real disappointment that your meeting had to be cancelled yesterday.”
“I feel horrible about that, sir,” Devon said. “It’s the first time something like that has happened, and I swear it won’t happen again.”
His eyes shifted to the side toward Harriett before he looked back at Devon. “I’m glad to hear it.”
The room grew quiet as she felt every eye on her. That’s when she realized without a doubt that Kyvor knew what she’d been doing all day. It no longer mattered how they had discovered what she was up to.
She was now firmly caught in their web—and there was no escape.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Anson? Anson! Answer me,” Kinsey’s voice yelled through the phone.
He stood glaring at the hated building, his thoughts on Devon. His heart had fallen to his feet when she’d risen from her desk and walked out of her office. They’d been able to track her through the office cameras, right up until she walked into the conference room.
“He’s right here,” Henry replied.
Kinsey blew out a frustrated breath. “Dammit. I thought he’d rushed into Kyvor.”
Not yet, but he was about to. “Find her,” Anson demanded.
“I’m trying,” Kinsey said testily. “As soon as Devon entered the co
nference room and the door shut, I lost her. There doesn’t appear to be cameras in that room.”
Henry peered around the corner where he and Anson were hiding and glanced toward the Kyvor building. “That’s not a good sign.”
“Tell us something we don’t know,” Esther snapped over the line.
“They know what she was doing,” Anson said. He was certain of it.
The camera feed from Kyvor suddenly vanished, replaced by Kinsey’s and Esther’s faces. Kinsey gave a shake of her head. “You don’t know that.”
“I do. And so do you.”
Esther rubbed one of her temples. “Devon was so careful. She did exactly as I would have.”
“Then that means something else triggered their attention,” Henry said as he came to stand beside Anson and peered into the camera of the mobile.
Anson frowned at Henry’s words because he’d been thinking the same thing. “I’ll no’ sit here and argue about this. Devon has to come out of that conference room. I want to know where she goes.”
“What if she’s not alone?” Kinsey asked.
Anson fisted one of his hands. “I hope she isna.”
“What if it’s worse than that?” Esther’s face went white. “What if the Druid is there?”
“We doona know what she looks like, so for all we know, she is.” Anson felt his fury rising. “Doona stop looking at those cameras. Henry and I are going to move closer to Kyvor.”
Kinsey’s eyes bulged. “That’s not a good idea. Can you imagine if Kyvor got their hands on you.”
Anson gave her a flat look. “I’d like to see them try.”
“Fine,” Kinsey said with a roll of her eyes. “But be careful.”
He turned off his phone and pocketed it. Henry’s hand on his arm stopped him before he could walk away.
“We’re going to need these,” he said and handed something small to him.
Anson held up the earpiece and inspected it with a frown. He put it in his ear. “Are you sure Kyvor can’t hack these?”
“They’re Ryder’s design,” Henry replied with a grin.
That was the kind of news Anson needed. With a nod, the two set off on their routes toward Kyvor. It would take him longer to dodge the CCTV cameras everywhere. Even when Kyvor was in sight, Anson couldn’t get as close as he wanted because of their cameras.
He had sent Henry to the front of the building while he waited at the back. If Devon exited the front, then he could easily catch up with her.
If she left by the back, that meant things had taken a turn for the worse. And he was ready to do whatever it took to get her away from the company.
Of course, that would alert Kyvor that Dreagan was on to them. It would make getting the names and information they needed even more difficult. It would also mean that Anson would have to get inside the hated building.
He should’ve done that to begin with. All of this cloak and dagger shite was driving him mad. It was another reason Ulrik and the Dark were winning in the war. If Dreagan didn’t hide who they were, Anson could’ve gotten what they needed on his own.
Using Kinsey and other innocents took too long and put too many in danger. If he’d gone inside, he would be the only one at risk.
And he’d like to see the mortals try and hold him.
He wouldn’t think twice about shifting since the assholes already knew about him thanks to Ulrik. In his true form, Anson could do much more damage to the mortals who’d dared to meddle in the affairs of dragons.
“Anson,” Kinsey said through the earpiece.
He flexed his fingers. “I’m here.”
“The workday has ended. Everyone is beginning to leave Kyvor.”
“Any sign of Devon?”
There was a long pause. “Not yet.”
“Once she’s back with us, I’m going inside Kyvor. Henry and I have already marked off a route that will get me to the server room. I’ll get you connected from there, and you can find the files we need erased.”
“With a little more time—”
“No,” he cut her off. “The next one to go inside Kyvor will be me and only me.”
Kinsey said no more on the matter. He understood her position, but he was the immortal one, the one with magic and powers and the ability to shift.
Kinsey, Esther, Henry, and Devon should’ve never been involved. He was furious with Ryder and Con for allowing such a thing.
What drove Kinsey and Esther was the need for revenge. Anson could understand that. Someone had gotten into their minds and altered them. It was even worse with Kinsey because they had followed her for years hoping for information on Ryder and Dreagan.
But this went beyond payback for mortals caught in their war. This was about Dreagan and the Dragon Kings. It had been from the beginning.
Ulrik might be fine pulling mortals into their war to sacrifice them, but Anson wasn’t. He wouldn’t be party to it anymore. Con had sent him for a task, and he was going to complete it how he saw fit.
In the end, Ryder would be happy that his mate would be returned unharmed to Dreagan. Esther and Henry would go back to Scotland without a scratch, and Con would get what he wanted.
A win for everyone.
Except for Devon.
The world as she knew it was forever altered. He’d seen it in her eyes that morning when she’d come down. The stories they had told her, coupled with her own research had shown her a different side of a coin, and she didn’t like it.
Taking down Kyvor would also be for her. She would be free of them forever. That was if he could get her out of their clutches now.
“Bloody hell. There are too many people,” Henry ground out in his ear.
Seconds felt like an eternity as Anson kept his gaze on the back door, hoping Kinsey would spot Devon. It was nearly an hour later before he heard anything.
Kinsey said, “The conference door has opened. The three men who accompanied Devon and Harriet inside just walked out.”
“Movement is good,” Henry said.
“While we waited, I backed up the video to the top floor to see who might have been inside the conference room.”
Anson asked Kinsey, “What did you find?”
“It was the CEO, Stanley Upton,” she answered.
Henry snorted. “Blasted bugger. He wouldn’t be involved if it wasn’t serious.”
“No,” Esther chimed in. “He wouldn’t. The fact that he’s there isn’t good, but at least we have two names. Upton and Harriet.”
Suddenly Kinsey shouted excitedly, “I see Devon!”
“And?” Anson urged, hope tightening his chest.
“She looks … well, like she’s walking to see the hangman,” Kinsey said softly.
“Which direction?”
“Oh, shit,” Kinsey said after she’d gasped. “They’re taking her down a different elevator that leads to the back entrance.”
Just what he wanted to hear.
He glared at the door, wishing he could evaporate it with a thought. This is when his power would come in handy. He would use his magic on the men around Devon so that they brought her straight to him. It was going to be the easiest thing he’d ever done.
“They’ll reach the door in thirty seconds,” Kinsey said tightly.
He was counting down the time and not paying attention to his surroundings. So Anson never saw the blast of magic before it hit him in the back.
His spine arched from the pain of the black magic searing through his clothes and into skin and muscle and bone. He dropped to his knees and fell forward on his hands with a grimace.
If he wanted to get to Devon, he had to move. He pushed aside the agony wracking him and tucked his head to roll. A bubble of magic landed right where he’d been.
He came to his feet and turned to face the Dark Fae who had attacked him. There were four of them, each holding large spheres of swirling magic in their hands meant to bring him down.
“Walk on,” he told them. He wanted a fight, and he was ge
tting one.
The Dark on the far left chuckled. Then he said in his thick Irish accent, “No.”
“Then you die.”
Anson rushed them with a furious growl. His hand punctured the chest of the one who’d mouthed off. Anson clamped his fingers around the evil bastard’s heart, even as they pummeled him with Dark magic. He yanked out the organ and tossed it in the face of another of the Dark.
One down, three to go.
Behind him, Anson heard the door to Kyvor open and the patter of several pairs of feet moving quickly over the concrete. He didn’t have time to deal with the Dark.
He elbowed one in the face and ducked an orb as tires squealed and he heard the sound of an engine. His gaze swung toward the building, and he locked eyes with Devon for the barest second. Then she was shoved inside a black sedan and driven away.
“I’m on my way!” Henry bellowed in Anson’s ear.
He didn’t have time to warn Henry away before one of the Dark grabbed Anson from behind while the other two threw bubble after bubble of magic at him.
The Fae were so absorbed with defeating him that they never saw Henry coming. The MI5 agent didn’t use any hand-to-hand combat nor did he use the pistol he always carried. Instead, Henry withdrew a long, serrated Fae knife from his jacket that he plunged into the spine of a Dark.
The Fae dropped lifelessly to his knees. It gave Anson the time he needed to toss his head back against the Dark holding him while Henry tried to get the upper hand on the third Fae.
Anson kicked the Dark’s feet out from beneath him. Then he flipped him onto his back and stood over him. It felt satisfying when Anson wrenched out the Fae’s spinal column.
He turned to Henry and the last Dark. With one look at Anson, the bastard teleported away.
Henry was breathing hard with blood sprayed over his face and chest. “You look like shit.”
“Devon,” Anson gritted through his teeth, the pain taking its toll.
Kinsey’s response was immediate. “I’m tracking her through the CCTV cameras. They’re taking her northeast.”
He nodded and turned to follow. One of his legs gave out, and he fell to a knee. He finally looked down to see his chest exposed. What remained of his shirt hung in tatters on his shoulders and by a thin strip at his side. He was mending, but too slowly for his tastes.