Wanted

by Minx Hardbringer

  That's Sophie for you. She's always looked on the bright side of things. My baby sister is the only thing that's kept me going when life got dark.

  "I'll get you out of here. I've found someone to help me, so it should be soon. She's Tom Hunt's assistant, and I know she's got the information I need."

  "Oh, a woman? Is she nice? Is she pretty?" Sophie says hopefully.

  "Sis, seriously? You're being held hostage by the Russian mob, and you're worried about my love life?" Sophie is too much sometimes.

  "Like you have a love life." She says and rolls her eyes playfully.

  "Times up." The goon says from behind me.

  "I'll be back for you soon," I say and squeeze her hands.

  "Girl will be all right." The big man says and winks at Sophie. I'm surprised when she winks back at him.

  I guess I know who brought her the books and the decent food, and I'm a little less terrified for her when the realization hits that she's got someone inside looking out for her.

  I should have known someone would be kind to her. Sophie brings out the best in everyone. So of course, if one person were working for Vlad who has a soul, Sophie would find them.

  "Hang in there, little bit," I say as her big, scary looking protector ushers me out.

  "Must follow the rules, or they take me off little bit’s guard detail," He says, and I understand that he's apologizing for not letting me in to hug her.

  "I understand. Thank you."

  Chapter Five

  Lilith

  When I got the call at work today to meet Adam tonight, I was really excited. Far more excited than I should be. Then, I googled the address and found out it's an abandoned church. I'm not sure if that's exciting or terrifying.

  I run home after work and change into jeans and tennis shoes. I was wearing a navy pinstripe skirt suit and stilettos at work today, and that didn't seem like an appropriate outfit for an abandoned building. I also wanted to get those stupid shoes off my feet. My next job is going to have to be something where I can wear shoes that are more comfortable.

  I gave Adam my cell number today when he called my office so he didn't have to chance to call me at work again. My secretary would run right to Tom if she thought there was even the slightest chance she could get me fired and take my place. Yes, I am a personal assistant. Yes, I have a secretary. I need one to do my administrative tasks. She would also steal my job in a heartbeat if she could.

  My phone chirps with a text message right about the time I pull up in front of the church.

  Meet me around back. - Adam

  When I walk around to the alley, I see Adam standing next to a black and chrome motorcycle scuffing his boot in the gravel. He's 100% sexy in his black motorcycle jacket, and I imagine grabbing it and pulling him in for a long, slow kiss.

  "Hello, Lilith." His voice is smooth like liquid chocolate, and I want to hear him say my name a hundred times. Even that probably wouldn't be enough.

  "Hi, Adam. So, why are we here at the spooky old church?"

  "Wait just a moment." He says and slips a key into the back door.

  "Yes. Come on in. It only looks abandoned from the outside. We've got power and running water in here thanks to Beck's awesome hacking skills." He says and opens the door for me.

  "Becks?" I note a tinge of jealousy flopping around in my belly at the prospect of a woman in his life.

  "Rebecca Palmer. A childhood friend, criminal accomplice, hacker extraordinaire, and also a lesbian." He says and chuckles.

  "I wasn't. I mean." Damn, he picked up on my jealousy.

  "Sure. Sure. I didn't mean any harm." He says good-naturedly. "Follow me. I'd like for you to meet her."

  He leads me towards a set of stairs that descend into the old church's basement.

  "The basement?" I say apprehensively.

  "It's not so bad. Don't worry. We fixed it up pretty well. Right now Becks and I live in the upper part, so work has to be downstairs."

  The jealousy comes back when I hear they live together. I mean, I know Becks is gay, but it still makes me a bit envious.

  I cling tightly to the rickety hand railing as I make my way down the dimly lit staircase. When we open the door at the bottom, I'm relieved. The basement is clean, bright, and not nearly the disaster I thought it would be. There are a few computers set up. Some are off, and a couple of them look like they're running numbers.

  A tiny woman is sitting at the one on a desk against the back wall of the space. From what I can tell, she's dressed in all black and has a pixie cut. Her hair is dyed aquamarine blue, and tattoos cover her arms and the back of her neck.

  "Hello." She says as she spins her chair around to face us.

  "Becks, this is Lilith." He says as we approach her. "Lilith, this is Becks the brains of the operation."

  "I've been able to find some information on Tom, but not as much as we need. He never mentions the location of his backup hard drive in any of his emails, and his digital calendar is a dead end." She says and clicks away at the mechanical keyboard. Rebeca brings up his practically blank calendar on one screen while typing code into another. I'm fascinated by how well she can multi-task.

  "He keeps most of his appointments in a paper desk calendar. I always thought he was paranoid not wanting his schedule in the computer, but now I guess I know why." I say, and wish I'd paid closer attention to who his most recent appointments were with. I can remember that there were a few names I didn't recognize, but I can't recall who they are.

  "That could contain the clues we need to find the drive," Adam says urgently.

  "I can get you a copy tomorrow. I know he's got meetings all afternoon, so if you come in after lunch, I'll be able to make a copy and slip it to you without anyone knowing.

  "Can we go tonight?"

  "I wish we could, but they polish the floors on Monday nights. I'm so sorry Adam."

  "It's okay." He says sadly. I wish I knew why he was so emotionally invested in finding this hard drive." "Becks, show us what else you've found today."

  She takes about an hour showing us the ins and outs of the money transactions in the accounts that feed Tom's central fund. Becks explains how she can tell when something is suspicious, and then what she does to flag the activity to examine later.

  "You should be doing my job. You're better at tracking Tom's business than I am." I say, and I'm genuinely impressed.

  "No thanks, sister. I hate this stuff. I'm only doing it for Sophie." She looks like she just let all of the cats out of the bag, and Adam shoots her a severe warning look.

  "Sophie?" I have to know.

  "It's nothing, Lilith. It's just a code name for one of the interested parties. Look, thanks for all of your help so far. I'll come by your office tomorrow for the schedule, and I'll make sure to text you first. Becks and I have a lot of stuff to do, so we're going to have to call it a night." He says and it's obvious he wants me to leave.

  "Okay. Well, glad I could help."

  Adam walks me out to my car. It's another unexpected chivalrous gesture.

  "I just want you to know that I'm not upset. The Sophie thing is pretty sensitive, but maybe sometime I'll tell you about it. Sorry for being short with you in there." He says and stands dangerously close to me. I can smell his scent, and it's an intoxicating mixture of soap and mint.

  "It's okay. I understand how stressful this is. Well, I guess I can’t really because I still don't really know why you're doing it, but I'm trying to understand."

  "I want to tell you more. I do. I will. Just not yet, okay?" Adam says and brushes a strand of my hair behind my ear. It sends a chill down my spine.

  "I accept."

  "Good." He says and kisses my forehead gently. "Text me as soon as you get home. I want to know you're safe."

  Before either of us can say anything else, Adam turns and quickly disappears back around the building.

  I get in my car quickly because this neighborhood is super scary when you're out alone at night a
nd drive home.

  Brutus, the cat, chastises me as soon as I walk in the door. "I know, buddy. Sorry." I say and bend down to stroke his sleek, black fur. "Let's get you some dinner. Oh, and let's get me some dinner too."

  I feed my beloved and crazy cat before going to the kitchen to decide what I'm going to eat. My fridge is pretty stocked, so I pull out chicken and vegetables to make a stir fry. I'll need lunch tomorrow too, so I make enough for two meals.

  While I swirling the ingredients around in my wok, I get a rush of excitement. I don't know why Adam is doing all this or why I've gotten myself involved, but I'm basically a spy. That's pretty bad ass. I think. It's certainly the most daring thing I've ever done. I mean, I stayed up all night reading once my junior year in college, but I've never been very adventurous. Keep your head down and keep your nose in a book have pretty much been my two biggest rules in life.

  Once my food is done, I eat my dinner while Brutus sits on the floor next to my chair and stairs at me. I never feed him off the table, but that doesn't stop him from trying at every single meal.

  Before bed, I decide that I want to read a spy novel, but I don't have any. I never read on my Kindle, but tonight I'll make an exception. I power it up and find an exciting looking spy title.

  The next thing I know, my alarm is going off. I've fallen asleep in my chair reading. Again. I’m pretty sure that Adam is saving me from being the most uninteresting woman that ever lived. He’s also preventing me from becoming a crazy cat lady at the ripe old age of… never mind. Let’s just say it’s north of twenty and south of forty.

  Usually, on Tuesday, I get up, go to my closet, and pull out my black “Tuesday” suit. That’s right folks, I have an outfit I wear almost every Tuesday. Today, I’m going to see Adam at work, though, so I want something a little more eye-catching.

  I have no idea what is going on between us, or why I’m mysteriously fine with it, but I do know I want more. When he kissed me on the forehead, it made my heart skip a beat. Not in an oh my god get me to the ER right now kind of way, but more like an oh my god the cutest boy in the whole class just kissed me kind of way.

  I never got to feel that way about guys when I was in school. Correction, I never let myself feel that way about the guys in school. Plenty of them tried to get my attention, but I wasn’t interested. Tom Hunt had been the first time in a very long time that I let my guard down with a man, and it turned out horribly. If I hadn’t met Adam, I know I would have convinced myself that I was right about men all along.

  What if Adam proves me right too?

  I’m not going to think like that right now. There is something very real and very electric between the two of us, and I, Lilith Rose Banks, am just going to let myself enjoy being a corporate spy with a gorgeous man for the time being. It’s not like another opportunity to live this kind of adventure is going to fall in my lap.

  My closet is full of outfits I bought, but I’ve never been daring enough to wear. I put on the same few classic suits every week, but I dream of being the kind of woman who wears something a little more fashionable. I’ve told myself numerous times that if I don’t start wearing them, I need to donate them to the women’s shelter. Maybe a little of both? I’ll wear this brand new red suit today and give a few of the others to Angela this weekend. I know she’s working with a few families where the mom is looking for a job. A new suit might be the thing they need to turn their lives around for good.

  Let’s hope this suit is what I need to turn myself around too. I laugh because the tags are still attached. I bought it two months ago when I saw the dark red fabric in the shop window. It’s daring, bold, and completely unlike me. Until today.

  After my shower, hair, and make-up, I slip into the suit and check myself out in the mirror. A pair of black pumps completes the outfit, and I’m amazed. An entirely new woman is standing before me.

  I look like a spy!

  Chapter Six

  Lilith

  My phone vibrates, and a rush of excitement bursts through me. I'm hoping it's Adam. Maybe a little too much. I check the text, and it's from Angie. My heart sinks, but I answer her. She wants to know if I want to have lunch.

  I've got to make a delivery today. Tomorrow? - Lilith

  Sure. Call you later <3 - Angie

  Fortunately, the universe isn't completely awful, and my phone buzzes again a few minutes later. This time, it's Adam, and I jump out of my chair.

  Loading dock ;-) - Adam

  His timing is perfect because both my secretary and Tom are out to lunch. Tom's secretary is at her desk, but she's on the other side of the floor so I can slip past her without having to stop for a conversation.

  I don't go down to the loading dock often, but I know taking the service elevator will get me there faster and with less hassle. I don't want to leave Adam standing outside waiting for me for too long because someone might call security.

  When I get outside, I see Adam standing next to his bike scuffing his foot against the asphalt. It's the same thing he was doing while he waited for me outside of the church. I wonder if it's a nervous habit? Could he be worried about seeing me? It's probably just the job. I shouldn't get so far ahead of myself.

  "I hope these help." He's a bit startled when I hand him the folder. He must have been lost in thought. A broad smile spreads across his face for just a moment before he goes back to looking serious and worried.

  A huge part of me wishes we'd met under different circumstances.

  "They will. Thank you so much, Lilith. This means a lot to me. You're putting your career on the line to save people you don't even know. It says a lot about you." His words are genuine, and they make me feel bad for being excited about being a spy. According to Adam, there are people whose livelihoods and life savings are on the line, and I'm acting like a giddy teenager with a crush.

  "You're most welcome, Adam. Anything I can do, you just have to ask."

  "I was hoping you'd say that." Uh oh. "Is Tom's phone in a case?"

  "Huh," That was unexpected.

  "Does he use a cell phone case, or does he just carry his phone around unprotected." He says and winks at me. I catch his dirty joke, and it makes me blush.

  "It's in a case. A pretty hefty one. Tom brags about how expensive it is, and how far under water you can take the phone because of it. Not that he's ever taken his phone under water, but I guess it would survive if he dropped it off the side of his yacht." I say and roll my eyes.

  "Good. Good." Adam says with a laugh.

  "Why?"

  "Because I need you to put this on the back of his phone." He says and pulls out a small, thick black sticker. "If he didn't use a phone case, it would be too obvious, but since he does, you can slip in, take his phone out of the case, place the bug, and put his phone back. He'll never know it's there. Can you do that?"

  "I think so. He wanders off and leaves his phone on his desk frequently. I'll have to wait until he gets back from his lunch meeting."

  "You think so? Or, you can do it? It's important." He says forcefully. It takes me by surprise, but it also makes me swoon a little.

  "I will do it. I'll find a way, Adam." I say and take the bug.

  "Thank you, Lilith. Sorry to be so short with you, Peaches. This is just more important that you can possibly know." He says and his eyes gloss over like he's thinking about something critical.

  "The money is that important. I mean, it is just money after all." I say and regret it. Of course, it's just money to me. I'm not the one about to lose my entire life savings. "I'm sorry. Of course, it's important to these families. Sometimes I let myself forget how privileged I am."

  "It's okay. Like I said, you've got a good heart. I think you know by now that this is about more than just the investment funds. You're smart enough to pick up on my urgency. I'll tell you more soon. I promise. Right now, I need you to get that bug in place as soon as you can, and I need to get this schedule back to Becks so she can cross-reference it with her information
. I'll be in touch soon." He says and strokes my cheek before putting his helmet on.

  I watch him ride off and touch the spot on my cheek where his fingers made contact with my skin. It tingles, and that prickly heat makes it's way into my chest. My breath catches.

  If only we'd met under different circumstances.

  Back upstairs I focus on waiting for the right time to sneak into Tom's office and plant the bug on his phone. Frustratingly, his phone is in his hand every time he comes out of his office.

  It's time to try something else. I pull up an account I've been working on and come up with a question I can ask Tom. Then, I ring his office.

  "What is it, Lils." He says in a distracted voice.

  "I have a question about the Martin account."

  "Why don't you just come to my office and ask then." He sounds annoyed.

  "I've got the file up here, could you just hop over to my office for a second. I promise I won't make it a regular thing." I say in a pleading and syrupy voice.

  "Fine." He huffs and hangs up the phone without saying goodbye.

  He walks into my office a few minutes later without knocking. I know I asked him to come down here, but he could at least be polite. The longer I know Adam, the more I wonder what I ever saw in Tom. He’s handsome, but Adam’s got a sexy, dangerous edge to him that I never expected to like. I guess Tom has the billionaire thing going for him, but he’s miserable and rude. Money doesn’t make up for that. At least not in my opinion it doesn’t.

  I’m in luck because instead of putting his cell in his pocket, he tosses it carelessly down on my desk. I’ve seen him do this when he goes into offices and the conference room before, and I was counting on him doing it again.

  “Can you come around here and look at this.” Another exasperated huff escapes him.

  Before he got to my office, I unbuttoned my white blouse an extra two buttons. Since I was feeling saucy this morning, I’m wearing a severe push-up bra underneath. I’ve laid the perfect trap to distract him. I only need a moment.