by Diana Downey
I rake my hand through my hair. “I have a friend who can hack these accounts and get copies of their transfers.”
Cyn fondles me, and I consider doing her on the desk, but my whole workforce will probably know. “Could you get your money back?” she asks.
“I don’t know. It would be illegal. I should probably let the feds take it from here.” But damn I want my money back. Fuck the thieves who stole from me.
Cyn’s phone beeps, and we both jump. She reads her text. “Espinoza wants to meet for lunch. He has what we can turn over on a flash drive.”
“We’ll have to go through the file on Manny and the Asian files before we turn them over to ensure the data’s good,” I say.
She nods. “I should get to work and get payroll done.”
I scan through the files, making connections from my accounts to a few of the accounts in one other file. Each one of these has my account linked to one that’s not mine, and they’re in a digital sequence. I bet this is the accounting and IP routes my money took, skipping from one destination to the next until it landed into an overseas bank.
I trace a few of the accounts. I know it’s wrong, but I hack into one of the linked accounts.
I search through the transactions made last year. One came from my home laptop and went through several servers before it reached a Panamanian bank account.
“Shit,” I mutter. This is where 150 million went. My friend could get it back by reversing the unauthorized transaction. I couldn’t before because my own bank couldn’t tell me where the money went. It had gone through several banks before it landed in the one I just hacked. It was so far gone the bank couldn’t get it back.
I’m taking my 150 mil back. I’ll work with my friend who’s much better than me at hacking.
“I have a meeting in a few minutes in one of the conference rooms to cover the secure servers.” Jeremy isn’t going to like it, but I hired an outside security firm. I can’t have anyone hacking into the personal accounts of our clients.
Cyn doesn’t look up from her laptop. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
When I enter the conference room, my eighteen programmers minus Sonia are already seated. She’s always late. My lead Tang starts the presentation of the latest enhancements to Hoops N’ Hookups. He added a side application that allows the user to buy tickets in other cities and arrange long distance hookups. That has worked well for our wealthier clients, but most like to simply meet at the game and then a possible romp back at the apartment.
Sonia waltzes into the room, bringing donuts and coffee. “Sorry.” She smiles big at me and then her gaze unapologetically roams over my body. A couple of my female employees have hit on me. She’s the worst.
“Thanks, Sonia,” Jeremy says. He’s a bit geeky, but if he didn’t try so hard at flirting, a couple of the girls would go out with him.
Most everyone digs into the donuts, and even I take a cup of coffee. “Thank you,” I say. “Let’s continue.”
After a few of my lead programmers give the status of their projects, I finally talk. “Everything looks good. I have something I’d like to talk about. We’ve had a security breach on the servers, and we can’t afford to lose any personal client data, so I hired an outside security group to look at the issues.”
My security technician Jeremy blanches. I don’t mean to embarrass him, but I want everyone to know I’m taking this seriously.
“I trust you guys.” Hell, I ran background checks on everyone here. Other than their drivers’ license records, I didn’t have much to go on for my foreign employees. I have two Canadians, one Chinsee, and one Indian, but they’re good workers. “But I won’t jeopardize our clients’ trust. I put in a 512-bit key encryption program to secure personal data for our application, and I installed it last night. Now when our users login to their accounts, their data will be automatically encrypted with a more advanced algorithm instead of the hashing we were using.”
I hate to think it’s any of my people, but I’m not going to lose any more money or customers over what Cyn found. She’s the one person I can trust.
Upon my request, the leads stay after the meeting, and Sri asks, “Do we get to know about this new algorithm?”
“The key changes every week, and I won’t be sharing it. It’s unnecessary for anyone to know the algorithm or any client’s personal data, and it’s written on non-readable chips.”
Tang shrugs. “Okay.”
“It’ll make it harder for us to do our jobs,” another lead complains.
Jeremy stays behind too, waiting for me to finish with the leads.
“You won’t even know the algorithm is there,” I say. “It decrypts only when a charge goes through.”
Sri and one other lead grumble on their way out. Programmers don’t always like change, but it’s for the best. I cannot lose any of my clients if I hope to put a dent into my IRS back taxes.
“We’ll work around it,” Tang says. “It won’t be a problem, and it’s good you caught the security leak.” He gives Jeremy a dirty look on the way out.
Jeremy closes the door. “I’m sorry, Shane. What did you find?”
I’d hate to fire him. We’ve been friends since college. “A port was open on one of the servers. We’re losing data.”
“Wow.” His fingers rake his short hair. “I put software on the servers to look specifically for that. I wonder what happened to it. You aren’t going to fire me, are you?”
“No.” Not yet.
“I will get right on that, and Shane, I’m really sorry. I put lots of extra software on the servers to check for malware, and it doesn’t seem to help. A few times it’s been turned off.”
I don’t know who to believe or trust now. Anyone of my admins or leads could pull the software off, except what I put on. Only I have access to the programs I installed. “I’ve put some other software on my personal machine to watch the servers. I’d like you to keep an eye on that port and tell me about any activity.”
“I will.”
So will I. I return to my office to take Cyn to meet Espinoza. Sonia is waiting for me there. She’s due for a promotion to the lead position. Other than her constant flirting, she’s a really good programmer and holds a math degree.
“What’s up?” I ask.
Instead of jeans, she’s wearing an embarrassingly short skirt. Something I hadn’t noticed when she came in late. “I heard you broke up with Niki.” She’s going to hit on me, and that the last thing I need, especially with Cyn next door.
“We weren’t really dating, and I have a very serious girlfriend I intend on marrying.”
She cocks her head. “You were taking Niki out.”
“I was trying to get information from her that I needed. I have no interest in any woman other than Cynthia Diaz.” Hell, just thinking about her gets me going.
Sonia’s face squishes up in astonishment. “Her? Our bookkeeper?”
“Our accountant.” With the hours she’ll earn here, Cyn’s going for her CPA as soon as she graduates.
Her face squishes up in disgust. “Why her?”
My princess walks into the room, making me smile. “Ready?” Cyn asks.
“If you change your mind, you know where I am.” Sonia swings her hips toward my door.
“That’s not going to happen,” Cyn says, and Sonia stops, swinging that long blonde mane.
“We’ll see about that,” she says.
Cyn laughs. “Wow. Does she know you took on a drug dealer for me?”
“She even lies,” Sonia bites back.
“That’s not a lie,” I say. “We need to go, princess.” I give her one of my panty-melting kisses so that she melts into my arms and so Sonia sees it.
“Maybe we should go home for lunch,” Cyn says in a husky voice, stirring my dick into action.
Sonia’s face pinches, and she spins around to leave.
As soon as my door closes, my hands run under Cyn’s shirt. “Why don’t we just fuck on my desk inste
ad?”
Her mouth crashes into mine. “Because I want to be done with Juarez, and I’d like for my dad to spend less time in prison.”
“What if this is an ambush?” I don’t trust Juarez.
“I don’t think it will be. We’re meeting at a taco stand.”
And that worries me. That’s his turf.
As we head out, I look for any suspicious vehicles, and I can feel the tension in her shoulders where my hand rests. We’re both on edge.
I drive my truck toward the south end of town where Espinoza waits outside a taco stand. He stands by his car with his hands in his pockets.
He waves at Cyn as soon as she steps out of the truck. “Senorita. Juarez tells you hello.” He hands her a memory stick. “Use it wisely. He left the Asian files on there. Juarez would like them to go away, so you are free to hand those over as well.”
“Will do,” Cyn says. “Gracias.”
“Juarez says to watch yourself,” Espinoza says to Cyn. “The Chinese are following you.”
“Why?” I ask. The Chinese have an issue with me, not Cyn. She is my concern, not Juarez’s.
“Juarez thinks the bank accounts are about their side business. The Chinese lost a lot of money to Manny Diaz. He stole several shipments of heroin and sold them. They’re out hundreds of millions, they’re hurting, and they’re desperate. They owe lots of money, and they’re looking to replace it.”
Oh fuck. My fingers comb through my hair in frustration. I need to find my money, so they’re creditors will take them down. “Let’s get going. Thank you.”
I drive back to the tower, my head and heart sick with the knowledge that we’re going to have to fight more drug dealers. They wanted to buy my company, and I turned them down, so instead they stole all my profits and my technology.
“An Escalade is following us,” Cyn says in a low voice.
“For how long?” I ask.
She swallows what looks like a rock in her throat. “Last couple miles.” She pulls out her gun, and courage looks damn sexy on her.
Unholstering my gun, I pull into the tower, but they don’t follow us into the garage. Timmons’ car is parked, so we have company. The Escalade veers off, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
We were damn lucky the first time Cyn and I faced off Manny, but I doubt we’ll be as lucky the second time.
Cyn leans over to touch my thigh, and I cave into this strong vibrant woman. Her taking on Manny was hot and scary as hell. “We need to go over these files and then talk to my lawyer to see if he can make a deal for my dad.”
“Let me deal with Timmons, and we’ll see if we can’t get through the files Juarez gave us pretty fast. My friend is working on hacking into the bank account. He should be done quickly.”
“Won’t that anger the Chinese?” she asks, her voice strained.
“Yeah, but if I can get the IRS off my back, then I can work my business from Alaska, and we can get away from this nonsense.” I draw my princess into my arms. I love her, and I can’t risk losing her again.
“Willa has a full scholarship here.”
I hadn’t thought about that, and Cyn wouldn’t want to leave her unprotected. “We’ll work on that later.” Once I pay off the IRS, I could afford to pay for Willa to go to school.
Timmons is waiting in my office, and unfortunately Sonia is entertaining him.
“Sonia, no one is allowed in my office unless I’m here,” I say, irritated.
She smiles like it’s no big deal and leaves. I’ll write her up, so I have cause to fire her. I won’t put up with any shit from my employees.
Timmons lights into me. “You ditched Niki, and now our case is blown, and I couldn’t even get a hold of you on Sunday all day or the night before. Where the hell were you?”
That’s because I was helping Cyn kill her uncle. I wonder if the DEA or Mexican government has found the bodies yet. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Cyn found a flash drive that contains not only a file incriminating her uncle but the Chinese who stole from me.”
“Where is this proof? You should’ve already given it to me.”
Fuck this asshole. I stand over him and leer. “Why didn’t you tell me it was the Chinese? You have to have known, and Niki doesn’t have anything to do with them.”
Timmons looks sheepishly. “She did steal from you. We’re sure of it.”
It was someone in my company. Someone smarter than her. “She didn’t.”
“When do I get to see the files?”
“You’ll have to work that out with Cyn’s lawyer. She’s trying to reduce her father’s sentence.”
Timmons snorts. “Good luck with that. We’ll subpoena the files.”
“She can destroy them at any time, and I’ll say they never existed. You need to protect us from now on. We’ve been shot at, and someone tried to run Cyn over. We’re being followed all the time now. You should be able to catch them.”
“We don’t know who these people are,” Timmons says.
“I don’t believe you.” The DEA has to have some inkling, and the feds are working with them. “I should have names from the drives in a few days, but you should start with the Chinese business men who have drug connections in Austin.”
Timmons has to be lying to me, and he’s going to get Cyn and me killed.
He leaves, looking disappointed, but the files are Cyn’s. It’s good that she’s on my side and in my bed. I can’t believe our lives are a tangled mess, even though criminals tend to know one another.
After I sit down at my desk, I get a text from my hacker. “Check your bank account in the Caymans.”
I use my phone’s network to connect to the Internet, instead of Red Sky’s, and log into my account.
Fuck me. $150 million has been added to my savings. Four hundred and eighty million was stolen from me.
I immediately contact the IRS. They said they’d settle for 100 million out of the 200 million I owed. I can pay them off, so I want to get this out of the way now.
I transfer the monies over to the IRS, and now I can focus on Cyn and getting the Chinese out of our hair. She and I need to celebrate as soon as we pick up Willa.
Checking my phone, I mutter, “Shit. We’re late to pick her up.”
Chapter Willa
Yesterday I killed my uncle and his son. My throat hurts from all the broken glass I’ve swallowed. So much guilt weighs me down I worry that I’ll turn myself in. I don’t want to go to prison for saving Cyn and me.
I bite back the tears sticking in my throat. At first, the shock of killing overwhelmed me. I couldn’t think. There was no feeling, but today, I felt sick all day. Everywhere I looked I saw glimpses of blood—on the computer monitor, in the lunchroom, and in the restroom. It’s driving me crazy.
I tap my toe. They’re late. I’d texted Aedan earlier not to bother picking me up. Something has Cyn and Shane scared and it’s no longer Manny.
I check my phone for the third time and worry drops into my stomach like a plane going down. I send Cyn a text, and her reply says they’re on their way in a few minutes. I’m the last person outside waiting, it makes me uncomfortable, and my backpack full of books hurts my shoulder.
Manny is dead. Who else would harm us now?
A black Escalade sits across the street and has been there ever since I got out of school. Cyn told me an Escalade tried to run her over. I seriously doubt it’s Manny’s wife. She’s probably in South America or Europe by now.
The tinted windows hide whoever is inside. Nervousness of being alone chills me to the bone. At least, the soccer team practices on the field, but that’s behind the school. They’re too far away to make a difference.
Aedan drives up in his truck, and my heart pounds so loud it drowns out the world. My nerves set on fire and my fears and worries over the drug lords take a backseat.
That dimpled smile warms me and curls my toes in my sandals and puts me at ease. “Can I give you a lift, pretty lass? I don’t take rejection very well
as you can see.”
I nod and quickly text Cyn to let her know I no longer need a ride. I don’t want to stay here, and I text that an Escalade is sitting across the street from me.
“Please go home and wait for us,” she texts back. “We’re going for dinner.”
I text, “Maybe. Aedan’s with me.” I would love to go out, but I have a ton of homework.
“Dinner?” he asks.
“How did you know where I went to school?” Everything makes me nervous.
“It was on your application you filled out for the TV show. Hungry?”
“I have too much homework, but Cyn and Shane went out for dinner. I don’t want to be alone in the house, not after what’s happened in there.” I shiver. When will I be myself again?
He gives me a devilish grin. “I would love to spend the night.”
I shove his shoulder, feeling the hard muscle underneath. “I didn’t ask that. Why did the studio give you back your job?”
He shrugs and drives off. “I don’t know. Seems strange. They told me to not date you until the project was done and hired me back.”
I scoot close to him to absorb this man’s body heat and feel his body next to mine. “And you listen so well?”
As we pull away, the Escalade drives off in the opposite direction. I text Cyn to let her know. How does anyone get away with driving without license plates? It looked like there was a tag taped to the rear window, but it can’t be read through the dark windows.
I shudder. “Don’t you worry about being with a girl who knows drug lords and is being followed?”
“Yes, but good sense is thrown out the window when you have a pretty lass controlling your mind and important parts of your body.”
Blushing, I grin. That’s about the dirtiest thing I’ve ever heard, except when Shane talks to Cyn in the bedroom. The walls are thin. He has quite the filthy mouth, but it’s kind of hot. She’s told me he’s amazing in bed. What is Aedan like in bed? Will he be attentive? Will he love me or use me?
“While you do your schoolwork, I will research and work on funding my documentary on Texas border towns dealing with undocumented immigrants.”