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41
Nathan
The clicking of the keyboard energized me. It was a weird sound for me to enjoy. It should be insistent. Annoying. Instead, it felt like production. Accomplishment.
And a few clicks later when I broke through Aaron’s firewall, that’s exactly what it was. We’d already tracked down our mutual clients. It was time to pursue the hidden ones. For someone who ran a lucrative and illegal business, his cyber security was mediocre. He cared a lot more about keeping his boss’s identity secret than his customers.
“I’m in.” I smiled as my screens filled with names, addresses, dollars spent.
“Took you long enough.” Angelo grumbled as he pressed his hand to my chair, leaning over to see the screen.
“A couple of hours isn’t long for something like this.” His presence at my back triggered me. My skin felt tight. My jaw clenched.
“Anyone look familiar?” Cole asked as he sat in the kitchen chair he’d dragged into my office.
I hated having them here. In my space. But you couldn’t tell my brothers no. I might have been able to get through the system quicker if they hadn’t been bickering behind me the whole time.
“Looking for someone in particular?”
“No.” He shrugged.
My fingers moved along the keys as I started typing in random names. Men we worked with. The Vancini and Gallos. Cade. Ryder. Other associates. Betrayal was as common as oxygen in our world.
But none of them popped.
“Nothing of note yet.” I continued searching the names, filling the screen.
“So how’s it going with the Doc?” I could hear the smile in Cole’s voice without turning around.
“We’re together. She’s mine.”
The chair squeaked as he shifted. “Is she aware of this?”
My nerves prickled at his accusation. Though it was justified. “Yes.”
“And she agrees?” Angelo asked. “You didn’t have to kidnap her or force her?”
I turned in time to see Cole shoving his shoulder. “You’re one to judge.”
“I’m not judging.” He rubbed the sore spot. “I understand that what I did to Isla makes me a monster. And I’m damn lucky she fell in love with me despite it.”
“Stockholm Syndrome.” I provided as I focused on the screens again.
“Whatever.” He said. “I know how you get attached. I just… I want you to be happy. "
My hands stilled. I turned my chair, staring at the uncharacteristic vulnerability in his gaze. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re… different, but you’re the best of us. I want you to have someone who sees it. Who understands when we love, it’s forever.”
“Love?” My throat felt tight. “You think I love her?”
“I think you’ve done a lot of things that aren’t typical for you.” Cole gave me a pointed look. “If it’s not love, then what is it?”
I wasn’t sure. I’d never been in love. Never considered the possibility. Wasn’t sure I was capable of it.
I needed to analyze what they said. Do some research. Look at data. But my computer beeped, finding a match for one of the names I’d put in.
My chair swiveled back to the screen. I blinked, trying to fit this with the pieces of information I already had. Then everything clicked into place. Brad’s name flashed over and over again.
