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She rushed past us and stumbled up the stairs, gripping the railing for support.
Cole blew out a deep breath, his eyes aimed at me. “Liv was the leak, wasn’t she?”
I nodded. “Found a bunch of malware. She probably opened a link or downloaded something without realizing it would leave her vulnerable to attacks.”
“Fuck.” Cole shoved a hand through his white-blond hair and sighed. “Please don’t tell her.”
“Wasn’t planning on it. When we get back to my house, we’ll connect the phone to Lovelace and let her optimize the location based on the tracking data.”
I heard Lovelace’s voice over the speakers. Olivia must have been talking to her because it sounded like she was having a full-blown conversation. I couldn’t make out the exact words.
Drake often spoke about Lovelace as if she were a person. A few times, I found Drake in his lab, talking to Lovelace as if she were his therapist. She gave pretty damn good advice.
A few minutes later, Olivia reappeared with black mascara streaks under her eyes with an overnight bag slung over her shoulder. I took the bag from her and headed outside without a word.
“I can’t do this.” Olivia’s voice wavered with each word she spoke. “Tate, Drake… They have to…”
“You’re okay.” Cole helped her into the backseat of my car and sat beside her. “Just breathe, Liv.”
I peeled out of the driveway because we didn’t have time to kill, not with the clock ticking.
Tick, tock.
Time was almost up.
ChapterEight
ALEX
After swimming in the pool, Damian put Sofia down for a nap. I was exhausted, jet-lagged from the trip back from Italy and desperate for sleep. Too bad my mind wouldn't stop racing, my thoughts a scattered mess.
I sat in the parlor with Bastian, clinging to his side for comfort. He held out his cell phone with the call on speaker, so I could also talk to his cousin, Grace. She married Cole Marshall last year and just delivered their first child.
Bastian knew about Grace for most of her life. But he hadn't spoken to her until a few months before Fitzy's funeral when she helped us lure her father out of hiding. We once thought her biological father was the leader of The Lucaya Group. The Devil's Knights were keeping her safe at the request of The Founders Society in case they needed to use her for leverage.
But that was all a lie.
Another bill of goods Fitzy sold to the Knights, a secret that bonded Bastian and Grace. Now, all of us were closer than family. Until I met Grace, I hadn't had a single friend.
"He's so handsome," Grace cooed. "Hale looks just like Cole."
"I can't wait to meet him." Bastian smiled. "We'll come over this week, okay?"
"Send me a pic.” I leaned over Bash's arm to speak into the phone. "Actually, can you hang up? I want to call you on FaceTime.”
"Sure," she muttered.
I hit the button to start a video call. Seconds later, Grace’s face lit up on the screen. Grace had dark circles under her blue eyes, making her pale skin look translucent. She was a pretty girl with long, blonde hair and a heart-shaped face.
"Bash, I need you to promise me something."
He shoved his free hand through his caramel brown hair and sighed. "Cole will be fine."
"You don't know that," she said with her eyes closed, holding a sleeping Hale in her arms.
She was right about him looking exactly like his dad. The beautiful little boy was Cole's twin. He had the same shape to his blue eyes, even the same chin.
"Marcello is going with him," Bastian said to assure her, which only reminded me of what I would lose if they failed. "It will all work out, Grace. You have to believe that. Stay positive."
