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“Guilty. But I should have at least one you’ll like.”
She shakes her head with a small smile on her face and then nods. “Okay, movie night it is.” She jumps off the island and tips her head up to me. I haven’t moved from my spot only a few inches away from her. As she moves to right her shorts, Katrina’s chest brushes mine. An innocent movement, but my hunger for her sparks back to life.
We have a lot of time to make up for.
And a lot of questions that need to be answered.
All in good time though. I’m a semipatient man. I can give her more time to fully trust me again and believe that I’ll do anything to help her.
Clasping her neck, I give her a gentle squeeze of reassurance. Following my gut, I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. She lets out a soft sigh.
“I’ll be right back with the laptop. You get comfortable on the couch.”
She nods, but steps in the same direction as me. Pointing to the guest room, she states, “Going to grab my cell for some added light. Just in case.”
My gut pings with a warning but I push it away. I can’t let myself forget that she’s here for a reason. My little thief is still on the clock, even if she’s not sure about completing her mission anymore.
We walk together down the hallway, and I make like I’m going to the master bedroom. When she disappears into the guest room, I press the wooden knot in the wall panel and quickly enter the control room.
Immediately I know my algorithm still hasn’t cracked the USB’s code. I let out a frustrated breath. Running a hand through my hair, I station myself in front of the main monitor and try to pinpoint any issues with my program. There are none that I can see.
Knowing I need to give my program longer to crack the encrypted message, I aim my attention to the cameras I have hidden around the property.
After a careful inspection of the shed out back that holds the backup generator and other equipment, I see there’s no tampering that I can make out. The power failing is from the storm. I debate radioing Connor and Cohen to see if they’re all right but talk myself out of it. I’m just being paranoid. They’re both trained military men like me; they can handle a little storm. We’ve been in much worse.
Needing to see Katrina and make sure she’s okay while I figure this shit out, I switch to the cabin cameras. I give her image a quick glance before going back to the main bank of computer screens. My head has turned only a fraction of an inch before I’m looking back at the screen.
Katrina is looking at her cell phone, the bright light illuminating her face. She’s leaning against the back of the couch like her body has suddenly lost all strength. What I see sends white-hot rage surging through me. Fear.
Someone has put that scared look on her face, and when I find out who that motherfucker is, they’ll suffer. My hands ball into fists on the desk. So maybe my patience is growing thin and I will have to persuade her to tell me what kind of trouble she’s in. I can’t have her scared; it kills me to see her looking that way.
Taking a deep breath, I force myself to calm down. I can’t go back out there and start making demands. That’s the fastest way to get her to run.
My screen flashes red, indicating another failed attempt to decode the USB.
“Fuck!” I bark, standing abruptly. The chair flies back and topples over as I stand and pace the small room. This USB holds the answer to why Katrina is here. It can’t be a coincidence this gets sent to me and then she turns up.
Danger was lurking in the distance, I could feel it.
And Katrina is in the center of it all.
CHAPTER 9
KATRINA
Update. Now. Time’s running out.
The text message from an unknown number is waiting for me when I pull out my cell. I’d only meant to take it out for the flashlight app but as soon as I saw the waiting message, I couldn’t ignore it.
It was from Carlos.
There was no point in responding. The reception out here was limited. I only had one bar that kept dancing on and off in the corner of my device. I was surprised I even got this message with the storm.
Taking a deep shaky breath, I place a hand on my chest. My heart is racing. I know I’m out of Carlos’s reach, but the knowledge that he and his thugs could turn up at any minute has my anxiety spiking.
I should tell Lennox everything…but I won’t. I’ve already dragged him too deep into this mess, I can’t jeopardize him more. I need to find that damn USB and get the hell out of here.
On wobbly legs, I make my way back into the kitchen to search for plates and the snacks Lennox had mentioned. The pizza is cooked through and still hot to the touch even though the oven is off. I have to rummage around in a few drawers before I find his pizza cutter.
