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Oh god.
Ethannevertraveled without his laptop.
Belle just knew it—they were trying to get into the security office’s mainframe to steal files with the goal of holding them for ransom.
Couldshebeat Ethan to it? She knew a lot more than he did about tech. Her parents liked to brag that she’d studied philosophy in college, but the truth was, she’d taken a lot of computer courses and spent a fair amount of time with the tech nerds. And they’d taught her things.
It was one of the tidbits of information she kept from Ethan. Knowing his penchant for adrenaline rushes, she was always wary of him asking her to perform something that went against not only her morals but the law.
She turned to Declan. “I have a headache. I’m going back to the bunkhouse now.”
“I’ll walk you.”
She started to protest and saw that there would be no arguing with him. “All right.”
She had to get to her computer tablet. She’d brought it thinking that if she got bored, she always had books loaded into her online library, but now she saw the merit of having the device at her fingertips.
She had to find a way into the security office’s mainframe before her ex did.
ChapterEight
Declan paced along the back wall of the office. The beauty of the fields and the distant mountains was a view that he originally thought would offer him some peace during times of stress, but he was far from peaceful after his conversation with Belle the previous night.
Her sudden change of demeanor at the charity auction set his senses roaring. Something happened when she got up to use the restroom—something he was sure he could have prevented by accompanying her.
But his duty came first. Stepping away from his post wasn’t an option. While she went to the restroom, he couldn’t help but follow her with his gaze, and that got Boone’s attention. With a single hand gesture he alerted Boone that he needed to go after her, but in seconds she’d returned, telling him she was stepping out for some air.
Boone’s voice had filled Declan’s ear, giving him the greenlight to watch over her.
Then her talk took an even scarier turn as she questioned the existence of a security office onsite and whether or not they were patrolling.
If she hadn’t been threatened, he didn’t knowwhatcaused the shift in her.
After dropping her at the bunkhouse, he debated standing guard outside the door, but that would only make people ask questions. He was undercover. His rigid work ethics wouldn’t allow him to break his role.
But dammit, he could—and would—get more security on Belle when he couldn’t be by her side.
The man rounding the outside corner of the office brought Declan’s pacing to a halt. He faced Boone.
“You needed to talk?”
“Yeah. Last night, something went down.”
His brows shot up. “And you’re just now sharing this with the team?”
“It’s not like that, but it’s worth mentioning. That woman I’m posing with as her date—”
“Belle Robb. What about her?”
Robb. He didn’t even know her last name until this very moment.
“Her ex is here in attendance with his fiancée. I think there’s something going on that has her frightened. The asshole cornered me in the bathroom and said a few things. I shot him down, but there is definitely some tension between him and Belle. I suspect the fiancée also cornered Belle.”
“So what happened last night that got your neck prickling?”
He shot Boone a direct look. They understood each other. “She asked if there is security on the premises for the event. And she brought up the WEST office.”
Boone stared at him for a long heartbeat. “Her family knows mine. Of course she’d hear things.”
