Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
I back off, returning to the kitchen stools. As subtly as I can, I bend to check under the couch for any additional phones hiding underneath the sofas. Maybe one’s been planted.
At that moment, Leo stands and I bolt upright, in case he thinks it’s weird I’m peering under his sofa. “Shit, I’m sorry.”
I glance at the table and realize he’s knocked over a bottle of beer.
“I’ll get a towel.”
I run to the kitchen, pull some paper towel from the counter and race back. Leo takes it from me and mops up the table. Bennett tears off some towel and dries his phone before slipping it into his back pocket.
Perfect. Now there’s no doubt he’s in range if I drop the phone Aarvi gave me down the back of the sofa.
The phone Aarvi gave me is the exact make and model as my own. This additional phone should be able to track any malware being sent to Bennett’s phone.
I’d never make a spy. I’m just not cut out for lying and deceit. My pulse races as I stuff my real phone into my blazer pocket and pull out the second phone from my jeans. It’s either now or never. I have to put this phone near Bennett before Nadia comes back or I might not get another chance to go unnoticed.
I grab the tequila bottle from the counter and stalk over to the sofas. “You want this?” I ask, holding the bottle over the back of the sofa.
Bennett grabs it. “Thanks.” He slides it onto the table in front of me and I push my fingers into the short hair above his neck. Then I place a kiss on his head while slipping the phone behind the cushion he’s leaning on.
No one seems to notice and I back away, mentally high-fiving myself. I grab my phone and tap out a text to Aarvi, telling her the phone’s in place. She’s on standby, ready to do whatever she needs to do to trace the malware back to the attacker’s phone. As much as it will devastate Bennett if we discover the source of the hacks is one of his most trusted friends, the alternative is worse. I want to protect him from people who are going to hurt him, and that means, tonight, we need answers.
Monday night seems to last at least three and a half days, and I’m hoping that means Aarvi has the time she needs to do her job.
On the upside, Nadia has been more than charming. She’s sat in her own chair for almost the whole evening, and has even refrained from licking Leo’s ear. I’m sure Bennett will be more inclined to like her given we’ve been chatting for the last three hours in between Nadia’s frequent trips to the bathroom. She’s either got a drug problem or a UTI.
“These games go on forever, don’t they?” I say to her.
“Why can’t they stick to proper football like the rest of the world?” she asks.
I laugh, even though I’m not sure she’s joking. “I was thinking the same thing.”
Bennett looks over his shoulder and our eyes lock. The game is over from what I can tell. The score looks like one side beat the other side to death. “We need to go,” he says, his eyes not leaving mine.
Since I messaged Aarvi, I haven’t dared pull out my phone again to see if she’s messaged back with news. I didn’t want there to be any chance that Nadia saw me with two phones. Although the boys have been distracted, there’s always a chance one of them is paying closer attention than I realize.
I haven’t wanted to take any unnecessary risks. I can only hope I’ve done enough and Aarvi has been able to figure out the attacker.
As everyone stands, still continuing their conversations, I slide off the barstool. I just want to get out of here as soon as possible. At the same time, I want to pause time. If Aarvi has found the source of the attacks, I’m going to have to have a very difficult conversation with Bennett.
Casually, I pat my jeans pockets and glance around. “Have you seen my phone?” I ask Nadia.
She shakes her head. I deliberately didn’t bring a bag with me today. I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself.
“Bennett, do you have my phone?”
He frowns at me and shakes his head. He’s probably wondering why I’m asking him. There’s no reason why he’d have my phone.
I clap my hands on my jeans pockets and head to the sofa. I glance around the area like I don’t know exactly where I’ve left the phone. I pull at the cushions, checking behind and then, like magic, find what I’m looking for. “Phew,” I say to myself, loud enough that I hope it sounds convincing to anyone who’s listening.