Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
The screens that line the other wall start to light up with information. Blueprints of buildings, classified information, and a very detailed run-through of Vane Bartow.
“He’s predictable for the most part,” Magic says. I glance over his schedule.
“Too predictable,” I mutter, already getting sucked into Crypris … and Vane Bartow.
2
VANE
“Not a single radar ping.” I sit back in my chair as I watch the drone’s video feed. It soars over my estate, the entire thing like a giant bird of prey, one that can’t be seen by the human eye or sensed by any tech currently available.
“No heat signature, not even a sound.” Cass hits a few keys and pulls up another camera, one set below the drone. “Check it out.” She points to the screen.
As far as anyone knows, it’s a clear blue sky. The camera doesn’t detect the drone, not even a hint of it rippling through the image. It’s almost a ton of metal and tech, but it may as well be a ghost.
“The military is going to cream itself for this.” Cass grins and runs a hand across her buzz cut.
“They would.” I tap a key and start the autopilot landing sequence. “But I didn’t create this for the war machine.”
She arches a brow. “Then what’s the plan?”
“The plan is already in action. My trap is set. A tiny leak to a certain hacker has piqued my quarry’s interest. So much so, in fact, that she’s planning a little visit to my R&D campus.” I can’t help my smirk. Leaving a very specific trail of breadcrumbs wasn’t particularly easy, especially considering who I’m intending to lure. I had to make it seem as if my top-secret tech was being leaked unbeknownst to me. As if I’d ever allow such a thing–but I played the part, leaving certain unhackable systems with the door ever-so-slightly ajar. A tiny sliver of space for Ocean and her crew to sneak in, get a look, and duck back out.
“Are we trapping who I think we’re trapping?” Cass asks.
I nod.
She lets out a long breath. “You really think she’s going to fall for it?”
“How would she know it’s a trap?” I shrug. “She has no idea I’m on to her.”
“And what do you plan to do once you have her?”
“Everything.” I’ve been playing this cat and mouse game for long enough. For over a year now, I’ve watched her and waited. I first saw her at a top-secret Joint Chiefs meeting. She was there with the FBI, her handler giving her the floor to answer questions about the new tech she’d discovered on one of her spying missions to China. I’d been mesmerized, my analytical mind utterly failing to function as I stared at her, at the way she moved, at the nervous fidget in her fingers as so many powerful people listened to her, at the way she spoke with confidence and strength.
I knew at that moment I’d met my match. But she wasn’t the sort who’d accept anything less than a worthy opponent. Just like I knew I had to have her, I also knew that winning her wasn’t going to be easy. Even so, I tried to get her on my team, sending Cass to make her offer after offer. She turned them down each time, just as I knew she would. With Ocean, there are no shortcuts. I have to show her who I am, what I can do, and why I’m the only man for her.
“‘Everything’ is a tall order.” Once the drone is in the hangar, Cass shuts down the controls.
“She deserves my best shot.” I turn back to my computer and quickly add video of the test flight into my personal server, then I go into the firewall and tinker with the code before backing out and shutting down.
Cass stands over my shoulder. “Is there a reason you left yet another pinhole in our security?”
I rise. “I think you know there is.”
“You realize those three women aren’t the only ones looking for a way into your files,” she chides. “You sure this is a good idea?”
“I’m aware, but I’m not too worried. Those three are the only ones who could find the breach, let alone exploit it. My breadcrumbs have been surgically precise.” I flip off the lights, and she walks at my side as we stroll toward the main house. “If anyone else shows up, I’ll know.”
“Maybe I should make another run at trying to get her on our team.” She pulls out her phone and clicks on a text from Daphne. A smile grows on her face.
“What?”
“She said the baby kicked.” She breaks into a full grin. “She can feel it, like the flutter of wings under her skin, she says.”
I glance out at the fading sun. “It’s late. Get home to her. We’ll do another test run tomorrow.”