Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Motherfucker.
I don’t react. It takes a lot of effort to keep my face calm. Daron’s smart, but he’s guessing. Nobody would really think Riley might be involved with Mantis.
“I barely know my wife,” I say, which is true, if misleading.
“Maybe it’s not her,” he concedes, and a part of my stomach unclenches. “But whoever it is, they must really matter to you. I’m willing to help.” He smiles slightly, crooked and sharp. “To a point at least.”
“I appreciate that,” I say, pulling the folder toward me. I tap the cover with my palm. “But this is more than enough.”
“Just be careful. You know how they are. Fucking Mantis. I’d never get involved with those psychopaths, not in a million years.” He shoves himself from the booth and tosses a twenty down on the table.
“And here you are, offering to do it anyway.”
“Guess we’re getting soft in our old fucking age.” He scowls at me and shakes his head. “Tell me what you’re getting me into next time so I can take better precautions. I thought Fong was just some fancy cyber salesman.”
“If I get through this, there won’t be a next time.”
He laughs as he walks away. “Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
I let him go. HERE IT IS gets quiet after that. Old men drowning themselves. Young ones finding a place to keep their heads down. The bartender’s a hard, tattooed old lady. She smiles at me when I get up and leave another twenty on the bar just to make sure she forgets I was ever here.
Outside, the rain’s letting up. I head back to my car and flip through the dossier under the light of a sputtering street lamp. Fong’s company is doing pretty well for itself, though I doubt its actual main purpose is real B2B cyber security. They have offices in a secure location out in the suburbs. Twenty-foot fencing, barbed wire, guards on duty, and enough tech to protect Fort Knox.
If Fong’s got the key, he’ll keep it in there. No doubt in my mind.
I pull out and start driving. I’m distracted thinking about how I’m going to get out of this mess, and I almost don’t spot the truck tailing me.
But it gets a little too close, and I spot them. I can’t see who’s driving, not with the headlights and the puddles all over. They try to keep two cars back, and I consider trying to lose them. My heart rate picks up, and I think about what Daron said on his way out.
He should’ve been more careful.
No, I can’t be sure it was him. Mantis would be on his tail, not on mine. I’m betting this is them just making sure I’m doing my job. They have no clue I was in there talking about them. Fong’s being paranoid, and for good reason.
This watch is important, and he’s as dead as I am if I don’t come through.
I ultimately decide not to get into a car chase. Instead, I drift back home, going slow and steady. My tail sticks back there, being careful, but not too careful. I’m on edge by the time I park out front and hurry in through the front door.
I activate my security system.
“You’re home.”
Riley’s standing in the hallway. She’s got a glass of wine in one hand. Her hair’s up and messy, and she’s in a pair of wide-legged sweats with a tank top.
“You need to come with me.” I walk over and take her by the arm.
“Hey, what are you doing?” She struggles slightly as I drag her upstairs. “Seriously, Alexan, stop it.”
I don’t let go. I pull her into our room and slam the door behind me before making sure the blinds are drawn and the curtains are closed. It takes a lot of willpower not to activate my panic mode.
“What the fuck is up with you?” she says, glaring at me. “You can’t just come home and start pushing me around.”
I peek out one of the blinds. The truck that followed me is parked down the block. Its lights are off, but I recognize the bumper.
“Don’t go near the windows,” I say, snapping the blinds closed again.
“Excuse me? Have you lost your mind?”
“Stay in here for the rest of the night. Hell, stay in here for the next month.”
“Alexan.” Her jaw’s tight as she glares at me. “Tell me what’s happening.”
I have to take a calming breath. I’m overreacting, but I don’t like that Mantis is following me. They haven’t done anything threatening yet, though it’s only a matter of time before they get more aggressive. The longer it takes for me to show results, the pushier Fong’s going to get.
Until he runs out of patience and kills us both.
“I was followed.” I turn to face her. “Right now, I’d guess there are at least a handful of killers lurking outside and keeping an eye on us.”