Fighting for Berlin (Redemption Harbor Security #5)

1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The only person you have to live with is yourself.

Berlin turned down the radio as Bradford steered into her sister’s apartment complex.

“Thank god,” Bradford muttered. They’d become friends years ago, back when they’d both worked for Redemption Harbor Security in North Carolina. Now they worked out of the New Orleans location and he was still one of her favorite people.

“What?” She glanced at him before scanning the parking lot out of habit. She hadn’t always been as vigilant about her surroundings, but now it was second nature to be aware of everything around her.

“Nothing…just glad you turned down the volume.”

She blinked. “Oh my god, when did you become an old man?”

He lifted a shoulder, grinned. “I was born an old man. And you’re in a mood so I didn’t say anything, but I’m glad to be able to hear now.”

Okay, maaaybe she’d been blasting the music on the drive to Texas, but whatever. She was keyed up and the crew had been using the company plane for work. So she and Bradford had gone on a little road trip to see her sister in college. Cheyenne was living in the standard type of college apartment that seemed to litter the area surrounding the university—small four bedroom, small four baths, with four people living together. A quad-style dorm with a shared kitchen. The bedrooms were the size of matchboxes but it worked for college. “Sorry, I’m just worried about Cheyenne.”

“I know, and it’s fine,” he murmured as he pulled into one of the guest spots and turned off the engine. “You want me to go in with you?”

“No… Do you mind waiting here?” She felt bad, since he’d driven most of the way. Mainly so she was free to help out in case anyone from work called and needed her help hacking via her laptop, but the phone line had been quiet the entire drive. She was glad they hadn’t needed her to work, but the distraction wouldn’t have been the worst thing.

“I’m good. Call or text if you need me.” He leaned his seat back slightly and was already shutting his eyes.

Which was about right. The man could doze anywhere, and it was impressive.

Berlin slid out of the SUV, rolled her shoulders as she prepared to head upstairs. At least the weather was nice in March; still a chill in the air and only a few clouds dotting the big blue sky in Houston. She inhaled the crisp air and headed up.

Her sister, who was on the third floor, had called her crying last night because she was certain her boyfriend was cheating on her again. To be fair, the loser probably was.

Cheyenne was her youngest sister and had a knack for attracting losers, something Berlin was trying really hard not to focus on. According to her other sisters, Sydney and Geneva, Berlin was coddling her too much. Which…she probably was. But it was hard drawing the line between sister and parental figure considering she’d been taking care of them long before their parents had died.

She’d texted Cheyenne to tell her that she was close but hadn’t heard anything. Which, again, sounded about right. After knocking on the door for the third time, it finally swung open.

Berlin blinked in surprise to see her sister with the same boyfriend she’d been crying about. He had his arm wrapped around her from behind, holding her close to his chest. And they were both out of breath.

“Oh, hey, B. I…” Cheyenne trailed off, her cheeks going pink.

But Berlin didn’t need her to finish. Her sister had apparently forgotten she’d asked her to come to her rescue last night and was well into the makeup sex part of her toxic relationship cycle.

“I’m gonna go smoke.” Her boyfriend, Toby something, kissed the top of Cheyenne’s head before chin nodding at Berlin and moving past her.

“So you guys are back together?” Berlin tried to keep the frustration out of her voice. She really did. But she was pretty sure her face did all the talking.

Cheyenne, who looked more like their dad than the four sisters combined, rolled her eyes and motioned for Berlin to step inside. The apartment smelled like booze and sex. And a little marijuana. Great . Berlin glanced at the stack of dirty dishes in the sink as they moved past the kitchen into the living room.

It actually wasn’t too bad for college kids. The blinds were drawn so it was dark, but the living room was neat, with a couple throw pillows and blankets on the couches and two textbooks on a side table. And there were a few pieces of makeup strewn on the coffee table, but that was it.

“Are your roommates here?”

“Nah, they’re all in school right now. My classes aren’t till four.”

Berlin nodded and sat on one of the couches. “Does Toby have classes with you?”

“Ah…no, he’s taking a break this semester.”

Translation, the guy had dropped out. But Berlin simply nodded. “So…you called me to come out here, and now you’re fine?”

Cheyenne flopped down on the recliner next to her, her blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. “I forgot to let you know we were fine. Freaking sue me.”

She dug deep for patience. “Or you could just apologize for letting me drive all the way over here for no reason?” What the hell was wrong with her sister?

“Fine, whatever, I’m sorry,” Cheyenne huffed out. “I’ve been busy. I have a life, you know.”

Berlin bit back the comment that wanted to burst out. She’d known it was a mistake to drop everything and drive here, so that was on her. She was old enough to know better. But Cheyenne had sounded so damn miserable last night and she was the baby. “How are classes going?”

Another casual shrug as she crossed her legs. “Good. Made the dean’s list again.”

That actually didn’t surprise Berlin. Cheyenne was incredibly bright, at least when it came to academics. “Glad to hear it.”

“Look,” Cheyenne said on a long sigh, “I really am sorry I asked you to come out here. I was emotional last night and…”

And she knew her big sister would ride out to her rescue. Jesus, Berlin really was predictable.

“Next time I call and ask, just ignore me.”

Nodding, Berlin stood because she was tired and just wanted to get out of here. “Okay, I will.”

Cheyenne blinked, but stood with her. “Really? That’s it? No lecture?”

“Nope. And I knew better. I shouldn’t have come but you sounded bad…” Berlin wanted to say more, but she bit it back because she knew it would only push her sister farther away and that was the last thing she wanted. Whenever this “relationship” finally imploded, Berlin wanted her sister to know she could reach out without expecting any judgment. “You’re an adult and I hope this guy makes you happy. Because you deserve someone who treats you right.”

Cheyenne tucked her long hair behind one of her ears. “Now you’re making me feel guilty,” she muttered.

“Don’t feel guilty. Look, I love you, and it’s clear you don’t need me.” More than that, Cheyenne didn’t want her here. “I drove with a friend and I don’t want to keep him waiting so…” She reached for her sister, was glad when Cheyenne hugged her back.

“He’s not all bad,” Cheyenne whispered.

“If he was a good guy and treated you right, you wouldn’t need to say that at all,” Berlin said as she stepped back. “And that’s not advice, just a fact. The only advice I will give you: use protection so you don’t end up with a ‘gift’ if he cheats.” Again . She kept that last word to herself but was pretty sure her face didn’t.

Cheyenne’s jaw hardened, but then the front door opened, letting in a stream of bright Texas sun as her boyfriend strode in. The guy was good-looking, Berlin would give him that. But shit like that was all superficial—and looks faded. Her sister’s face was all bright and starry-eyed when the loser stepped in and Berlin knew she’d been right not to talk trash about the guy. Cheyenne would just have to figure out that stuff for herself. Or maybe just accept it, because deep down she had to know. Right? Ugh.

“I’ll talk to you later,” she murmured to Cheyenne, not even bothering to acknowledge the loser as she strode past him.

“So?” Bradford asked when she slid into the passenger seat a minute later.

“Just drive. Home, if you don’t mind making the drive.” It had been five hours here, so it’d be another five back. “Or I can.”

They were back on the highway within ten minutes. “You feel like talking?”

Closing her eyes, she laid her head back against the rest. “Not really. I knew coming here was a mistake, but she sounded pitiful.” She inwardly cursed herself. “My other sisters told me not to do it and I was too stubborn to listen.”

“Geneva and Sydney, right? Your parents really named you guys after places you were conceived, not born?”

“Yep.” Her parents had thought of themselves as “free spirits” but at the end of the day, they’d been selfish assholes half the time. Or more like seventy-five percent of the time. Berlin hadn’t realized it until much later, but such was life.

Even though she said she didn’t want to talk, she ended up telling Bradford about her short visit with Cheyenne.

“She’s nineteen. An adult,” he said when she was finished.

“I know .” She didn’t need the reminder. Especially when she was almost a decade younger than everyone she worked with.

“You need to live your life for yourself,” he continued a few moments later.

She blinked, turned away from the blur of cars on the highway to look at him. “What?”

“Look, it’s clearly an integral part of who you are to take care of others, but it’s okay to live for yourself. To put yourself first sometimes.”

She blinked again. “Did you just say integral?”

“It’s from the word-of-the-day calendar you got me.” He grinned, looking boyish and relaxed, a lot different than the hard exterior he normally put on for the rest of the world.

She snorted at his admission. “I put myself first all the time.” She was ridiculously competitive.

“Trying to destroy people when you’re gaming doesn’t count.” His tone was dry, and his words were as if he’d read her mind.

“Oh my god, when did you get all deep? And stay out of my head,” she grumbled.

“I’ve got layers, baby. Always have.” Now his grin was cheeky. “And whatever, it’s true. You need to figure out who you are independent of being your sisters’ caretaker. They’re all grown now, all in college or graduated.”

She hunched slightly in her seat, feeling defensive. “I don’t regret anything with my sisters.” After their parents had died in a white-water rafting accident, she’d gotten official custody of them despite being so young herself. Then for six years she’d done everything she could to keep them safe, and make sure they all graduated high school and got into colleges. She’d wanted them to have the stability that none of them had ever had growing up under the not-so-watchful eyes of their parents.

“Of course not. I wish I’d had someone like you to look out for me when I was growing up.” There was a sort of wistfulness in his voice that punched right through her.

“That’s probably the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Not true,” he muttered as he started to pull off at the next exit.

“Buc-ee’s, really?” There’d been about fifty billboards announcing the place on the drive, but she’d never been. And the logo was kind of cheesy.

“It’s the best place ever.”

“You make me sad.”

He grinned. “That’s fair, but you’ll see, this isn’t some typical convenience store. It’s got everything.”

An hour later, they were back in the SUV, fueled up, and she’d bought way too much stuff, including kettle corn, cotton candy, two pounds of fudge and a brisket sandwich bigger than her face. “I can’t believe a convenience store sells this kind of food.”

“It’s because it’s not a convenience store, it’s more.”

“Fine, you’re right and it’s amazing.”

“You gonna share any of that fudge?”

“Normally I’d say no, but I bought an extra pound for you…because I know you’re a pig.” And because he was a good friend who’d offered to make the long drive with her.

He snickered as he reached for the bag. “Call me all the names you want as long as you feed me.”

“God, men really are simple creatures.”

“This is not a secret.” He plucked out the fudge as they pulled up to what was supposedly the world’s longest car wash, and by the time they were through it the two of them had eaten way too much.

But she felt a lot better. Well, better-ish. She was still worried about Cheyenne because that was never going to change. “Thank you for today. For…being a good friend.”

“You don’t ever have to thank me for that. It was nice to get out of town anyway. I kind of miss everyone.”

“Me too.” The majority of their crew were away on a job, and Magnolia and Ezra were on a long overdue honeymoon. Since the team was on the East Coast for this job, they’d brought in Elijah, another hacker, to work with them since he lived in North Carolina.

Which meant Berlin was backup, something she didn’t care for. But Adalyn had insisted she “needed a break” and to “take some time off.” Ugh . Instead, she was going stir-crazy worrying about her sisters, as always, and an online friend she’d gamed with for years.

Until he’d gone dark three weeks ago. She might not have met him in person, but she’d told him a lot about her life. And vice versa. They’d kept their names private, but she’d been more honest with him than she had with anyone in a long, long time.

Okay, ever. The anonymity of the internet had given her the freedom to be herself with him in a way she never would have in person.

“What’s that look?” Bradford’s voice cut through her thoughts.

Blinking, she glanced over at him. “What?”

“You look like you’re contemplating something deep.”

“You’re not even looking at me. Or you shouldn’t be when you’re driving.”

He just grunted.

“It’s nothing. I’m just…thinking about a friend.”

Now he snorted. “A male friend?”

“What does that matter? I have plenty of male friends.”

“Your look is interesting , that’s all.”

“Oh my god, what’s up with you today! Are you reading some psychology book or something?” Normally Tiago was the one who was all philosophical and ridiculously intrusive—and fine, the man gave great advice. But still. This was weird coming from Bradford.

“Actually, yes.”

She slow blinked again. “Wait…what?”

“I’m…taking some online classes. Just a couple now because of our work schedule, but yes, I’m taking introductory psychology. Though that’s not what this is about.”

“That’s amazing. I’m happy for you.” She knew it bothered him that he didn’t have a degree, though she didn’t think a degree mattered for the most part. She had one but only because of scholarships. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have bothered. Though to be fair, she knew she was lucky compared to a lot of people because she didn’t need a degree to do what she did. She’d been hacking since she was nine.

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Hell yeah it is. If you ever want help studying—or for me to hack the school and change your grades—just ask.”

He snort-laughed. “Noted. And you still didn’t answer my question.”

“Fine. An online friend of mine has gone radio silent. It’s not a big deal. I was just thinking of trying to figure out if he was okay, that’s all.” Now she was definitely lying. Because she’d kind of already figured out who the guy was.

Chance Hendrix, aka Venom Reaper online. After they’d started hanging out in a private VR chat, she’d decided to dig a little deeper into the guy to make sure he wasn’t a weirdo. Probably not cool on her part, but it was her nature.

Hopefully curiosity didn’t kill the hacker.

Everything she’d found, she’d liked. And it bothered her that he’d suddenly gone silent online. Maybe it was nothing. But her gut said it was something. And she had the next week off to do whatever she wanted.

So she was going to find him and make sure he was okay. There was no rule on how she had to spend her “time off.”