TWENTY-SIX - Ella
TWENTY-SIX
Ella
M y backpack slung over one arm, I hustle through various crowds to reach my favorite coffee shop. I have no idea why Rosalie texted me earlier to meet here this morning, but I trust her instincts. I keep to crowds, like she told me, until I reach the correct block.
I m wearing jeans and a light sweater, since I think it s going to rain, and with my Keds and my backpack, I pass for a student. That works for me. I stop and wait for the light to turn before crossing the crosswalk, my mind spinning.
Her text that morning had held certain urgency, and I m concerned for her.
I ve already talked to Alana, and we have a plan to get Rosalie out of the country if we need to do so.
We ll have to rely on Thorn, and I don t like that, though Alana seems perfectly comfortable with the fact.
Of course, the guy s in love with her, and she s safe.
That, of course, is what keeps him safe. From me.
I m concentrating on reaching the coffee shop when I hear the opening of a door that causes a warning to tick down my spine.
I pivot to see a van door slide open. Everything happens too quickly for me to grasp.
Two men jump out, grab me, and yank me into the vehicle.
The door slams shut, and we re instantly driving into traffic.
I blink several times, shocked by how quickly that just happened. The van floor is cold beneath my butt. Two mask-wearing men face me, while there s a driver up ahead. I quickly scoot away from them until my back hits the far wall. Gazing at them, I hold still.
The men take off the masks, and I blink. I don t recognize one, but the other one is scum-sucking Alexei Sokolov.
What in the blazes are you doing? I partially lean forward.
He smiles. You re safe. Just take a deep breath.
Safe? I sputter, reaching for the gun at my ankle hidden beneath my jeans.
He almost casually grasps my wrists before securing my weapon. He looks at the small .22 caliber. This is a tiny gun.
I know what it is, I say. I need a smaller weapon if I m going to fit it at my calf. Rosalie is going to kill you for kidnapping me.
His expression doesn t change. The guy next to him is big and burly and looks like he could break a car in half if needed.
I lean back against the far wall again and pull my knees up. I ll be able to kick from this position if necessary, though I have serious doubts about whether I could take both of these guys, not to mention the silent driver up front. Why are you kidnapping me?
I need you to do some work for me, Alexei says evenly as we careen through traffic. He grabs my bag and rifles through it. Good. No more weapons.
No. All I have is my trusty laptop and a couple of discs. Man, I hope he s on video killing David Fairfax on the disc Rosalie gave to me—if I can fix it. Don t mess with my laptop or my games.
Games?
They re good for eye-hand coordination, I say. The discs aren t labeled. Does he even know what s on the one from the Fairfax house?
He tosses my backpack to my feet.
I wonder if there are security cameras in the area where they kidnapped me.
It had all happened so quickly. Plus, these idiots had worn masks.
I guess they re not idiots now, are they?
I think through my morning, and betrayal that turns to fury cuts through me. You sent the text from Rosalie s phone.
Alexei nods. I did.
She s going to kill you. Glee fills me.
Only if she finds out.
Now dread replaces the glee. Are you going to kill me?
He studies me for several moments, and I study him back.
I have to admit, I see the appeal. His black hair is thick, and his dusky skin brings out the deep glow of his black eyes.
He has Russian features, straight and strong, and his body is hard-cut muscle.
The glittering panther tattoo across his neck is both beautiful and terrifying.
I suppose that s up to you. Do you want to live? he asks.
I ll answer that later. How did you break through the encryption on her phone?
He lifts one shoulder. I saw her key in the code.
I m going to smack her so hard next time I see her. She knows not to let anybody see a code to anything. She s trusting this man far too much. I may have to take him out. Of course, he may have the same plans for me.
Are you going to kill me? I ask again.
His gaze hasn t changed. Neither has his expression. I would prefer not to do so.
The man next to him looks at him swiftly and then looks away.
Why did you just say that? I ask.
Because it s the truth, Alexei says smoothly. I want us to have a good working relationship, and that has to begin with honesty.
Your buddy s surprised you told me that.
He nods. I m well aware.
We drive into the underground garage of one of Silicon Valley s high-rise buildings, only seven or eight blocks from Rosalie s law firm, and the van parks near the elevator.
Here s what s going to happen, Alexei says. We re going to exit the vehicle, walk nicely to the elevator, and ride up to the penthouse. The security cameras are briefly disabled. You scream, I ll stop you. You try to run, I ll stop you. You try to fight ... He pauses.
You ll stop me? I ask sarcastically.
His gaze warms, and, frankly, it s a little charming. Yes.
I don t see as I have much choice right now, so I do exactly as he says.
I can t run from all three of them, and we ride the elevator to the penthouse.
Nobody sees us. Nobody hears us. We walk out into what can only be considered a ridiculously opulent entryway with real marble tiles in gold-gilded accents.
This place is cheesy, I say.
He shrugs and opens the double door, gesturing me inside the resplendent space. It was the only one available on such a short notice.
The place feels too far away from the ground.
Escaping via a window isn t possible if I want to live.
I deeply regret that Rosalie has unfrozen your funds.
I stomp inside and look around at the already furnished front room.
The furniture is stark white, the accents black and gold.
Some people might find it beautiful and cold. I find it cheesy and dorky.
Alexei gestures me back to the right, and we move down a long hallway. He opens a door to reveal a plush bedroom decorated in whites and yellows.
Guest bedroom, he says, is yours. He moves to the next room where several computers are already set up, and my interest is piqued.
They re top of the line, and they re new.
So he s taken me for my computer skills.
Good. For a few moments, I feared that he had kidnapped me in order to manipulate or blackmail Rosalie.
I walk over and sit in a chair perfectly ergonomically set for my height and weight. Apparently, people with money can make things happen quickly. What do you want, Alexei?
He leans against the doorway, looking tall and powerful. I have a list. The first thing I want to know directly from you is why Urbano Reyes wants you dead.
I don t know who that is. A chill hollows me out from the inside. How do you know he wants me dead?
Because I promised to kill you for him.
I can t breathe. Fear flexes icy fingers beneath my skin. I scrutinize the computers before facing the threat again. You want me to conduct work for you, and then you re going to kill me?
Your fate is in your own hands. He presses his lips together as if not wanting to say anything further and then sighs. If this helps, I don t like killing innocent women, and from everything I can tell, you re about as innocent as they come.
The hottie Russian is dead wrong about that. Rosalie obviously hasn t told him that I nearly killed Thorn Beathach on purpose. That s a fact I ll keep to myself. You don t seem like a guy who breaks your promises.
I m not, but your death would greatly upset Rosalie, which would upset me. Also, some things are more important than promises to the head of gangs, don t you think?
I truly do when it involves my life, I say quickly. Is he messing with me?
He smiles. You re funny. I see why you and Rosalie are friends.
I rather he considers me funny than a threat. I imagine a hit has been taken out on me by my stepmother, I say. I m surprised she has done so in a way that can be traced.
The contract can t be traced. Alexei contradicts me. Obviously, money has changed hands, so maybe you should investigate. I ve given you enough computers to do so.
Yes, you have, I say, curious at the power I have here. Not that I haven t built my own. What do you want from me?
I want you to conduct a deep dive on everyone involved in my case and figure out who set me up, he says.
I also want all information that you can possibly find on Hologrid Hub, my stepmother, and my half brother.
I mean absolutely everything, Ella. Then I want you to start hacking into their systems.
I throw up my hands. I m still trying to hack into TimeGem s systems. These things take time. Probably a lot of time.
They ll take as long as we need.
I sit up. You can t kidnap somebody for that duration of time.
He carelessly lifts one shoulder. He looks every inch the mafia don today in long black slacks, a white button-down shirt, and a gilded watch encrusted with amethysts.
He should be careful. I know how to infect those.
Who s going to miss you? he asked, his voice not unkind. Besides Rosalie and Alana, you re not close with anybody.
Yeah, but Rosalie and Alana count, I retort instantly. Alana has the force of two of the most powerful families on earth behind her. Rosalie has a law firm.
His smile shows even teeth. I m not afraid of other families or little law firms, Ella.
Why would he be? I lower my chin and make sure I have his full attention. Rosalie loves nine people in this entire world—her seven boarders, Alana, and me. She won t forgive you if anything happens to me.
I m well aware of that fact. He gestures to the computers.
I have safeguards in place that if you try to reach out for help or to any of your contacts, I will be alerted immediately, and the entire system will shut down.
Your reach has been limited to the police force, anyone connected with Hologrid Hub, and Nero Tech.
I look at the consoles. What is Nero Tech?
It s a company here in town, and I want to know everything about its owner, Harold Fissure.
I ve heard of the guy but that s about it. There are very few people in the world who could have created safeguards like you have in place here.
I m well aware. One of them set this up for me.
My fingers itch to reach for a keyboard. Then why do you need me?
He s a contractor and only had so much time. Plus, he s good, but he is not as good as you, Alexei admits. The years you ve spent trying to hack into TimeGem are invaluable for hacking into Hologrid Hub, I assume. Nobody has that knowledge like you do.
It s a fact, and I m impressed by his ability to put information into order. This guy knows what he s doing. If I say no?
You re not going to say no, he says, as if the idea hasn t occurred to him. You lack money, and I m willing to pay you very handsomely. I ll make you a rich woman just from this job alone.
I m tempted. The more money I have, the better my chances are in regaining control of my company. Why didn t you just ask?
Because you would ve said no.
He s right. No amount of money would ve forced me to work with him. What if I decline your offer right now?
He shrugs. You re not going anywhere until you do as I ask. This is a nice place to live, but I know you re someone who values freedom.
I am. So, he s studied me a little bit.
He leans away from the door frame. Also, I want you to do a deep dive on Rosalie and all of her boarders. I want to know everything about each one of those men, and I want to know everything about her.
I remove my backpack and place it next to me. No.
One of his dark eyebrows lifts. Excuse me?
No. I might consider, for a very good price, the other jobs you ve offered me, but I will not spy on Rosalie for you, or any of the people she cares about.
He looks at me for several long moments, and I imagine most people would quake.
So I explain better. I don t have many lines in life, but that s one of them.
What if I threaten you? he asks mildly.
Go ahead, I answer immediately. You can do whatever you want to me. I will not betray Rosalie.
Something passes through his expression, and it might be admiration. Or a good plan to kill me. I m not sure.
Very well, he says. Get to work on Howard Fissure first. I need to know everything about him, and I don t expect that task to take you long. With that, he turns and leaves me alone with this spectacular setup.
I grin and start typing. I might as well get to work. Alexei Sokolov has just made a colossal mistake, and he doesn t even know it. I can do two jobs at once, maybe three, and one of them will be taking him down.