Chapter 23 #2
And Wyatt had sat at the bar shooting back whiskey, deciding whether or not to head to D.C.
and visit Natasha. He’d planned on reaching out to her after learning The Knight had targeted her team, killing some of her agents and colleagues, but then he got spun up for the mission in Santa Clara.
He hadn’t been sure if she’d even want him to show up, at least that’s what he’d convinced himself, so he’d decided it’d be best to keep an eye on her from a distance.
When she’d visited him the following year in Colorado after his op in Romania, it was then he realized he should’ve gone to see her after his mission in Cuba. He should’ve done more than just ensure she was safe. He should’ve buried his bullshit and, at the very least, called her.
Wyatt ordered two rum and Cokes, then pivoted to face the club. “She’s making contact now,” Wyatt said into his mic as Natasha strode through the room to get to Felix, drawing the eyes of everyone there with each step she took.
Felix was there as promised in the tweet, tucked away in a booth off to the side of the small area where couples were salsa dancing, exchanging partners every so often during songs. The pissed-off-looking woman sitting next to Felix was the president of Cyber X, and also his wife.
Kate was in her thirties, but she looked closer to twenty.
With her wealth, it wasn’t any surprise she’d removed more than a decade to obtain her much younger look.
Her pale skin was a contrast to her raven-black hair, close in color to Felix’s.
Her eyes were green, several shades darker than Natasha’s.
Before leaving the hotel, Wyatt had studied the dossier Harper had prepared on the Wards. Felix had met Kate at the very first Bug Bounty Competition in 2012. She’d placed second, and he’d landed first. Felix had used his winnings and family inheritance to start up Cyber X Security.
The Bureau had looked into Kate, plus every employee at Cyber X. Many of Felix’s hires were former hackers before turning over a new leaf to be on the right side of the law. It made the FBI’s job a bit trickier in profiling since over half the employees had a criminal record.
“Contact is being made now,” he updated his team over the line once Natasha was standing next to Felix’s table, introducing herself as one of the hackers who’d managed to solve his Twitter challenge.
Natasha pivoted to the side, hands on her abdomen as she smiled and nodded at something Felix said.
The plan was to make a quick intro and then head back to the bar to keep an eye on the other hackers who had the skills to attend tonight.
Would Gwen show? The idea of her being an elite hacker . . .
“She’s heading back to me.” That was fast. “Cleared for phase two,” he whispered into his mic, letting Harper and Roman know they were good to enter the club.
He turned back toward the bar and paid for the two drinks, then offered Natasha hers once she returned. “How’d it go?”
She took a small sip of her drink, eyes carefully surveying the club.
“He didn’t say much. It was strange. He was off.
His wife, too.” She shrugged her bare shoulders slightly.
“But he was blatantly checking me out, so maybe that pissed off his wife,” she said, keeping her voice low while leaning closer to him so he could hear her.
“Or maybe they fought earlier. I don’t know. Something wasn’t right.”
“One, this is Three,” Chris’s voice popped into his ear. “I have visual confirmation on target two entering the club.”
Wyatt brought his hand to his ear. “Roger.”
“Looks like Harper is about to approach Felix now,” Natasha said.
Roman had chosen to stay with Harper when she introduced herself to Felix.
“And wow, they’re getting an invite to sit.
” Natasha tipped her chin toward a guy with longish blond hair.
He was in his late thirties from what Wyatt remembered from the profile. “And there’s Jasper.”
Jasper paused mid-stride when his gaze touched upon Natasha. He fidgeted with the collar of his pressed salmon-colored button-down shirt that was untucked from his dark-washed denim jeans.
“Looks like he sees you.” Wyatt brought his drink to his lips and took a sip.
She linked her free arm with Wyatt’s when Jasper approached.
He stopped in front of them, and his eyes lingered on Wyatt before shifting back to Natasha. “What are you doing here?”
“There was a tweet,” she responded, keeping her tone casual.
“You obviously got help finding the place.” Jasper glanced at Wyatt again, his eyes slowly roaming over his body.
It only took Wyatt a moment to realize he was more Jasper’s type than Natasha.
“I’m Link,” he offered the alias Harper had cooked up for him today.
Link was a well-known hacker, but he’d never shown his face or made any public appearances.
It was easier to utilize a handle who had clout in the hacker world than to try and invent an entirely new persona no one would have ever heard of.
“The Link?” Jasper arched a brow. “I didn’t see your name on the competitor list.”
Wyatt set his drink aside. “I’m here to support Heather.”
Jasper’s eyes tightened on him. “How come you’re finally coming out of the shadows?”
“It got a bit too dark in there, thought I might try the light,” Wyatt quipped. “You know my friend?” He tipped his head to the side toward Natasha.
“I know her a little too well.” Jasper switched his focus to Natasha. “And I’d watch your back with this one.” He leaned in and whispered something into Natasha’s ear, then turned and started for Felix’s table.
“You think he bought my story?” Wyatt asked her once Jasper was out of earshot.
“Maybe. He probably assumed I recruited you, though.”
“And what’d he say to you?”
She faced him and positioned her mixed drink on the bar top off to her right. She gently fisted the material of his shirt as if she were going to kiss him and brought her mouth to his ear. “To leave him the hell alone, so he doesn’t get killed.”
“You believe him?”
“Yes and no. I think he’s scared, though.” Her lashes lowered, her gaze casting to his lips, and a moment later, she said, “My date would probably kiss me right about now.”
He pressed his mouth to hers, happily taking the invitation, even if it was in the name of their cover stories.
“One, we have a problem,” Chris announced over comms.
He lowered his forehead to Natasha’s after their split-second kiss. He needed more of her touch, a longer taste so he could savor the moment later.
He inched away from Natasha to maintain eye contact but lifted his hand near his mouth. “Go, Three,” he told Chris. “What is it?”
“Jessica called. She said Felix wasn’t the one who sent out that tweet. She discovered Cyber X’s account was hacked,” Chris explained. “Someone else sent the tweet.”
“Does that mean what I think it means?” Wyatt asked him.
“Yeah,” Chris responded. “Keep your eyes peeled, brother. He’s probably watching you now.”
Wyatt looked over Natasha’s shoulder and surveyed the crowd behind her, then peered at everyone off to his six.
“We’ve got a problem.” He brushed her hair behind her ear and lightly gripped her shoulder as if this were a sensual moment.
He nipped at her lip before his mouth skated to her ear.
“The Knight hacked Felix’s account. He sent the tweet. ”
She flinched beneath his touch. “And Felix had no choice but to show and pretend he sent out the invite. Explains the sour mood from him and his wife.”
He released her and backed up a step. “They’re nervous.” Felix and Kate were probably afraid the world would soon find out Cyber X had an Achilles heel, too, and it was The Knight. They weren’t so untouchable after all. “Harper’s standing,” he said a moment later, and she turned to follow his gaze.
Harper had her hand out, requesting a dance from Roman. Her eyes connected with Wyatt as she and Roman moved to the dance floor, giving him a message to meet her out there.
Wyatt guided Natasha to where the couples danced. He lifted her arms and slung them over his shoulders, then secured a grip of her hips.
“He could be anyone,” she said into his ear as they moved, her footwork impressive.
“Where’d you learn to dance like this?” He twirled her twice before catching her in his arms and dipping her.
“I could ask you the same thing,” she said with a smile.
“If I tell you—”
“You’ll have to kill me?” she asked with a laugh. It was almost as if they’d found themselves cocooned in the moment, forgetting where they were and why they were even there.
The Knight brought them to the club, he reminded himself. Time to get focused. But damn if he didn’t have tunnel vision with this amazing woman in his arms. The smile on her face went to her eyes, making her simply irresistible.
He had a weakness for legs, but a smile, especially hers, was his ultimate kryptonite.
“Horse-back riding, shooting skeet, piano, and dance lessons. Required by my mum,” he finally admitted, moving forward and backward in time with each beat.
Her lips twitched as her palm went to his chest. “A man after my own heart.”
He was about to spin her when he caught sight of Roman and Harper nearby. He gave a quick nod, and they changed partners.
Dancing with Harper was like dancing with Jessica—they were both like sisters to him. His hand didn’t have a mind of its own like it did when he was with Natasha. It didn’t race down Harper’s back and to her arse.
“What happened at the table?” he asked her.
“They were both uptight. He was mostly pissed, and she appeared nervous. Afraid, maybe. And I guess now we know why. But that didn’t seem to stop Felix from flirting with me.”
Yeah, he’d done the same to Natasha. Arsehole. Wyatt glimpsed over at Felix’s table. Jasper was doing the talking, but Felix had his focus dead set on Harper. “Well, it looks like you’ve managed to distract him from his bad mood,” he said as Felix suddenly stood and came their way.