Chapter 26
Titus
Pierce smiles at me, and while the gesture is genuine, I can see the strain in his eyes.
It only deepens my concern over his sudden and unexpected appearance.
Normally if something was going on, he'd call me.
And I missed a few calls from Tucker while Mariah and I were at her appointment, but not a single one from Pierce or any of his employees.
Not a great sign that he went straight to a video call.
"I am actually surprised to see you. I assumed I would be speaking with your team." Pierce's eyes drift to where Mariah stands beside me. "How are things?"
I glance around and discover his attention isn't the only one on Mariah. They’re all clearly wondering who she is. But they’re going to have to keep wondering, because I won’t be explaining our connection to a room full of my employees and my very overwhelmed brother.
Partly because I don’t exactly know the parameters of it myself.
"Things are fine." I reach for a chair, bringing it next to the spot where I’m standing. I tip my head toward the seat, waiting until Mariah sits down to refocus on my biggest client. "How are things with you?"
"Not great." He works his jaw from side to side, like he's dragging out the seconds before speaking again. "My team was finally able to figure out how our system was breached a month ago."
That has my brows lifting, because if my team couldn't figure it out, I didn't expect Pierce's team could. "Really?"
He nods, mouth setting in a grim line. "And I’m afraid you are not going to like it."
I ignore the way my team’s now staring at me, keeping my attention on Pierce. "What did you find out?"
"We were not the intended target. We were simply a side entrance they attempted to use." I know what he's going to say before he says it, but Pierce’s words still hit me like a punch. "To get to you."
Fuck. It's bad enough to think someone was able to get through the protections I put in place for Pierce's company, but finding out they got through those protections simply to try to get through the ones I have at McKinley Security fucking pisses me off. "Why would they do that?"
Pierce tips his head to one side. "I would have to assume they found your system too difficult to breach and believed ours would be easier."
Well that's insulting. For someone to think I wouldn't protect a client's company as aggressively as I protect my own is a fucking slap in the face. And has me wondering… "Were you able to identify who was behind it?"
In my line of work, the list of people trying to access the information I'm in possession of is long.
It's why a portion of my house is configured to be locked down in an emergency.
Why we spend an exorbitant amount of money on technology to make sure our firewalls remain top of the line.
Why our private servers are in a room someone would have to detonate a bomb to get into.
"Heidi, Harlow, and the rest of the team are still working on that, but they don't seem confident they will be able to give you a name." Pierce smooths down the front of his jacket, hand running over a lapel that likely cost more than the car I have on order.
That's only a slight exaggeration.
"I just wanted to let you know as soon as I did, so you could take additional precautions to ensure the safety of your company."
"There are no additional precautions." After someone attempted to get into Alaskan Security, I busted my ass making sure everything was as secure as I could get it.
Then I did it again when an attempt was made to get into our system here at McKinley Security.
"Do you believe they will keep trying to get in? "
Pierce lifts a glass from the desk in front of him, swallowing down a mouthful of amber liquid. "If someone is willing to risk their life trying to get through my company to yours, I have to assume they are intent on obtaining whatever it is they're looking for."
I've had my suspicions about what Pierce's company—Alaskan Security—does, and already decided it likely isn't simple bodyguard-type work. Obviously, I was correct if accessing his system could result in death. Because accessing mine only results in a hell of a lot of years in prison.
And that's only if I catch them.
"I'm guessing your team wasn't able to ascertain what it is this person is after either."
"No. Honestly, the only way to do that would be if they found it, and thankfully that does not seem to be the case." Pierce rubs his eyes, looking tired. "Is there anything I need to do to ensure I am no longer at risk?"
I appreciate how nicely he's asking if my problems are going to be his problems. And while I want more than anything to reassure him, unfortunately, I can't make any promises.
"Let me look through things over the next few days. I'll have my team ensure everything is as secure and protected as we can make it." Now it's my turn to give him bad news. "But, as you know, all it takes is one talented and determined hacker, and everything can go to shit."
Pierce gives me a smirk, finally looking a little less overwhelmed. "I know. I have two of them on my team."
I grin, my own stress level lowering at the reminder. “Likewise.”
I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I have complete faith that my team can handle it. Unfortunately, the task adds work they don’t really have time for.
Pierce disconnects the call and I turn to find every set of eyes in the room on me. I swallow hard as my chest gets tight. My face heats, the ridges webbed across my skin feeling raw and irritated even though they healed long ago.
I need to get the hell out of here.
Pierce’s unexpected appearance was enough to make me forget how moments like this always go. I was riding the high of Mariah allowing me to support her when she was afraid. Of hearing the baby’s heartbeat. Now it’s finally registering that this is my team’s first time seeing me in the flesh.
I can feel their questions. Their shock. Their confusion. And it won’t be long before all of it sends me back to that place I never thought I’d escape.
“Oh no.” Mariah squeezes my hand. Hard. “I don’t feel well.” Her eyes lock onto mine. “I’m feeling really dizzy.” Her voice is loud. Much louder than it should be if she’s about to pass out.
And her skin is pink and glowing. Her eyes are focused and her grip on me is strong.
When one brow angles at me, it registers. She’s giving me an out.
And I can’t take it fast enough. “We should go.”
Mariah nods. “Definitely. Right now.”
I’m not sure what my brain is doing—maybe it’s gone into automatic pilot thanks to all the people staring—but I do what I always do when Mariah passes out. I scoop her up, cradling her against my chest as I stride to the door.
One hand comes to rest over my heart as her head drops to my shoulder. Her voice is soft but steady when she asks, “You okay?”
“I’ll be better once we’re out of here.” I don’t slow down as I follow the path Trevor took us in reverse, finding my way to the open entryway before taking us straight out into the cool winter air.
The wind hits my face, soothing the claws of awareness scraping against my scars, and I finally manage a deep breath. It carries the familiar scent of the woman in my arms, and the comfort of having her close pulls me back from the edge faster than I can usually recover.
I still don’t stop moving until we’re at the car I borrowed from Tobias.
It unlocks automatically as I close in and I manage to get the passenger door open without having to set Mariah down.
Carefully angling her into the seat, I make sure she’s properly positioned before buckling her in.
Once she’s in place, I let my forehead fall to hers, eyes closing. “Thank you.”
Mariah’s hand comes to my face, the softness of her touch chasing away the last of the unease creeping over my skin. “I don’t know if you should thank me just yet. I’m sure Trevor is going to have a lot of questions for you.”
I’m sure he will, and part of me wants to tell him everything.
That Mariah is more than just the chef she was hired to be. That she’s mine. That I’m the one who’s taking care of her. Making her happy. Keeping her safe. That a part of me is hoping she’ll let me take care of more than just her. That maybe she won’t be the only one I can call mine.
“Trevor can kiss my ass.” I lift my head, tracking the tip of my nose alongside hers. “He’s got his own shit to worry about.”
Like finding a new assistant. He replaced the one who quit on Thanksgiving, but no one was following him around. I assume that means he managed to run the newest hire off already, sending them racing out the revolving door that is his office.
I press a kiss to Mariah’s lips. “Let’s go home.”
She smiles, soft and sweet and real. “Okay.”
I brush my lips against her forehead, stealing one last touch before closing her in and taking my place behind the wheel.
This is the longest I’ve been away from my house in quite a while, and as much as I thought I could take Mariah to lunch, it seems I’m not quite ready to jump completely back into the world.
But for the first time since losing Kara and the baby, it feels like that leap could someday happen. And it’s all because of the woman next to me.
I reach across the console, taking her hand in mine, needing the contact. The connection.
A few minutes into the drive, Mariah’s eyes slip closed. I don’t like seeing her so tired, but it makes me feel better about not having it in me to take her to a restaurant. She needs a nap. And I need to be with just her.
I pull into the driveway, punching the button of the garage door remote clipped to the visor before pulling the car in beside Mariah’s. Like so much else my mother insisted on when building this place, I thought a three-car bay was a waste.
Not so much anymore.