I didn't want answers.
I wanted to punish them.
It's unsettling how easy it was to find out which bank Crodan Insurance kept their money in. It was even easier to figure out how to crack into Old Stone's system. I'd need to plug the coder-chip into their system on site, but that was fine.
That day, I'd taken out the gun my father had left behind. It was one of the only things my parents had left for us before they'd died. I didn't think about what I was doing, as far as what happened to me. My family was all dead. If I got my revenge, I'd be satisfied.
But when I was prepping to leave... I couldn't bring myself to load the gun.
I couldn't let anyone else get hurt.
An empty gun is still a good threat, though. I just had to keep it secret that it was free of bullets.
Inside the bank, I was cold. Calm. Everyone around me was muted and grey and faceless. Any of them would have worked as a hostage.
Then I saw you.
You were standing there in this flowing dress, the only source of color in the whole room... the whole world. The second you looked into my eyes, I knew I had to act. If I didn't, I'd think about the risk... the danger... and I'd back out.
So I grabbed you.
And you know the rest.
I paused the story, transfixed by how her wide eyes were glistening. Unshed tears had gathered; I wiped them away before they could wet her cheeks. She bent away, rubbing her eyes vigorously. “I knew you stole from the insurance company. I didn't know...” Trailing off, she covered her mouth.
Hugging her, I set my chin on the top of her head. “Shh, it's alright.”
She sniffled, speaking before I was ready. “How did you get away?”
My lashes brushed my skin, I saw the darkness behind my eyelids. “I pulled off my mask and merged into the panicked crowd I'd created. It wasn't hard to slip away. I told you, I had no intention of staying here once I was done. I planned to leave the city... I did that.”
And then you drew me back.
Florian had been confused by my decision to bring our company here. When I'd met him in San Francisco, he'd been working at a start-up; the one Gerard owned. We'd been the most talented pair there, so we'd hit it off.
Perhaps that was why he'd trusted my decision to quit and begin again.
If I was as smart as him, I had to have a good reason.
He'd never have guessed Alexis was my reason.
- Chapter Twenty-five -
Alexis
Where is it? I wondered, throwing my blanket off of my bed. Other than my wrinkled sheets, nothing stared back at me. Where could I have left it?
Tracing my steps, I worked to remember the last place I'd had my phone.
Last night was the party... and I had it when I... Stopping in my tracks, I slapped my own forehead. “Dammit,” I said out loud. “I left it in his office!” It had fallen from my hands on the couch, but when I'd left, I'd only grabbed my purse.
Groaning, I hurried to get changed. I'll swing by after work. The idea of going the whole day without talking to him was draining my mood. I'd gotten so used to our contact. This distance reminded me of when I'd first cut off his gifts.
Laralie spent most of the day gabbing to me about how much she liked Florian. She said he was a genius, funny, and probably as rich as Keswick.
It was hard not to smile at her enthusiasm. I even had an excuse when she accused me of ignoring her texts. “I lost my phone,” I said, dodging her lightly-tossed paperclips.
“Uh huh. Right.” Flicking another clip, she grinned. “Let's go on a double date, how about it?”
“That would be fun.” Thinking about how Silver might not curb his behavior in public with me, I shifted on my seat. “Let me think it over.” Eyeing the clock, I grabbed my coat and purse. “I've got to go.”
Laralie spun in her chair. “Meeting him, are you?” When I flapped my hands, she just giggled. “Ask him about the date!”
“Of course, right.” Ducking into the elevator, I jogged to where I'd parked my car. It's past five, will he still be there? What if I missed him? I hadn't memorized his phone number, at this rate, I'd have to go straight to his condo and drag him back to his office.
Starting my car, the radio flicked on. It was still on a news station, and they were going on about another bank being robbed. That hacker is still out there. Eyeing the radio, I frowned nervously. I hope they catch him soon. I hadn't heard from Vermont in forever, it had become easy to forget about the robberies at all.
My tires squeaked when I pulled up along the sidewalk outside of Pure Pleasure. Two figures were standing near the entrance, every window glinting like obsidian. Am I too late, did they close up?
Nearly dropping my car keys, I stumbled out the door. One of the men laughed, his sharp cheekbones casting hard shadows on his face. Florian was easy to recognize, but Silver was even easier.