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Jessica nods. “I don’t remember much about my parents, but I remember we were happy. My mom worked a lot, but sometimes when she was up late, we’d bake cookies together in the middle of the night and talk about everything.”
"All of us though, here in the club, we’re our own family. Ghost and Tex are my brothers in everything but blood. There's nothing I wouldn't do for them, and there's nothing they wouldn't do for me. Nothing we wouldn't share."
She smiles at that. "Like me?"
That gets a rumble outta me. "Yeah. Like you. Now let's see what's got Hellfire's panties in a bunch." I open the door and we step inside.
Tex beat us here, not surprisingly, and Ghost and Savage are waiting, too. They look up as we enter, their expressions grim.
"What's going on?" I let Jessica take the last chair and prop myself up against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest.
Hellfire turns his laptop around so we can all see the screen. "This just appeared when I opened up the computer thismorning. No fucking idea how they did it, or how deep they got their fingers in our network, but it was here waiting for me."
"Kane?"
He shakes his head. "Maybe, maybe not. Read it."
On the screen is a big square of text.
I'm taking a risk reaching out to you, but I have too much to lose not to. When Victor’s people trace this message, I’m dead. Don’t let it be in vain.
Victor is just stalling for time. If you let him, Sgt. Cooper will never make it off the estate alive, and your whole club will be destroyed. I can help, but on one condition: Jessica goes free.
My reach is limited. You can’t contact me directly, but I’ve hacked several networks around the city. I want you to go to Sparkie’s Megastore on 5th and Long. 2AM tonight. Bring Jessica and I’ll reveal more.
PS, your security sucks, get a real IT person
"What the fuck? Who's this from?" I look at Hellfire, then at Jessica, like she should have the answer.
"That's what I’d like to fucking know," Hellfire growls, his eyebrows knit tight over his piercing eyes. He aims them at Jessica. "Is there anything else you’re keeping from us?"
"What? Nothing! I swear!" She looks as confused as we are. “I honestly don't know. You know my history. He’s never given me any reason to think I’m anything but a sick trophy to him, and it’s not like I have friends there other than Anne."
“Occam’s razor. The simplest reason is probably the correct one. It’s Kane, trying to lure us out. We already know he’s strangely obsessed with Jessica,” Ghost suggests.
Hellfire considers it and nods. “You’re probably right, but this doesn’t feel like him and the fastest way to find out is to follow the instructions.”
“And be ready for a trap,” I add.
"I don't like it," Hellfire says. "But we can’t ignore the possibility that it’s someone on the inside that has a grudge against their boss. We need to find out what the fuck's going on."
"And I want to go," Jessica says, her face a mask of determination. "I’ve been Victor’s prisoner for ten years. Why is everyone suddenly so interested in me?"
Me, Ghost and Tex exchange hard glances, then nod. If we're gonna do this, we're gonna keep her safe. And if any motherfucker gets in our way, we're gonna fucking bury them.
26
JESSICA
Bonnie'sin the kitchen with an energy drink and a sudoku magazine when I come in. She looks up. "Just the girl we needed to see."
Get in line, I guess. I never thought I’d miss being nobody. "Is something going on?"
"Nothing involving anything but digital weapons, but I think you might want to have a sit-down with Anne. The honeymoon’s over. Her daddy might be a psycho asshole, but she’s missing her own room and her usual routine."
"Thanks. I was thinking the same thing earlier. I'll go in and talk to her."
"Want a shot first?" she asks.
