Page 66 of Deadfall

I’d debated the entire hike out of the forest what name I was going to go by once I reached civilization. Part of me wanted to flaunt my full name, just in case by some off chance my father caught wind of it. The other part was a little more cautious. I didn’t want the wrong people to learn I was alive before I had my own plans in place to take them down. Because of that, I’d settled on a compromise.

“Syn.”

Lev held out his hand and I took it. He shook it firmly and jerked his head toward his computers.

“Well, Syn, come into my office and let’s chat.”

Lev pulled up a chair for me and sat down with his ankle crossed over his knee. He propped his chin on his fist and waited. I sat down carefully on the edge of the chair.

“I need information.”

“Information is expensive,” he answered bluntly.

My hopes plummeted. I’d found some cash in Sacha’s room, but I just knew it probably wasn’t the amount he was talking about.

“Don’t worry about money—if Sacha is dead like you say, you’re rich, girl,” Riggs called.

“Sacha’s dead?” Lev said at the same time I said, “What?”

Riggs popped a bottle cap off a beer and took a long sip. “He left it all to you.”

“I don’t understand,” I said.

Lev pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “Okay, we can talk about all of that later. Who are we looking up?”

I didn’t understand how Sacha could have possibly left me money, nor how Riggs figured it all out, but I decided to ask those questions later, and take advantage of the moment before they changed their minds about helping me.

“I-I only have a few names.”

“I’ve worked with less,” Lev nodded encouragingly.

“Vetticus, Octavius and Albatron.”

“Those sound like pseudonyms. Do you have any other names they go by?” When I shook my head, Lev whirled in his chair with a flourish. “No worries. Give me a few hours, love. Go enjoy a beer with Riggs, wait—” He looked over with narrowed eyes. “How old are you?”

Riggs barked a laugh.

I scowled. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

Lev gave me a lopsided smile. “Cause you look—” At my narrowed eyes, he chuckled and turned back to the computer. “—old enough.” He finished smartly.

I didn’t want a beer, but because I’d been asked about my age twice now, I grabbed one from the fridge anyway and sat down on the opposite side of the couch from Riggs. He watched with a gleam of wicked amusement in his eyes. He took a big sip of beer and tossed me the bottle opener. It took two tries, but I popped the cap and tried not to look at Riggs as I took a sip. Sacha didn’t keep alcohol around the cabin and beside the vodka I’d had once with him, I’d never tried any other kind of alcohol.

It took all of my self control not to make a face. It was kind of gross. A rumble of something close to a laugh came from Riggs. I shot him a glare, but he just shrugged and finished his bottle in two large swallows.

He held out his hand for mine. “Give it here, girl,” he said.

I reached out to give it to him and he smirked. “I’m sure there’s a juicebox in the fridge.”

I bristled at the slight. “Lev, I think he’s insulting you.”

“Hey, I love juiceboxes,” Lev called. “You find one in there, I call dibs.”

The next few hours passed and I grew bored out of my mind. Riggs dozed, or pretended to, while I paced the living area or perched on the edge of the couch, unable to sit still. Fang spent most of the time investigating every square inch of the place before he finally curled up on the rug and fell asleep near my feet.

Sometime later, Lev came over with a tablet in his hands, but instead of being forthcoming, his previously bright demeanor was nowhere to be found. He clutched the tablet to his chest and frowned.

“Are you sure you want to see this?”