Page 36 of Digital Desire

“I’ll put in a call to the embassy and get you three cleared for access,” said Jack

“Fine, let’s get going on this. I want to go home for New Years,” said Jace

“Fuck yeah, me too,” said Drew.

“Aubrey, do you have a minute before you leave?” asked Will.

“Sure,” she said following him as he disappeared down the hall towards the bedrooms. She followed him in and closed the door. He pinned her with his gaze as she leaned against the door.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“Be careful. I don’t want anything happening to you.”

“I’m a trained police detective you know,” she said with a wry grin.

“I know, but you’re special to me, and I don’t want anything happening to you,” he said completely taking the wind from her sails.

“Will,” she said as she lifted her hand to cup his jaw.

“Promise me you won’t take any risks,” he said as he moved in closer, pinning her body with his.

“I promise I won’t take any unnecessary risks,” she replied.

“I guess that’s as good as I’m going to get,” he said and then kissed her.

It wasn’t like the last kiss, all passion and heat, this was tender and gentle and left her feeling loved in a way she had never felt before. He broke away and then rested his head against hers.

“What are you doing to me, Will?” she whispered.

“Making you fall in love with me,” he replied, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

“Um, it might be working,” she replied and heard him chuckle, a deep rumbling sound that she felt in her toes.

“I said might, don’t get too cocky.” She laughed as he lifted his head and grinned.

He opened the door, and they walked down the hallway. “If we get home in time, do you want to come to the New Year’s Eve Party Zack is throwing at the Estate?” he asked as he caught her pinkie with his.

“I would love to come to the party with you,” she replied feeling like a young girl in the first flush of love.

“Cool,” he replied.

“Cool,” she smiled.

Chapter 17

Will had his head already buried in his screen when Jack and Liam walked in.

“Jace is staying here in case of any unwanted visitors,” Jack said addressing him.

“I’ll be fine on my own,” he replied feeling like the little brother again.

“Maybe but I know what you’re like when your head is buried in that thing. You forget your surroundings exist.”

“Fine,” Will replied already submerged in the world of the dark web.

He vaguely heard Jack and Liam leave as he typed in the commands that would gain him access to the biggest information network in the world. In minutes, he was inside the database of St Andrews University, the same university attended by Princes and Dukes. Narrowing down the field, he scrolled through until he found the details he was looking for.

Rupert Pierce, mother and father deceased. Only living relative Derek Newson his half-brother. Using that information, he found more details on the reason he was kicked out. It was as Lucy had said—he had hacked the Electoral database and tried screwing with the vote at the local elections. What Will hadn’t realised, was that he was only a year younger than himself. Will felt his heart start to hammer as it always did when he found a detail that piqued his interest.