Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Even though he came running as soon as he heard my scream, he was still beating himself all because that of that crazy psycho.
Sera: How were you supposed to know he’d creep into the restroom?
Luke: I’ve been thinking about that. How did he get into the ladies room without us spotting him?
Luke: Yes, we were engrossed in our conversation, but I’m sure I would’ve seen him walking across the restaurant. Not to mention fire doors don’t open from the outside. Which means he either snuck in without us spotting him… or he was waiting for us.
Sera: But how would he know we were going to be there?
I had wondered the same thing, too. I hadn’t told anyone about our plans for one because I didn’t know anyone here and the people, I knew I wasn’t talking to at the moment.
Luke: That’s the million-dollar question. I’ve got a theory. In the meantime, lose yourself in your work. You’re safe here. You can disappear into the empathetic algorithm project. Save my company, Sparkplug.
Despite everything, warmth flutters through me. He knows exactly the right thing to say.
Sera: Okay, Luke. Should I arrange a call with Graham and Ellie?
Luke: That’s your choice, angel. I’ll support you no matter what.
I open my phone, looking at the text thread from Ellie. She’s asked to talk several times. As I look at the messages, my phone lights up again. A call from Ellie.
I quickly answer it, not giving myself time to come to my senses.
“Yeah?” I say.
“Sera,” she whispers, voice trembling.
“Don’t break down,” I snap. “Don’t cry. It’s not fair. You know I cared about you.”
“C-cared, past tense?” She stutters.
“Just…” I grind my teeth. “Don’t break down, okay?”
She sniffles but keeps it together. “Okay, I won’t. Are you safe?”
“I had to tear a chunk of Damien’s hair out of his head earlier, but other than that, I’m fine and dandy.”
“What?” She gasps.
“Yep,” I reply dryly, even though it hurts to hear her voice.
“What happened?”
“You and Graham sent a lunatic after me, knowing full well he was dangerous and would go to terrible lengths to get what he wants. That’s what happened.”
“I was so scared,” she whispers. “My sweet girl, I was terrified. If I could turn back time, I’d do it all different.”
“We don’t have that luxury.”
“But you’re safe?”
“I’m with Luke. I’m working with him, trying to undo the mess Graham made of his code, trying to fix the mess he created. You know, if Luke wanted, he could send Graham to prison for a very long time.”
Ellie sighs. “Luke will have to decide himself.”
“Aren’t you going to defend your husband?”
“There’s no defending what we’ve done… what this has become. When Graham came to me with the idea—”
“Save it,” I cut in. “Luke and I want to talk with you both later. On video call.”
A pause, then, “Yes, okay, we can do that, Sera.”
I should know better than this, but I can’t stop myself from asking, “How is your treatment going?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
On a warped level, she’s right. I shouldn’t care about this anymore. But I can’t shake the image of her kind face and the memory of her soft voice and the pure warmth of feeling, for the first time in my life, that I’d found somebody who understood me. Now she’s sick. She might not make it.
“It does,” I say, a hot tear sliding down my cheek.
I rub it angrily away. I’ve been crying too much recently. It annoys me. I want to be strong, but so much has happened, and there are so many threats still lurking.
“It makes me tired,” she murmurs. “But I’m feeling positive.”
“Good,” I say. “Tell Graham about the call. It’ll probably be late.”
“We’ll wait until whatever time is best for you. I love—”
I hang up before she can finish the sentence, terrified to keep going because I still love her too despite the betrayal.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Luke
I approach Andy in the cafeteria. The tall, muscular man looks up at me as I approach. For a moment, I’m sure I see panic in his eyes. My entire body is blazing with the possibility… with rage.
Sitting opposite him, I say, “Is everything okay, Andy?”
He looks down at his sandwich, his cheeks coloring slightly. He’s just as tall as I am… younger, and he may even be more muscular. But he looks scared, and he has every reason to be.
“I’m sorry?”
“Why are you sorry?”
“No, boss, I meant… What do you mean? Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“I’ve just been thinking,” I murmur. “Going over what happened in Vegas. I know how Damien knew where to find Spar… Sera when he needed to spill coffee on the laptop. That must’ve been her boss. But how did he know what conference room we were meeting in? How did he know where to spy on us? And this morning…” I lean forward, my hands balled into fists. “There were only four people who knew which restaurant we were at. Me, Sera, Victor. And you.”