04:42 Rose?
04:43 Excuse me?
I didn’t type anything right away. It had to be a coincidence.
Or maybe it wasn’t.
04:45 Who are you?
04:45 Who are you?
I wouldn’t be put off. The coincidence was too much. And after everything lately, I had to be sure.
04:46 If you’re just here to mess with me, tell me. If this is Rose, now is the time to tell me. I won’t be led around like a fool.
04:47 I’m not Rose. I don’t question your identity. Don’t question mine. You may be queen, but that doesn’t allow you to demand answers you have no right to be given.
I didn’t trust Rose. But I had learned to trust Toxicwrath. Could they be one and the same? Was that why Rose was back in my life? Because she had infiltrated my cyberworld as well?
04:48 Why Key West?
I should have asked it from the beginning. Why hadn’t I?
My heart slammed in my chest. I could hear Mason moving around in the bedroom. He had stopped snoring. Was he awake? I should close down my computer. I couldn’t risk him seeing what I was doing.
But I needed Toxicwrath to answer my question.
04:49 Why are you asking about this? Are you having second thoughts about Virtuant? I need to know now. Everything is planned and ready. If you can’t go through with it, now is the time to say something.
Was I backing out?
Maybe I should.
04:50 I’m not Rose. You don’t need to doubt me. We’re in this together. I have as much to lose if this goes south as you do.
“Hannah?” Mason’s voice drifted down the hallway.
04:51 I have to go.
“I’ll just be a second,” I called back.
04:52 Are we still on? I can’t do this without you. You’re the best there is. No one else can take Douglas Howard down.
He was stroking my ego again. Did I trust him?
Did I trust anything anymore?
Lines were starting to blur. I was losing track of my original purpose.
04:53 Yes. We’re still on.
“What are you doing up?” Mason appeared in the kitchen looking groggy. It was still dark; the only light was the glow of the computer screen.
I quickly shut down my chat window and closed my laptop, getting to my feet.
I crossed the room to him and put my arms around his waist. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“It was my snoring, wasn’t it?” Mason sighed, running a hand over his sleepy face. He was wearing only his boxer shorts. He looked exhausted and sort of adorable.
