CHAPTER 1
ALEX
Alex’s fingers drummed against his desk as he waited for the decryption software to do its work on the files Ava had lifted from Miranda Vale’s safe deposit box. The simple retrieval all those months ago seemed so innocent compared to what they’d dealt with in the past few weeks.
Memories of providing tech support as Ava used creative methods to gain access to their then enemy’s treasure trove of Board-related items floated through his mind. It had been before he’d told her how he felt, before they’d given their marriage a real chance, before they’d nearly lost each other multiple times.
Now, every moment they spent apart was bittersweet, especially after the blackouts that had made her act so unlike herself. When he thought back to those first few days they’d spent together when she’d returned to the Hamptons, he couldn’t help but think about how far they’d come. In just afew short weeks, their innocence had been stripped away, and they had been pushed to limits no one should have to endure.
But they’d faced them all. Together. And now they had a real chance to get somewhere with dismantling The Board.
He licked his lips, glancing over his shoulder as the software continued to churn through the material he’d given it to decrypt. He’d expected Ava to have been finished with Kyle by now. Was there some problem?
After developing a treatment plan, Kyle had wanted to take some baseline vitals, perform more bloodwork, and administer an initial round of medication to stop Ava from experiencing anymore of the terrifying and behavior-altering blackouts.
Alex leaned back in his chair, the spring creaking as he puffed out his cheeks, wondering if he should track Ava down.
Tiny paws clacked across the hardwood floor a second later. Alex twisted to find Gizmo trotting into the room.
He smiled down at the tiny chihuahua before he scooped him up. “Hey, buddy,” he said as he scratched the dog’s head and chuckled at the words on the back of the tiny hoodie he wore announcing him as the world’s cutest pup.
“Where’s Ava?” he asked the dog.
Gizmo offered him a lick to his cheek at the mention of Ava’s name before he let out a yip.
“I know. I miss her, too. She hasn’t been spending enough time with either of us, has she?” Alex asked.
He scratched the dog’s ears. “Well, as soon as we beat the bad guys, I promise, we’re locking ourselves in this house and doing a weeklong gaming session. How’s that sound?”
The dog offered him another yip.
“I like that plan, too, Giz. I’m getting really tired of all ofthis intrigue. I just want to have a nice quiet life with you and Ava.”
“Oh, you’re back,” Chris’s sharp voice said from the doorway. “Good. We’re running low on coffee.’
Alex struggled to hold his temper in check, sliding his eyes closed as he centered himself before he spun to face Ava’s former fiancé.
“Yep,” he answered. “Did you tell the butler? I don’t order coffee.”
“I did, but I don’t think he listens to me,” Chris answered. “Did you get what you went there for?”
“We did,” Alex said with a nod. “Yeah. Thanks for checking up on that.”
“And I assume Miranda is gone?”
Alex licked his lips as he let his gaze fall to the floor. With a deep sigh, he shook his head. “Yep. Uh, there’s been some news on that front.”
“News?” Chris raised his eyebrows, prodding Alex to continue.
Alex nodded, wincing as he averted his gaze. “Miranda’s dead.”
Chris’s expression went blank as he stared at Alex, then ran a hand over his face. “Oh, wow.”
“Yeah,” Alex said, his jaw flexing. “Apparently, The Board didn’t exactly like her decision to leave. Ava found her in a hotel room in Monaco. She had been stabbed.”
Chris rubbed the back of his neck. “Things are getting serious.”
Alex twisted back toward his laptop. “Things have been serious. Things were serious when you decided to defect to the other side like this was some kind of game.”
