“You’re James Hunt’s kid. The hacker.”
My eyes flick up as the three other men join Lindsey. I realise it wasn’t any of them who spoke but the one who was already there.
The other three come to attention as the bright blue haired fella with brown eyes stares at me.
“Alec,” I relent, looking briefly across at Rory who seems puzzled.
“Nice work on the Magiver conviction.” Cookie Monster dips his head to me in appreciation. “They nearly put us on it but we had our hands full with another case.”
“No one is supposed to know that was me.” I don’t bother trying to deny it. If they know who I am, about Magiver, then they already have all the facts.
“We keep track of all security threats and you happen to be a pretty fucking big one.” Rowan crosses his arms, narrowing his dark eyes on me. “What are you doing with Aurora?”
“Rowan,” Rory scolds.
“It’s okay, Sunshine,” I murmur. Rowan just grunts.
Cal sets cups of hot chocolate in front of Rory, Mase and I.
“Thank you,” we chorus.
“So, you know who Alec is, yet we don’t know who you are,” Mase says a little edgy.
“We also know who you are, Mason Lawson. That’s a bit of a mouthful, don’t you reckon?” Someone else pipes up.
“That’s enough.” The one person who’s stayed quiet speaks up. They speak in a low voice that commands the room.
Oh, fuck.
The Ghost steps out from behind Lindsey who smiles up at him. His short hair cut reveals the burn scars covering half his face and one cloudy eye.
How the hell didn’t I see him come in?
“That’s Ethan,” The Ghost points at Cookie Monster. “Fallon and Rowan. You can call me Xander.” The Ghost’s eyes oreyefocuses distinctively on me.
“I am sooo confused,” Mason mumbles. He’s clearly realised what I have. This is the founding members of The Black Roses—a black ops security firm that works a little in the grey with the ACIC. They weren’t always on the straight and narrow in terms of their methods but seemed to always have good intentions.
“I was too, don’t worry.” Cal takes a seat at the counter, beside Rory who clinks mugs with him.
“Look at you being all polite and conversation starting and shit,” Lindsey says sweetly, kissing The Ghost,Xander’scheek. He raises a scarred hand, resting it on the back of her neck.
“You here to tell us you’re leaving?” Ethan walks over to Rory. I tense and Mason inches closer.
Ethan raises one eyebrow at us but continues his path, ruffling Rory’s hair. He casually leans against the edge of the counter, crossing his arms.
Rory smacks his hand, rolling her eyes. “You’re making it hard to miss you dorks.”
“You’re leaving?” Cal says in a small voice.
Rory turns to him, guilt shining in her eyes. Her hand rests on his arm. “Cal…you know I–”
“It’s fine,” Cal interrupts, “I don’t care. You were always going to leave anyway. I knew you would do this.” He picks up his hot chocolate, knocking off Rory’s hand as he storms off.
Rory goes to go after him but Ethan puts his hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay, Rory. Let him go.”
Lindsey gives us a tight smile before hurrying after Cal.
Rory’s shoulders slump—pain in her features. I ignore everything, focusing entirely on her.
