But then he shakes his head. “His information is not useful if we do not trust him. That is the issue with men like him—trust is a bridge made of cards. Constructing it takes time, and problems cannot be fixed because instead they bring down the whole structure.”
“Google doc,” Mac interjects, grinning at the surprisingly accurate metaphor.
“You’re right,” I agree with both of them. I smile, but it tastes bitter. “But I think there’s one thing wecantrust about Felix—that he’d never hurt Madison.”
As much as I hate to admit it, Felix’s protective instincts towards Madison make me feel oddly better. Sure, he’s a dickhead, and he got her involved with SmarTech, and part of me wants to kill him for it… but he also keeps tabs on her and obviously considers her part of his family. He’s been protecting her on this dangerous path she chose, and now that the dust has settled, I find I’m oddly… grateful to him for that.
Dimitri frowns. “So she is… a hostage? We use her to control him?”
I cut him a look, knowing he doesn’t really think that’s an option. “No… I know it’s a wild concept that a woman be brought to the house both willinglyandaware of what’s going on”—Mac scoffs loudly and dramatically—“but Madison isn’t leverage to be used against someone for our own personal vendettas.”
Dimitri considers this for a few seconds, then crosses his arms. “I do not like it. This is creating a situation where the choice will be Madison or Nicole—spare the man because of what he means to your woman, or kill him for what he has done to mine.”
And there he goes, cutting to the heart of the matter. As usual. “For what it’s worth, I agree. And I don’t like that it’s come to this.”
But Madison’s words in the car ring in my ears and buzz around in my chest, refusing to settle without acknowledgment.
I’m an adult, and my own safety is a discussion I get to be part of.
Restriction and protection aren’t the same thing.
That’s called benevolent control.
“Will you do me a favor?” I ask. He nods instantly. “Speak with Nicole and try to put aside your own anger to see howshefeels about it. She’s the one who was injured, after all. She deserves a say in her revenge.”
Dimitri takes a second to think, then inclines his head. “That is a good idea.”
“Now that you two have hugged it out,” Mac interjects, rubbing his hands together. “Let’s talk shop. Where are we? What do we know?”
“From what I understand, Felix sent Madison to SmarTech to copy and steal their secure files. Right after she finished the transfer and quit, the hit came out on her. The timing is too coincidental, especially combined with the fact that so many of our other jobs have used SmarTech tools. They’re involved somehow—someone at that company could very well be our man.”
“She stole data from a company that makes its business in security?” Dimitri asks, brows lifting. “This is impressive.”
I can’t fight the grin. “Massively impressive. She went undercover on the inside to get it, then snuck it out right under their noses. She’s got guts. And skills. Fuck, I couldn’t have built a more perfect woman for me,” I gush. Because I can. Because after listening to these lovesick fools talk about their women all this time, it feels good.
“All right, save your not-so-floppy disk for her,” Mac says, rolling his eyes. But he grins at me, obviously happy for me. “So, you’re going to start with this SmarTech data, I assume.”
I nod. “Madison has the files.”
Mac considers that, scratching at his short beard regrowth. “So where do we go from here?”
I think about the book in my top drawer, hidden in its locked compartment, and all the notes I’ve been keeping for a decade about my search. Do I tell them? We’re getting close—this is closer than I’ve ever been. And this next part will betricky—knowing would give them some additional context about what we might be up against…
Or it would upset them, like it did when I told them how I parse out the names. Perhaps it’s best to stick with the original plan, and the plan has always been to wait to tell them until it’s over.
There’s a soft knock on the door. Dimitri, who’s closest, goes to answer it. “Oh, hello, Madison.”
“Hey!” Her head pops out to the side as she leans around him, and she waves with her fingers. “Whatcha doin’?”
“We were just speaking about the data from SmarTech. Come on in,” I wave.
She disappears again as she straightens, totally eclipsed by the man in the doorway. “Should I go back and get a running start, or is this more of a Great Wall of Dimitri situation? Is there a toll?”
“Of course there is no toll,” he replies simply, moving aside to let her in.
Her eyes bug out as she looks all around, taking note of the line of Raspberry Pis and single-board computers on my back desk with an impressed whistle. “Sweet setup, SpyderMan.”
I grin, glad she approves. “Sit,” I gesture to the chair Mac’s in. “Mac can stand.”
