Pierce smiles at me, and while the gesture is genuine, I can see the strain in his eyes. It only deepens my concern over his sudden and unexpected appearance. Normally if something was going on, he'd call me. And I missed a few calls from Tucker while Mariah and I were at her appointment, but not a single one from Pierce or any of his employees.
Not a great sign that he went straight to a video call.
"I am actually surprised to see you. I assumed I would be speaking with your team." Pierce's eyes drift to where Mariah stands beside me. "How are things?"
I glance around and discover his attention isn't the only one on Mariah. They’re all clearly wondering who she is. But they’re going to have to keep wondering, because I won’t be explaining our connection to a room full of my employees and my very overwhelmed brother.
Partly because I don’t exactly know the parameters of it myself.
"Things are fine." I reach for a chair, bringing it next to the spot where I’m standing. I tip my head toward the seat, waiting until Mariah sits down to refocus on my biggest client. "How are things with you?"
"Not great." He works his jaw from side to side, like he's dragging out the seconds before speaking again. "My team was finally able to figure out how our system was breached a month ago."
That has my brows lifting, because if my team couldn't figure it out, I didn't expect Pierce's team could. "Really?"
He nods, mouth setting in a grim line. "And I’m afraid you are not going to like it."
I ignore the way my team’s now staring atme, keeping my attention on Pierce. "What did you find out?"
"We were not the intended target. We were simply a side entrance they attempted to use." I know what he's going to say before he says it, but Pierce’s words still hit me like a punch. "To get to you."
Fuck. It's bad enough to think someone was able to get through the protections I put in place for Pierce's company, but finding out they got through those protections simply to try to get through the ones I have at McKinley Security fucking pisses me off. "Why would they do that?"
Pierce tips his head to one side. "I would have to assume they found your system too difficult to breach and believed ours would be easier."
Well that's insulting. For someone to think I wouldn't protect a client's company as aggressively as I protect my own is a fucking slap in the face. And has me wondering… "Were you able to identify who was behind it?"
In my line of work, the list of people trying to access the information I'm in possession of is long. It's why a portion of my house is configured to be locked down in an emergency. Why we spend an exorbitant amount of money on technology to make sure our firewalls remain top of the line. Why our private servers are in a room someone would have to detonate a bomb to get into.
"Heidi, Harlow, and the rest of the team are still working on that, but they don't seem confident they will be able togive you a name." Pierce smooths down the front of his jacket, hand running over a lapel that likely cost more than the car I have on order.
That's only a slight exaggeration.
"I just wanted to let you know as soon as I did, so you could take additional precautions to ensure the safety of your company."
"There are no additional precautions." After someone attempted to get into Alaskan Security, I busted my ass making sure everything was as secure as I could get it. Then I did it again when an attempt was made to get into our system here at McKinley Security. "Do you believe they will keep trying to get in?"
Pierce lifts a glass from the desk in front of him, swallowing down a mouthful of amber liquid. "If someone is willing to risk their life trying to get through my company to yours, I have to assume they are intent on obtaining whatever it is they're looking for."
I've had my suspicions about what Pierce's company—Alaskan Security—does, and already decided it likely isn't simple bodyguard-type work. Obviously, I was correct if accessing his system could result in death. Because accessing mine only results in a hell of a lot of years in prison.
And that's only if I catch them.
"I'm guessing your team wasn't able to ascertain what it is this person is after either."
"No. Honestly, the only way to do that would be if they found it, and thankfully that does not seem to be the case." Pierce rubs his eyes, looking tired. "Is there anything I need to do to ensure I am no longer at risk?"
I appreciate how nicely he's asking if my problems are going to be his problems. And while I want more than anything to reassure him, unfortunately, I can't make any promises.
"Let me look through things over the next few days. I'll have my team ensure everything is as secure and protected as we can make it." Now it's my turn to give him bad news. "But, as youknow, all it takes is one talented and determined hacker, and everything can go to shit."
Pierce gives me a smirk, finally looking a little less overwhelmed. "I know. I have two of them on my team."
I grin, my own stress level lowering at the reminder. “Likewise.”
I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I have complete faith that my team can handle it. Unfortunately, the task adds work they don’t really have time for.
Pierce disconnects the call and I turn to find every set of eyes in the room on me. I swallow hard as my chest gets tight. My face heats, the ridges webbed across my skin feeling raw and irritated even though they healed long ago.
