“Don’t call me that,”he growled.“What exactly do you want?”
“Other than for my brother to love me?”
“We’re not brothers.”
“Ouch, I think mum would disagree.”
“We were fostered together for a month.”
“And it was the best month of my childhood. Should we visit… what was her name? Oh right… Samantha for Christmas?”
“Ry—”
“I wonder what she’s up to now. She must miss us after all those beatings she gave in the name of love. Oh wait, I remember now. She’s dead.” I watched Violet, her eyes so large she resembled a fairytale character. It was cute.
“I see your sense of humour hasn’t improved,”Hendrix said dryly.“I’m going to hang up now.”
“Wait!” I sat forward in the chair, the springs squeaking a little at my weight. “I need your talents in breaking open an encrypted phone.”
“Why can’t you do it? Have you even tried?”
“Yes, genius. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be calling you.”
Hendrix was the one who’d taught me everything I knew about breaking into surveillance systems and basic firewalls. But when I needed a little help with the fancy shit, he was the one I called.
“Why do you need it unlocked?”
I barely controlled my grin. I knew Hen wouldn’t be able to resist something like this. “Because I fucking do, what sort of question is that?”
“Why, what have you done?”
I was immediately offended. “Why do you think I’ve done anything wrong?”
“Because it’s you.”There wasn’t even a pause.
“Wow. Where’s the brotherly love?”
“Still not brothers.”
“Look, come on. Help me out and I’ll owe you.”
A heavy sigh.“Meet me at Chains in an hour.”
I glanced at Violet, who’d only heard my side of things. “I’ll be there. Might have an annoying blonde in tow, though.”
There was another slight pause, as if he thought I was joking.“A blonde? You know I don’t like people in our business, Ryder.”
“You know I have a type.”
Violet didn’t seem to find my comment amusing. Shame.
“That reminds me. Tell Elena I said hi,” I continued, teasing.
Hendrix hung up.
Chapter 16
Violet
