Maverick chuffed out a laugh. “Looks like you’re stuck with me. Let the sufferingbegin.”
29
Never Leave Me
“Goddammit!”Crockett pounded hisfist on the Formica table in his Tank and shoved out of the chair so hard, it banged against the back wall. “Fuck me.” He had reached his breaking point hoursago.
“Dude, go home,” Decker said. “You’redone.”
Rubbing his neck did nothing to soothe his aching muscles. One thirty in the morning and they had nothing to show for their debuggingefforts.
“Something has fucking got to give,” Crockettmuttered.
“I hear ya.” Decker continued typing, the scrolling lines of code blurring together. “You want me to drive youhome?”
“Thanks. I canmanage.”
“TextAlexandra.”
“Whatfor?”
“You talked to her at eleven. She asked you to text her when youleave.”
“Right. Thanks for having my back.” Crockett texted: “Leaving. Home in ten.” Dots appeared. “Christ, she’sup.”
“She loves you, man. When you popping thequestion?”
“I’m working on that,” Crockettreplied.
“Success?” Alexandratexted.
“No,” Crockett textedback.
“I’m outta here,” Crockett said, opening the door of the Tank. “Youcoming?”
“That last pot o’ coffee kicked in. I’ll crashhere.”
“I’ve gotta give you araise.”
Decker tossed him a salute. “Mo’money.”
Crockett drove home enveloped in silence. Fueled by the pressure to solve the problem, he’d expected they would find the bug in the code. But they’d uncovered nothing. Not even a fucking breadcrumb of a clue that Larry Berry, or anyone else, had tampered withanything.
When Crockett rolled into his parking spot, exhaustion hovered like a storm cloud. His dress shoes echoed in the dead-quiet underground as he made his way to the elevator. When he stepped inside, the doors closed and he glanced at his reflection.I look likehell.
Knowing Alex would be waiting sent him powering down the quiet hallway toward home. Once inside, he hoped to find her curled up on the sofa, but the roaring gas fire was his only warm greeting. He dropped his computer bag and coat on the sofa, then poured himself a whiskey. The first mouthful burned a trail to his stomach, the second tasted likemore.
Even at this ungodly hour, pent-up energy coursed through him as he tossed his noose-of-a-tie and suit jacket on the bar before dropping onto a stool. He wanted to unleash his fury on a punching bag, but the condo gym didn’t have one and the karate studio had closed hours ago.If I had a competition, I’d kick some serious ass.His head had been throbbing all evening. Not even the three aspirins had offered him anyrelief.
“Hello, Huntah.” Alex’s sultry voice sliced through the demons raging in hishead.
He turned. Wearing only a silver mask and stilettos, she sashayed over. A black mask dangled from herfingers.
Electra ignited his desire in a way that no one else could, not even Alex. A tornado of energy shot straight to his groin. He stood to receive her and to give his growing cock room in hisboxers.
“Electra.” She’d slicked her perfect breasts and pert nipples in oil, her shimmering skin illuminated by the flickeringfirelight.
When she pressed her naked body to his, heat infused his chest and a deep growl erupted from his throat. “I’m not sure even you can handle my anger and frustration tonight,baby.”
