Page 13 (1/2)

She exchanges a long look with Ryder “That makes me wonder if that other reees our direction, but we still have ways to find the person behind this” She cracks her knuckles and her fingers begin flying across the keyboard again “Let’s turn our focus to whoever’s hacked into your computer”

Ryder’s lips tighten at Alex’s brisk voice before he askson your computer that we need to worry about?”

I shrug, hugging myself “My father’s schedule and professional stuff like that But even though there’s nothing personal, it’s just so invasive and creepy that soh allshe’s doing the sahter aroundcrazy?

Ryder begins to slide a hand toward me, obviously to comfortto Alex, he asks, “Any idea where the hacker is located?”

I ache for his touch, as I have ever since I realized things between us had suddenly changed One day he wasmore God, I need hiet his damn job to be there for me in the e both knoant For over a year now, I’ve been throwing myself out there to him and he always turns his back on me Usually I can deal with it because I understand His responsibility is to ive a hot, tough guy like Ryder a run for hisme I see it and I feel it and I have for some time now But today, after all this, the world feels very, very lonely I feel very lonely

An e me, but then he looks ahen Alex says, “I have no trail on the hacker’s location right now, but I’ll find him”

Ryder nods, as if that’s the only answer he needs

I need way more than the word of someone I don’t know “How can you be so sure you can locate him before he posts the video?”

“Because that’s what I do” She ss “I can’t pro you But I can promise I’ll find this hacker”

Her confidence reassures me But her words confuse me “You don’t think the hacker and the blackmailer are the same person?”

“It’s very unlikely,” Alex says, returning her focus to her monitor “Whoever hacked your conature and then I’ll catch him”

My throat tightens as I hear Ryder clearing his throat Oh, yeah, I knohat’s co next and I want to hide under the damn table

“Speaking of the video, let’s take a look at it” His voice is cool and collected I don’t know if that’s an act or not, but my heart twists, squeezes, and then promptly drops into my stomach when he turns to me and says, “I need to watch this to learn what I can about the men You don’t need to be here”

“I’” I damn ant to see his expression when he watches me

“All right,” Ryder says, and then he nods at Alex “Go on”