Exploited
Page 44

But…
If someone knew my name, then others could find out as well.
He would find me.
Mason.
It would all be over.
Everything I had worked for.
Everything I was trying to achieve.
Done.
I had to move quicker.
Much quicker.
I had to know what Mason knew. It was a matter of life and death.
“You’d better take time for this crap, Hannah,” Rose spat. “This is serious.”
“There’s no way. I’m untraceable.” As soon as I said it, I knew how ridiculous I sounded.
No one was untraceable. Not completely. Not if one knew where to look.
“Fuck, your God complex is out of control. You need to check your ego and find out what’s going on. I’ve heard rumblings about you working with someone new, but I didn’t take it seriously. Given that you’ve always insisted on working alone.” There was a note to Rose’s voice that I recognized as suspicion. And maybe some hurt too.
Maybe I wanted her to hurt.
Just enough.
“I am working with someone,” I told her. Admitting it only to her. Only to maim.
She was silent for a while. The bullet had hit its mark.
Then I felt silly. Juvenile. Why would I want to hurt Rose? I had let go of any grievances a long time ago.
She had reached out in an attempt to help. To warn me. I needed to keep my petty emotions in check.
I had to remain even-tempered. Unhurried. Unconcerned.
That was the Hannah Whelan I had become.
“It’s a new partnership. One that I vetted carefully,” I explained, hoping to allay her obvious worry.
“Who is it?” she asked, her voice raspy. Choked. I could hear the jealousy. Her words were clipped and cold.
She was upset I was working with someone new. Someone who wasn’t her.
Because in the beginning it was just her and me.
Until I learned that working alone was the only way to move forward.
Hacking—for me—was a solitary pursuit. Partnerships wouldn’t work.
It was another thing that Rose had taught me.
Yet I’m working with Toxicwrath now….But I was in control this time. Right?
“Just a cracker I’ve met. He’s good. Really good. He’s in line with the mission. You remember how important that is.” I wouldn’t give her specifics.
“Who is it? Can you really trust them? Are you being careful?”
“Look Rose, I appreciate the heads-up, but I’ll take it from here. I’ve got some things in the works. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Rose sighed. “I do worry about you, Hannah. Always have. You know that.”
I felt a little sick to my stomach.
“Stop it, Rose. Just stop it,” I snapped, needing to end this conversation quickly.
“Han—”
“I have to go. I have a date tonight.” I had to put that out there. Remind her of who I was. Of who I’d never be to her.
There was silence.
“Rose? Did you hear me?”
“Yeah, I heard you. Though I must say I’m surprised. I didn’t think that heart of yours was capable of feeling anything,” she replied nastily.
“I’ve got to go.” I didn’t want to talk to her anymore.
“Hannah, watch your back.”
“Is that a threat?” What was Rose’s angle?
“If that’s what you think, then so be it. But we both know you can’t trust anyone.”
“Yeah, I guess we both learned that the hard way.” I heard her sharp intake of breath.
“Yes, we did.” I squeezed my phone in my hand so hard I thought it would break.
“I’ll do some digging on my end. See what I can come up with,” Rose offered.
“Why? This isn’t your problem.”
“You’ll always be my problem,” Rose spat out, and then the line went dead.
I dropped the phone onto the table, deeply unsettled.
My instinct was not to believe anything Rose told me. Our history led to wary mistrust. She had said I was in danger of being found out. But how did she know this?
I had to get to Mason’s. I had to get dressed. I had to pretend I wasn’t losing my shit. But I had to do something else first.
I sat down at my computer and opened up a VPN tunnel, then started searching. I scoured the deep Web for Hannah Whelan.
And found nothing.
Not a single damn thing.
But that didn’t mean there wasn’t something out there. I should get Toxicwrath on it. See if he could find anything.
Just not right now.
Tonight I had other things to do. Other plans to put in place.
Always the goddamned plan…
I felt like a ticking clock. Time was running out.
What if Rose was making it up, just so she could weasel her way back into my life?
And what if she wasn’t?
I couldn’t risk it.
I went upstairs, picking out the first blouse and skirt I found. I ran a brush through my hair, barely sparing myself a glance in the mirror.
Preparation time was over.
I had to move.
Chapter 14

Hannah
“Sorry I’m late.” I walked through the door that Mason held open, feeling flustered and out of breath. Mason took my coat and hung it up. “Hey, I’m in no position to comment on your tardiness. I’m just glad you’re here.”
He put his hand on the small of my back and I stiffened slightly.
The guilt raged inside of me. It was impossible to tamp it down in my frazzled state.
I stared up at the handsome man smiling down at me and wished there was another way.
I could back out now. Leave him alone. Save his heart.
Save mine.
But how could I, when so much was at stake?
My conversation with Rose had left me rattled and off-kilter.
“Hannah Whelan is Freedom Overdrive.”
Who had discovered my identity? What had I done wrong? What door hadn’t I closed properly?
The questions were making me paranoid. It was unsettling.
Or was Rose full of crap? Was it all a ruse to insinuate herself back into my life?
The timing was suspect.
Mason leaned down and kissed me lightly on the lips. My mouth was rigid and unyielding, causing him to frown.
I was uptight. Stressed. I was good at containing my emotions. But they were leaking out all over the place.