Dangerous Games (Aegis Group, #3) (29 page)

“I don’t know. She was vague, I couldn’t tell.”

“You don’t really think Miranda’s involved.” Crystal’s face twisted up.

“We don’t know who is involved, do we?” Andrea looked up at Zain. “Cliff is a too obvious scapegoat. What did you say to me? Follow the money? Grunge is a lot more profitable now than when Dark Matter bought it. Wouldn’t Miranda wants to take it back?”

“That’s one way to look at it,” Zain said.

“No way. Miranda wouldn’t do that.” Crystal’s eyes were wide, full of disbelief.

“On the other hand, Miranda was very concerned about your safety. It wasn’t an act,” Zain said. He glanced at his phone and his frowned deepened. “It’s my boss. I’m going to take this upstairs.”

“She was really great at the con.” Andrea cradled her chin in her hands and looked at Crystal as Zain took the stairs two at a time. “This sucks. I don’t know who I can trust, besides you guys.”

And that was the worst of it. Anyone could be the mastermind.

“Admiral—”

“Lloyd, what the hell is going on? I thought you were on vacation.”

Zain swallowed. Admiral Crawford’s Louisiana accent only got this thick when he was really pissed.

“I am still technically on vacation, sir.” Zain pulled the blinds in the room he’d shared with Andrea and peered out onto the well-manicured lawn.

“Then why do I have a new job on my desk? For you, of all people. And why are you working Gavin round the clock? That damn boy slept here last night.”

“There was a situation during the convention. I saw an opportunity—”

“Don’t give me that bullshit. You and your cousin are nothing but trouble.” Crawford grumbled something uncomplimentary under his breath.

“I’ll pay for whatever this is costing us.” Saying those words made Zain a little—a lot—sick to his stomach. But he’d do it. And Andrea would never have to know.

“You bet you will. What exactly have you gotten yourself into?”

Zain kept to the barest of details. The Admiral wasn’t a man who liked anyone to waste his time and he wouldn’t care about anything besides the facts. How Zain felt about the matter, morally or emotionally, were not important to Crawford.

“So they caught the guy behind this circus? Jesus, Zain, what the hell?” Zain could imagine Crawford sitting at his desk, shaking his head. Despite his tough, no nonsense approach, the Admiral was someone Zain would follow into hell if he had to.

“No, not yet. There’s a fall guy, for sure, but they don’t know who’s really behind it all.”

“Wrap this up and get your ass home. We’ve got work to do.”

“As soon as I can, sir.”

“Soon. Hear me?”

“I do.”

Zain hung up, no longer hungry for the breakfast he’d barely had a chance to touch. Crawford probably thought Zain would be back in a day or two. Zain...wasn’t so sure. Even when they sorted out who’d really hired Kevin, Andrea would need to set her life back up. She’d need a shoulder to lean on, and someone to help move furniture. He didn’t know if he could leave her so soon. It was all still so new...but his boss wouldn’t care.

Could Zain give up everything for...a girl he’d just met?

His heart said yes.

His head said no.

He watched a gardener stroll the line of hedges, a rake in one hand, pruning shears in another.

When he’d seen Andrea in that elevator, he’d had more than a minute of fan-boy admiration. Andrea was a hard working young woman in an industry that wasn’t all that friendly to her gender. Yet, she was sweet, kind, and infinitely patient. He’d watched how she’d handled even the most awkward of D7’s fans at the booth. It was part of the reason why she and Crystal worked so well in their vlogs. They balanced each other out.

What did he have in common with her?

They liked the same shows. They both nerded out over made-up languages. Their tastes in games was slightly different—she favored story, while he just wanted to kill things. She didn’t get bent out of shape over Star Trek versus Star Wars. Vegging out and watching Firefly or Doctor Who totally de-stressed them.

But was it enough?

Sure, they could nerd together, but could they live together? Because if he left Aegis, if that’s what it came to, he’d be starting over completely. And as a self-educated tech...he was at a great disadvantage. Not to mention the bias that came with being a vet and an amputee. Maybe it was a good dose of fear, too. He’d left the SEALs and gone straight into working for Crawford, which was a familiar environment. He’d never truly been a civilian, even after leaving the Navy.

Could he give all that up for a chance at a life with someone?

His cousin had found a balance. Hannah expected Mason to continue working for Aegis. There was no doubt there. But then there were the guys like Travis. Some people thought he’d never leave, but Zain had seen the signs. The way Bliss looked at Travis from time to time when they thought no one else was watching. Travis was not long for their world, that was for sure.

Zain’s phone vibrated with an incoming text from Andrea. He chuckled. They were in the same damn house and she was texting him.

Everything ok? We’re thinking of starting Firefly back up. U in?

He read the words in her voice.

There was no point in hashing out the future when the present was uncertain. He’d given up the idea of a family and a life outside of what they did a long time ago. Until Andrea was safe, there was no reason to rehash that, and ultimately that choice wasn’t up to him.

He shoved his phone in his pocket and headed downstairs.

Whatever happened, he’d always have these moments, so he might as well make the most of them.

Andrea didn’t want to move, but she really had to pee. Not that she thought Zain wouldn’t let her cuddle up next to him again. She was rather certain he liked her well enough for that. It was the whole getting up part of it.

The last episode’s credits began to roll.

Crystal had fallen asleep on the loveseat at some point, her soft snores melding together with the louder-than-should-be-possible sound of one cat sawing logs right along with her.

“I need to get up.” Andrea squeezed Zain a little bit.

“No, you don’t.” He stroked her back.

“I have to pee.”

“Then that is a problem.”

She didn’t even try to move.

It was so warm and nice snuggled up next to Zain. Moving would be a crime. But she’d also never live down peeing her pants to stay on the couch.

“Fine. I’m going. We starting
Serenity
, or what?” She pushed up and swung her legs over the side of the couch.

“You want to watch that?” He checked the time. “It’s a little past midnight.”

“Maybe? I don’t know. I can’t think, I have to pee.” She stood and shuffled into the powder room down the hall.

Andrea pulled her phone out of her hoodie pocket and set it on the vanity to avoid another soaked phone. She’d replaced God only knew how many to random accidents like dropping them in the toilet. The screen flashed once, a line of notifications marching down the preview.

Shit.

What was going on?

Pee first, check the phone second.

She hurried through washing her hands, the curiosity eating her up. She swiped through the messages with still-wet fingers, not even waiting until she was back in the living room.

“Ho-ly-crap.” Her eyes nearly bugged out of her skull reading the snippets of texts, the email previews. “Zain?”

Andrea jerked the bathroom door open and rushed back into the small living room. Crystal was sitting up, rubbing her eyes and Zain was at his laptop, face grim.

He knew.

“You saw?” she asked, finding it hard to breathe around the knot in her throat.

“What’s going on?” Crystal blinked at them then her smart phone. “I’m blowing up.”

“They issued a warrant for Cliff’s arrest. He just turned himself in,” Zain said.

“How do you know?” Andrea crossed to peer over Zain’s shoulder.

“He posted this before he went in.” Zain clicked the casting icon and gestured at the TV.

Cliff’s face filled the flat screen TV. The picture was bad, the background was dark. If Andrea had to guess, he’d recorded this in the backseat of his Uber car.

“In the interest of heading off rumors, I wanted to take the chance to put it out there first. I, Cliff Barnes, am on my way to the Seattle PD to turn myself in. Someone out there has been harassing and even attacked one of my employees, and someone is saying I hired them. I never—and would never—do that. I am innocent. Prove me guilty if you can. To everyone who works for Dark Matter, thank you for your support. You’ll get more information in the morning.” Cliff flashed a peace sign and the screen went dark.

“Wow.” Andrea exhaled and leaned against the counter.

“That’s...I can’t believe he did that.” Crystal stood and stretched. “Well, I can, but to put it out there like that? Go Cliff.”

“What does this mean?” Andrea turned to Zain. “I thought Max was going to update us.”

“This might have gone over his head. Or he might have cut us out of the loop.” Zain frowned at his phone. “My guess?”

“Please?” She sat on the stool. Her knees felt weak. Her boss was being arrested because of her. Was she even going to have a job when this was all over?

“Either Max decided to arrest Cliff, or his Chief did. I’d be willing to bet Max got a hold of Cliff to get him to come in for questioning at least, probably before the warrant. And this is just my take, that Cliff is going in under some idea that this’ll keep you safe, make him look innocent. The guy’s got money. You’re both convinced he’s not involved, and I’m inclined to agree. He’ll make bail with a good lawyer.”

“I’ve got an email from Doug co-signed with Miranda,” Crystal said.

Andrea snatched her phone and tapped the email icon.

“Doug, that’s the Dark Matter VP, right?” Zain leaned over her shoulder.

“They want everyone in the office tomorrow.” Andrea scrunched her nose up. “They mean the main office. That’s going to be, like, a two-hour commute in the morning.”

“Oh, shut up.” Crystal rolled her eyes and stared at the ceiling. “I’m using the driver. Riding with?”

“Um, yes, please?” Again, Andrea wasn’t going to begrudge the perks of having Crystal’s parents staff help them out. “Oh—it’s a mid-morning meeting, see the footnote?”

“Still. Yuck.” Crystal wandered into the kitchen and stood across from them.

“This is all my fault.” Andrea set her phone on the bar.

“No. I seriously doubt it’s any of your fault.” Crystal shook her head. “It’s not your fault. I can English. Zain. Tell her.”

“They’re putting everyone in one room,” he said.

“Yeah, and?” Andrea studied his face, the calm way he stared at the marble counter. He was thinking. Drawing a connection she couldn’t see.

“I want to go with you,” he said. “Whoever is behind this will be in that room.”

“You think so?” Andrea swallowed.

“Yeah.”

“Hey, we’ll both be there. And I’ll bring my Taser.” Crystal grinned.

“Let’s go to bed. We can watch
Serenity
later.” Zain squeezed her hand.

“I’m taking a sleeping pill. It’s the only way I’ll get any rest. Want one?” Crystal pulled two drawers open before she found the bottle of blue, over the counter sleep-aids.

“Please.” Andrea held out her hand. At this rate, she needed the thing to stop her brain from creating worst case scenarios.

They spent a few minutes hashing out when they needed to get up versus being on the road and finished with synchronizing their alarms. Crystal shambled off across the house to check on her diabetic cat and another that’d been quarantined for undisclosed reasons. Andrea hadn’t even thought to ask about October, the missing cat, but she’d try to remember later.

“You coming to bed?” she asked Zain. He continued to stare at his laptop, flipping through emails.

“I need to do some work. I don’t want to keep you up.”

“Oh, okay.” She slid off the stool and turned her phone over in her hands. The idea of going upstairs, of sleeping alone even if for a bit had her pulse speeding up. He’d become her safety blanket, and now she didn’t want to be without him. But that level of neediness was annoying.

Zain glanced at her, his gaze seeing too deep.

“Would it bother you if I brought this upstairs? I could turn the brightness down,” he said.

“No, it wouldn’t bother me.” She bit her lip. “Is it lame that I...need you with me?”

He stood, wrapping his arms around her and tugging her in close. He was the perfect height for his chin to rest on top of her head.

“No, it’s not lame...”

“I hear a
but
coming.”

“There’s no but. I was just going to say...” He leaned back and looked down at her. “It’s nice to be needed.”

“I need you, Zain Lloyd. You’re my only hope.” She grinned.

He grinned back at her.

How was it that in all of this crazy mess that was her life, she’d found someone like him?

Z
ain squeezed Andrea’s hand as they joined the flow of employees into the Dark Matter offices north of downtown Seattle. She released her hold on him and grabbed the door. He hesitated a moment, letting a few feet of space separate them.

He wanted to hang back, to observe who spoke to Andrea, anyone that commented on the bruising or scratches. Plus, if anyone recognized him, they’d probably been at the con. Or was the real suspect. He didn’t doubt for a second that the real bad guys were aware of his presence. Kevin would have been an idiot to not tell someone about him.

The offices were exactly what Crystal and Andrea had described them to be. Sleek. Modern. Contemporary. Full of dude clutter. The entry looked a lot like a guy’s playground, with several gaming set ups waiting to be turned on and two posters of Dark Matter’s flagship game sporting scantily-clad women with heaving breasts.

Everyone headed upstairs, by way of either an elevator or a staircase that led to an open-second story meeting space.

Zain lagged about ten feet behind the girls, climbing the silver stairs after them.

At the top, Miranda and two men waited near the entrance, smiling and speaking when spoken to.