HACKING THE BILLIONAIRE: Part 2 (5 page)

Kent texted Riley that Dirk wanted them to abort the meeting. She texted back her guard, who only sat a few feet from her. Joan sat behind her. “He’s almost here. Let’s just meet him.”

At this point, she was too close. She could feel it in her bones that this would be break in the case. Maybe not a final break, but she would have a better idea of whom to target and investigate.

This cloak and dagger stuff was getting old. She wanted to get back in front of a computer. People were difficult. Computers were either ones or zeros. Simple. And these affairs were getting messy.

Dirk. Damn him. This would be over soon, and she had feelings for him. This meeting was the key to finally ending this case before her heart ended up shattered.

A familiar face looked in the coffee shop. Zeke. So those e-mails had come from him. She didn’t wave, but nodded at him.

He pulled out his phone, indicating he had to take the call. Frustration reigned. She didn’t want to wait any longer. To have him right there. She hoped he had information. Her cover was blown otherwise. Zeke clearly hadn’t known until now that she wasn’t really Dirk’s girlfriend.

Hopefully he’d keep his mouth shut. Of course he would.

Then time seemed to slow. He tucked his phone back in his pocket, then turned to look at her. Someone bumped into him. His face lost its smile. Went slack as he bounced off of the person. She could see blood.

Kent was on his feet. Barking orders. She didn’t hear him. She was already on her feet, heading to Zeke. Maybe he’d be conscious. The person who had run into him disappeared. She didn’t get a good look, so she wouldn’t be able to identify him.

Her attention stayed on Zeke, who landed on the ground as if he were a rag doll.

“Riley,” Kent said, but she ignored him.

The person was already gone. Zeke was bleeding on the sidewalk. Someone stood over him, talking into a cell phone. Sounded like that bystander was calling for an ambulance.

Riley knelt down. Zeke’s eyes were glazed and blood was pooling below him. Dammit. He wasn’t able to speak.

“Zeke,” she said.

Then strong hands grabbed her from behind. She was about to swing when she realized it was Trent. Joan was directly behind him.

The car they’d come here in came to a screeching halt in front of her. Kent shoved her into the back seat, while Joan hopped in the front. The driver took off without speaking to either of them.

Riley looked out the back window. A crowd had gathered around Zeke. Kent stood over him.

“Damn.”

“You okay, Ri?” Joan said.

“Yeah, just pissed that we weren’t able to get the information.”

“What happened?”

“I think he was stabbed. He must have been followed.” She turned back to Joan. “I’m getting the impression that this is the craziest corporate espionage we’ve ever been involved in.”

Part of her thought she was in over her head, but she wasn’t admitting that yet. She’d figure this out.

“Did you hear Kent curse when you flew out of the coffee shop?” Joan said.

“No, I didn’t. I was paying attention to Zeke. Oh, crap. I have to tell Dirk. Zeke’s his best friend.”

The drive spoke up. He’d made a few turns at this point and was about to enter a parking garage. “Kent already did.”

“Oh, okay.”

He driver took them up a few levels then parked. “We’re waiting here until the situation is under control. You’ll have to talk to the cops.”

“I didn’t get a good look at the man,” Riley said.

“I didn’t either. I was trying to figure out who you were looking at,” Joan said.

Riley pulled out her phone. Dirk had called a few times. He hadn’t left messages, which meant he was pissed. He knew what happened and knew she was safe at this point. Nothing she could say would make a difference.

She called anyway.

“Hi, Dirk.”

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

She took a deep breath. He was pissed, and maybe he had a right to be. Or maybe he didn’t. They’d made no promises to each other. “I’m trying to figure out the leak in your company. Remember? What you hired me for?”

“I didn’t clear that action. And now somehow Zeke is involved and on his way to the hospital? What is going on?”

“Dirk, look. He must have been followed. He must have important information. That’s why I wanted to meet him. I didn’t sneak out. I didn’t leave Kent behind. We had it under control.”

“So much control that my best friend is on his way to the hospital.”

She wasn’t going to calm him down. He wasn’t going to see her side of this. “I still have to make my statement to the police. I can meet you at the hospital. We can talk there.”

“Maybe.”

He disconnected. Her eyes dropped closed. This was not going to be easy to fix.

“He’s mad?” Joan said.

“That would be an understatement.”

The driver’s phone rang. He answered then hung up with only a monosyllabic sound. “The cops are ready for you.”

“Okay. Let’s do this. Then I want to get to the hospital Zeke is in. I want to be there when he wakes up. I want to see if I can talk to him.”

“He must know something, right? Someone wanted to silence him,” Joan said.

“And my cover is blown with him. He knows that I’m working and not really Dirk’s girlfriend.”

Joan snorted. “You think you aren’t Dirk’s girlfriend? You keep thinking that, honey.”

“I’m not, Joan. This will be over with the case.”

She snorted again, but didn’t say anything.

***

Dirk calmed down and realized he wanted to see Riley. Needed to see Riley, to make sure she was okay. He had to see for himself. Touch her. Hold her.

What the fuck was his problem? She wasn’t his girlfriend, but he felt protective of her. Should he resist?

No. He had to see her. He could get mad at her when he knew she was safe. He wouldn’t know she was safe until he knew with his own eyes.

As his driver took him to the police station, Dirk pondered what role Zeke had in all this. Why had Zeke been meeting with Riley? What information did he have, and why didn’t he give it to Dirk? When had he figured out Riley wasn’t his girlfriend?

This case had become more complicated as time went on. He’d figured it was someone disgruntled with him, and he’d have put odds that it was Chad. Where did Zeke fit into this? What did Zeke know?

Dirk sighed, wishing this trip would take less time. He wanted to see Riley. He wanted answers also. This was his company they were tampering with. His livelihood. Damn them. He’d built this company.

He could build another one, but he didn’t want to. Being with Riley had reminded him that there was more to life than working. That lots of people did other things besides work. And maybe he could, too.

Riley had hobbled into his life on red pumps and turned it all upside down. For the first time in his life, he felt out of control. He didn’t have a plan for what was next. He didn’t know he needed a plan for what was next.

Finally, his driver pulled into the lot of the police station. Dirk no longer needed to be alone with his thoughts.

The police station was abuzz with activity. Dirk strode to the front desk. “I’m here to see Riley Adams.”

The woman at the desk gave him a blank look.

“She’s being questioned as a witness in the shooting.”

“Which shooting? The coffee shop? The one in the alley last night, or the one dead body we found this morning?”

He blinked. Why did he live in such a crime-ridden city? He’d never thought about how often people were involved in violent crimes. His driver whisked him past things that happened. He’d never thought of himself as out of touch, but he was.

In her short time with him, Riley had shown him so many things. Some, like this crime, he wished he didn’t know about. “The coffee shop.”

“Okay. You her lawyer?”

“Does she need one?”

“I don’t know. Is she a suspect?”

“No, a witness.”

“Then you can’t go see her. You’ll have to wait until she’s done giving her statement.”

“What if I’m her husband?” Dirk said.

This low-level bureaucrat was not going to keep him from Riley. He ran a company, damn her. He shouldn’t be barred from seeing his woman.

His woman? Well, his temporary woman.

“Are you her husband?”

“Yes.”

The woman frowned, but her tired eyes said she didn’t feel like challenging him on it. What was she going to say? He didn’t have a ring on, but plenty of couples never wore wedding rings.

The woman made a phone call. Then she buzzed him through a door. Guess he didn’t look like a terrorist. “She’s in Interrogation Room Three.”

He nodded, not having any idea where that was. If she didn’t mind him wandering around a police station, he wasn’t going to argue.

Turned out, the room was easy to spot. He knocked, then entered before anyone told him he couldn’t.

Riley sat at a metal table, a coffee in front of her. She didn’t look as if anyone had worked her over.

She eyed him, clearly not sure what his mood was. He smiled at her. She was okay, and his heart breathed a sigh of relief. She looked tired. That was it.

“You are?” the man who was speaking to riley asked. Dirk hadn’t even looked at him. His attention was on Riley.

Before Riley could speak, Dirk said, “I’m her husband.”

Riley’s mouth dropped open, but he willed her not to say anything.

“Okay. Have a seat. We’re almost done here.” The man didn’t introduce himself, but simply turned back to Riley. “Finish your story.”

She did. Dirk listened with half an ear. He was just happy she was okay. Happier than he should be. What was this woman doing to him?

The man pushed away from the table. “I’ll type this up then you’ll have to sign it. Just be a few minutes.”

He left them alone.

“My husband?” Riley said.

“It was the only way I could get back here.”

“You could have waited until I was done,” she said.

He felt a little foolish. He could have, but he’d been focused on seeing her. A man protected his world, and Riley was part of that. Damn. She was going to drive him nuts.

“I could have, but have you ever known me to be patient?”

“And you always get what you want.”

“Right now, I want you to stop.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop this investigation. We’ve been through this.”

“We have to talk to Zeke. Figure out what he knows.”

“Your cover’s blown.”

She shrugged. “Good, I don’t have to dress up and pretend. I think the gloves are off. The person knows we know, so there is no reason for pretense. Let me work in your office and I’ll find the leak.”

Was she nuts? “You’ve been in the hospital. My best friend is in the hospital. This isn’t a simple hacking. I need to figure out another way to get this job done.”

“We’re getting closer. Why throw away everything we’ve done?” she said. “I’ve stayed with my bodyguard. I’ve done what you asked.”

And someone was still hurt. His responsibility, ultimately. He’d have to face Zeke’s wife at the hospital. They had kids who needed their father.

“Let’s go see Zeke.”

Riley eyed Dirk. What was his problem? They’d already discussed that her safety was not his concern. Even so, she’d followed his rules. This was almost personal now. She wanted this leak figured out as much as he did. Maybe more, even though for her, it was a job.

It shouldn’t be more than a job, but she felt this case more than others.

Probably because of Dirk. That scared her. She’d kept most people at a distance, and Dirk had stormed her walls. She wanted out before he could do any more damage.

She wanted to go back to her ordered life and only date men who didn’t challenge her. She wouldn’t have to change then. She wouldn’t have to have anyone shine a spotlight on her ways. Or her values.

Dirk had done all of those things.

He led her outside to his car. Kent was there.

“Where’s Joan?” Riley asked him.

“I sent her home. She’s going to call when she gets there,” he said.

Guess he was feeling protective of her. Sweet. When it was happening to someone else. Joan wanted that for her life. Riley didn’t.

Somehow she’d gained it. Without trying. Wasn’t life funny that way?

Kent climbed in the front seat. Riley joined Dirk in the back seat. She hadn’t driven her car in weeks, and for a moment, she wished she could. That was freedom. She wanted that again.

To come and go as she pleased, but her attack had scared her enough to understand the need for Kent’s presence.

The drive to the hospital took minutes. Kent came in with Dirk and Riley. The man was always looking around. Always aware of their surroundings. Gave her a sense of safety, but she longed for the time when she wouldn’t need him.

Zeke’s wife, Cassandra, sat in the waiting room of ICU of the hospital. She was a petite woman, which surprised Riley. She’d expected that Zeke would have a model-looking wife. Instead, she was short and cute. Not hot and tall.

She didn’t smile, but rose to give Dirk a kiss. She eyed Riley like an interloper.

“This is Riley,” Dirk said.

Riley shook the woman’s hand, but didn’t know what to say. She was part of the reason that Zeke was in here.

“Has he woken up?” Dirk asked.

“Not yet,” Cassandra said.

“We need to talk to him. Find out what he knows. Has he mentioned anything to you?” Dirk said.

He could have waited. The poor woman’s husband just got out of surgery. She might not be thinking about what her husband might have said about Dirk’s company.

Riley wanted to smack Dirk. Sometimes his focus was misguided.

Cassandra looked at him. “That’s your first worry? He’s your best friend, Dirk. Does your company always come first?”

Dirk took a step back. Good girl, Cassandra. “I’m sorry, Cassie. You’re right. Can we wait with you?”

“Okay, but I get to see him first.”

“I’m sure the nurses won’t let Dirk in,” Riley said. “This is ICU and he’s not family.”

“Good,” Cassie said.

“Can I get you some coffee or soup?” Riley said.

She was going to take a back seat, but Dirk had already proved he was an ass in these situations.

Cassandra smiled at her. “Actually some soup would be nice.”

“I’ll go find the cafeteria, then.”

She left, but Dirk followed her out. “Riley?”

“You need something? Soup?”

“No, I’m fine.” He glanced back into the waiting room. “Thanks for smoothing that over.”

Him being an ass was going to make it easier for her to leave him. She’d have to hold on to the fact that his company would always come first. Before anyone in his life. Including her.

She wasn’t second fiddle to anyone if she didn’t want to be. She certainly wasn’t going to compete with a company. Not even a human.

“Maybe if you focused on the humans around you, then you might not have made that gaff.”

He straightened. “I didn’t mean any harm.”

“But you hurt her feelings. I think she probably wants to lean on you, and you made it so she can’t trust you. Nice job.”

“Why are you so pissed?”

“I’m not pissed. I’m just tired of being in an untenable situation. Your reaction to Zeke’s injury illustrates how much you care about your company. And nothing else.”

She turned and left him in the doorway. Kent caught up to her. She glanced at him. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to leave you in the dust.”

“I know. You’ve learned your lesson. It wasn’t me you were trying to get away from.”

Riley laughed. “You men can be asses.”

“Well, we get focused on what has to be done,” he said.

His gaze never met hers. He was always scanning the crowd. He had a presence, and people moved out of his way even if they weren’t looking at him. She could see what Joan saw in him.

She wanted safety, and Kent would offer that better than most men. They found the cafeteria. Riley bought soup. Kent didn’t want anything.

On their way back to the waiting room, Riley blurted out, “Kent, I want to go home. I mean my first apartment. I know Dirk had it cleaned.”

“I’m not sure everything has been replaced.”

“I don’t care. I want to be comfortable again. This whole world I’ve been involved with is so foreign. I just want to sit on my own furniture. Maybe even sleep in my own bed.”

Kent nodded. “And what about Mr. Trent?”

“We’ll tell him later. If he calls you can be honest. I just want to feel like I belong somewhere.”

He frowned, but nodded again. “Okay. As long as I don’t have to lie to Mr. Trent.”

“No, I won’t ask you to do that. Thank you, Kent.”

She delivered the soup. Dirk must have gone to talk to someone, and Riley slipped out with Kent. When she reached the drive, she tuned to Kent. “Just take me home.”

***

Dirk returned from the nurse’s station. Riley had delivered Cassandra her soup, but Riley was nowhere to be found. Neither was Kent, so at least they were together.

Now he had to either wait for Zeke to wake up or try to extricate himself from this situation. He wanted to see Riley. He had to convince her to stop the investigation. This was all getting to be too dangerous.

“He’s in his room, now. They’re going to let you visit in a few minutes,” Dirk said.

“Thanks.”

Cassandra gazed out the window. “Is he hurt because of your company?”

“He is.”

Dirk couldn’t sugarcoat it. He wouldn’t. He’d known Cassandra for too long.

“He hasn’t told me anything about it, but I know he’s been distracted lately. I thought he was just going through a rough patch.”

“I don’t know what his role in all this is, but I want to find out. It can wait for another day. I’ll put a guard on his door.”

She eyed him. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. You really do care about your employees.”

“Zeke is more than an employee. You know that. We go way back. He’s always supported me.”

“I’m sure he had your best interests at heart,” she said.

“I think so. I’m just not sure why he didn’t come to me.”

“I can’t answer that.”

“Only he can. You going to be okay? I’m going to get out of here. Is there someone I can call to stay with you?” he said.

He couldn’t pounce onZeke. This could wait until tomorrow. He wanted to go home and hug Riley.

“My mother is on her way. She should be here soon.” Cassandra squeezed his hand. “Thank you for being here.”

“Anytime.”

He left her in the waiting room. When he reached the lobby, his driver was back from wherever he’d taken Kent and Riley. He assumed home, so he directed his driver to go there.

Since this wasn’t his usual one, he let the guy go. Dirk couldn’t call his own driver back in. He wasn’t planning on going anywhere anyway. He wanted a quiet evening with Riley.

The place as quiet when he entered it. “Where did they go?”

He decided to take a shower before he searched for them. He hated hospitals and how the antiseptic smell stuck to his clothes. He hadn’t noticed this as much when Riley was there. This time the stench was overwhelming.

Once out of the shower, he called Riley’s number. She answered.

“Where are you?”

“Home.”

“Which home?”

She wasn’t here? Wasn’t this her home for now?

“My original home. Kent is here.”

“Is the place back to normal?”

“Not completely, but I really needed to sleep in my own bed tonight.”

Dirk rubbed the back of his neck. “I want to talk. Can I come over?”

She hesitated. Was she going to dump him already?

“Okay. Bring food. I have nothing in the house.”

He laughed. “Okay. I’ll raid my fridge.”

He disconnected. He’d been with Riley when she had seen her ransacked apartment, but he’d never spent any time with her there. Should be interesting. He packed a cooler and brought food with him. Riley lived farther out in the suburbs, so Dirk chose to drive his car.

He pulled into the parking lot of her complex an hour later. He lugged the cooler to her front door. Kent opened it.

“Food?” he said.

“Guess you’re hungry. I can make dinner before you go.”

“No, I’m good, Mr. Trent. I have a dinner date tonight,” Kent said.

Kent lugged the cooler into the house then said his goodbyes. Dirk found Riley in front of her laptop. Did she always have that with her?

He kissed the back of her neck.

“Mm,” she said, but didn’t look at him.

“What’s so interesting?”

“Not sure. Let me ponder it for a little while then I’ll tell you.”

“You want dinner?” he said.

“Sure. I never ate lunch.”

“Neither did I.”

He began to putter around her kitchen, pulling things from his cooler.

“What were you doing home in the middle of the day?” she said when she finally extricated herself from her computer.

“I was going to take a lovely lady out to lunch. She had other plans.”

Riley looked at him with her head cocked. “Do you often take off in the middle of the day?”

“No. I was inspired by the great weather we’re having,” he said.

And he wanted to see her. Wanted to spend some time with her not talking about business.

“Okay. Did you talk to Zeke?”

“No, he was just out of surgery. I can wait until tomorrow. If they move him out of ICU,” Dirk said.

“You’re pretty calm about that situation. Aren’t you interested in what he has to say?”

“I am, but it’s out of my control.”

“You’re accepting that pretty easily,” she said.

She gathered silverware then set the table. He shrugged. “I guess I’m learning to let loose.”

Riley laughed. “Somehow I don’t believe that. Anyway, what did you want to talk about?”

“After dinner.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s just talk.”

“We would be talking. Just about business,” she said.

He had decided on the way over that he wanted to get to know her better. “I want to talk like normal people.”

“You are anything but normal. You own a helicopter that you can fly. And an Aston Martin, yet you use a car service wherever you go.”

Dirk laughed. He guessed the average person didn’t do that. “Okay, well, I’m trying to be normal. I’m making food in a galley kitchen in a rent-controlled apartment in Brooklyn.”

“I guess that’s close to normal. Imagine if I lived in New Jersey,” Riley said.

He liked the mischievous smile on her face. It lit up her eyes. “New Jersey might be pushing it. Not sure I’d visit you there.”