Gabe nodded. “When we need to communicate, let’s use burner phones.”
“What’s a burner phone?”
“It’s a cheap phone that you just throw out. You can use it with a prepaid credit card so you can’t be traced. Have Eddie get you one—he’ll know what it is.”
“How will you know my number?”
“I’ll send you mine,” he said.
I wanted to ask how, but Gabe knew what he was doing. “Okay,” I said over a sudden lump in my throat. We weren’t going to see each other for longer than I cared to acknowledge, and we weren’t going to be able to really talk. “We got our final approvals, and I have to launch as soon as I can. I’m going into lockdown mode.”
Gabe gave me a resigned smile. “I understand. I won’t storm the castle again.”
I leaned against his side and closed my eyes, relaxing against his powerful form one last time. “I don’t want to say good-bye to you right now.”
“Me either.”
“There’s one more thing. Dave and Leo hacked into Jiàn Innovations and I got to review their progress—they’re still behind us in their development.” I paused for a beat, choosing my words carefully. “I’m going to have Dave and Leo blow their files up.”
Gabe looked at me sharply. “Because why?”
“Because…they messed with the wrong CEO.”
Gabe gave me one final squeeze and stood to go. “There’s a reason I love you.”
“I have my reasons for loving you too.” I gave him a quick good-bye kiss, wishing we had time for so much more. My heart twisted. I really didn’t know when I would see him again.
“Stay safe,” Gabe warned, his eyes dark. “I mean it, Lauren. Remember, you promised me. I intend to hold you to it. I have plans for you…partner.”
On my way to see Leo and Dave, I passed Hannah in the hall. Wes was close at her heels. “Where have you been?” she asked.
“In my office. With Gabe.”
My sister peered at my face. “With Gabe in a good way? Or in a way that’s going to make you grumpier than usual?”
I shot her a look. “A good way.”
“How good?” She arched an eyebrow, and Wes chuckled in the background.
“I didn’t ask for your input,” I snapped at him.
“Lauren,” Hannah said, her voice a warning tone.
I sighed and plastered a fake smile on. I would deal with my sister and her hunky bodyguard later. “Sorry, Wes. I’ll catch up
with you later, Hannah, okay? I have a patch to launch.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m the one who’s handling the publicity, remember? You’re not the only one who’s busy. But I still want all the Gabe details!” She winked before she turned on her heel and sashayed out of sight, Wes close behind.
I would give her details, but she was going to have to share some too.
I hustled into Leo’s office and was shocked to find it sparkling clean. There wasn’t a Vitá Water or empty Twix wrapper in sight. “What happened in here?” I asked.
“Housekeeping, aka Eddie,” Dave said, grinning. “So now we’re clean—really clean.”
“Great. Then I’ll speak freely. And actually sit down.” There was a chair behind me that wasn’t piled with junk, and I sank onto it. “I have an assignment for you two.”
Dave and Leo looked at me eagerly over their respective dark circles.