Watch Me (Phoenix 1)

Hunt took a seat in the other wing-back chair and whistled. “I’m guessing that explains your mood.”

Archer set his coffee down on the table in front of him and scrubbed his face. “I don’t know how she fucking did that. All night, I’ve been on with my best hacker, and he can’t see how she got in. She didn’t leave a single fucking trace.”

Rhys nodded his thanks to Kieran for the coffee and opened the lid to take a small sip, tasting the rich hazelnuts in the brew. He didn’t want to suggest that perhaps Elise had a better hacker in her pocket, or she was that hacker, but… “You should talk to her. If there is someone better out there, getting into places you thought were impenetrable, let’s get them on our payroll.”

Archer agreed with a nod. “I’d like to dig a bit deeper here to see what comes up. If that doesn’t bring anything more to light, I’ll get in contact with her.”

“Good,” said Rhys, trusting Archer to handle that. A security breach was inexcusable, but Archer would get to the bottom of it; Rhys didn’t doubt that. “What have you found out so far?”

“That she’s better at my job than I am,” Archer mused.

Hunt chuckled. “Ah, so that’s what is getting under your skin.”

Archer’s jaw set, and his eyebrow lifted in Hunt’s direction. “Wouldn’t it, yours?”

“Yes,” Kieran answered for Hunt. “He’d already be at her house, knocking down her door, demanding to find out how she outsmarted him.”

“Damn right, I would,” Hunt said without remorse.

Rhys chuckled.

Archer wasn’t amused. He snorted, shaking his head, and slid his gaze to Rhys, gesturing at the file. “Elise worked as a private investigator right out of high school, mentoring under Luke Hicks. Three years ago, she went out on her own.”

“Who’s Luke Hicks?” Hunt asked.

“The best PI in New York City.”

“Ah,” Kieran said. “Explains why she’s so good, then.”

“Yeah, it does,” Archer hedged, the corners of his eyes tightening. “Beyond that, nothing I discovered links Elise to any current members. A past member used her once to gather evidence against her cheating husband, but it doesn’t look like she uncovered anything about the club in that investigation.”

Rhys pondered this, knowing they had to look at this from every angle to ensure the Phoenix members were safe. They paid him to keep their sexual kinks out of the public eye. The breach couldn’t happen again. “Do you believe the story Zoey told me?”

Archer considered it and gave a quick nod. “Her other roommate, Hazel Rose, is a reporter, so that is another truth to her story. Everything she said lines up.”

Kieran asked, “Does Hazel have any connections to any members, current or past?”

“Not that I could find,” Archer reported, a hard frown marring his face. “From the outside, I’m leaning toward believing them. They’re a group of determined women that used their skill set to fight against an injustice.”

“Sexy,” Hunt said.

All heads nodded in agreement. Even Rhys found himself enamored by the wit and strength of these women. What they’d pulled off was impressive, considering Archer’s background in security. But Rhys already knew there was nothing to fear more than a scorned woman. He believed Zoey.

His cell phone beeped on his desk, indicating a text message. He set his coffee down, rose, grabbed his cell, and swiped the screen. He couldn’t hide his grin at the single word from Zoey.

Yes.

“Now, that looks like good news,” Kieran called at whatever showed on Rhys’ face.

“Depends,” he said, returning to his seat and reaching for his coffee again. Of Archer, he asked, “How much of a risk is it if I invite Zoey back to the club tonight?”

Archer’s gaze held Rhys’ for a beat, his mouth twitching. “When do we ever invite women who are not members back?”

Rhys returned the hard stare. “That’s not the question I asked.”

Hunt broke out into laughter. “I’ve got to get a look at this one. She must be something special if she’s got Rhys breaking rules.”

Rhys didn’t look Hunt’s way. He didn’t have the words to explain what had caught him up in Zoey. He only knew he wanted more of those sweet, innocent eyes looking up at him. That lush body, bending to his will.