Sexy Liar (Dirty Hacker 1)

“And just how did that come up in a casual conversation?”

Rowan remembered that day in the diner over breakfast. He’d flown in after he worked a case in Portland to spend the day with Mia back home in New York City to catch up. “Mia said it. I called her out on it, then she explained it was something the guy she was talking to texted a lot. She guessed it rubbed off on her.”

Alex watched Rowan again intently, obviously things on her mind, before letting out another heavy sigh and typing once more. “Well, it’s not a lot to go on, but it’s at least some way to identify him.” She glanced Rowan’s way, setting those pretty, inquisitive eyes on him, making the world disappear a little. “The FBI hasn’t been able to locate this guy by those identifying markers? His tattoo sounds unique.”

Rowan knew the reaction he was about to get, but he couldn’t hold back anything. Not from Alex. Not when he needed her to find Mia. “I haven’t told the FBI about the tattoo or the saying.”

Her hands dropped flat down on her laptop. “Want to explain why?”

“Because as far as I’m concerned, they’re giving me the run-around.” Rowan explained the frustration he’d been feeling for days. “This bastard has taken my sister. I stopped playing by the rules when they shut me out, refusing to give me access.”

“The FBI and CIA never do work seemingly together, do they?”

“Not even on a good day,” Rowan said dryly.

“And especially when they’re probably reacting to you telling them they’re doing a shitty job.”

“They are doing a shitty job,” Rowan retorted. “My sister is not home safe, and this killer isn’t behind bars.”

“Valid point,” Alex said before turning her focus entirely onto her monitor.

With the reminder of Mia’s life on the line, he forged ahead. He considered Alex’s mood. Her shoulders were relaxed, posture calm. Now or never. “It’s time to answer, Alex. Will you help me? I know this will eat up your vacation—”

“It won’t take me that long to find her.” Alex made the statement without arrogance, basically stating a fact they both knew was probably true.

While he appreciated her confidence, he snorted. “The FBI can’t find this killer.”

Her mouth twitched, and her gorgeous eyes flicked to his face. “Why do you think the CIA and FBI keep me in their pockets? I’ll find this killer.” She placed the laptop aside on the coffee table next to her. “I’ve got some scripts running on SiR’s databases. They’ll take a few hours to run before we know anything more, so we’ll need to hang tight. But if there is anything to find there, I’ll find it.”

Rowan realized how much he needed her reassurance. He’d seen Alex work in Paris and catch one of the most ruthless hired hitmen that Rowan had ever heard of. Her legendary hacking skill was not anything he doubted. That brought a sliver of hope that had slowly drained out of him since the FBI hadn’t gotten anywhere on finding his sister in the last week. He became hyperaware he was still tied to the damn chair, and very much at her disposal. “While I appreciate your help, do you ever plan to untie me?”

“Not yet,” she stated, giving him firm eye contact. “Since this isn’t a CIA or FBI op, I don’t work for free.”

He breathed deep, albeit surprised she wanted money. She never seemed the material type. He had a good fifty grand in his savings account that came from years of working instead of living, and he’d give it all to her. “What’s your price?”

She held his stare in an intense way he’d never seen from a woman before. She had no fear, total confidence, and fuck, was she sexy. She bit her lip, drawing his entire focus to her mouth, and his cock hardened that easily. That’s what had fascinated him back in Paris. His control was ironclad. Except when it came to this twenty-seven-year-old, five-foot-four fireball of a brunette. “The way I see this,” she said with a sexy smile, “you have taken the vacation that I desperately needed and stolen it away. You need to rectify that.”

Rowan felt his muscles quiver in need. He wanted her as much now as when he first set his eyes on her in Paris. And he wasn’t a man who didn’t indulge when life put a sexy woman in front of him. He saw the worst in people. He dealt in murder, misery, and lies. He took the good when he could, and he never apologized for it. “And how shall I rectify that, luv?”

She leaned forward a little, showing a hint of cleavage through the opening of her robe. “We’ll get to that, but first, I need to be clear about a few things. Before you woke up, I had a call with my boss, Ryder Blackwood, whom I’m guessing you probably know about.”

“I’m aware of him, yes.” Blackwood was a retired Army Ranger. Apparently, he’d taught her to protect herself. But deep down, Rowan thought a lot of what Alex could do was a result of her instincts. Before he met her in Paris, he’d seen the CIA videos of them interviewing her as a teenager. Plus, he’d witnessed it in her during their seven days together. He liked her smart mouth, as much as he liked her sharp mind.

“Good,” she went on. “I showed Ryder your face and explained the situation.” She looked as if she wanted to ravish him and bury him both at once. “Not only is he checking into you now, but Ryder and I are very close. Put me in any danger, and he will kill you.”

“I have no intention of hurting you,” Rowan told her gently, noting the sudden shift in her mood. He caught the building heat in her eyes, tell

ing him her mind was now on something else entirely. And he understood the need to dip into this passion. There was an energy between them. A pulse that only seemed to intensify since he’d been bound to this chair. Wanting to play along and show her he wanted exactly what he expected she did, he gestured to his bindings. “In fact, if you take these off, I’ll show you just how good I want to make you feel.”

A building smile rose to her face as she stood, her robe coming undone a little more, showing off her lacy bra. “We haven’t negotiated those terms yet.” She moved to her purse and reached for something inside. When she turned back, he realized she held onto a condom. “While those scripts run, let’s negotiate, shall we?”

Blood filled his cock so fast, making him so hard, he bit back a groan. “Name your terms.”

She watched him for a long moment, giving him a very thorough once-over that caused quivering in his muscles before she moved to the closet. When she turned around, she held a black scarf in her hands and sent her robe to the floor. “No one keeps me in the dark, Hawke.” She stalked forward, wearing only her lingerie. He hungered for her, building deep in his gut, until a growl spilled from his chest as she went on. “Secrets are things I find out.” When she stopped in front of him, she tied the makeshift blindfold around his head. “Do you like being in the dark, Hawke?” she whispered huskily in his ear.

He gritted his teeth at his erection pressing against his jeans. “I’d rather see all of you,” he muttered.

She gave a soft, throaty laugh that had his cock jerking, but then she grabbed his chin firmly and declared, “Keep secrets from me again, and you better get used to this darkness because I’ll erase you. For good.”