Sexy Liar (Dirty Hacker 1)

Ryder’s mouth pinched—his classic move for when something felt off to him too—before he addressed her again. “Is Hawke still gone?”

Alex drew in a long, deep breath to attempt not to yell at him, since apparently Ryder knew Rowan had left to grab them breakfast. Alex’s scripts were taking longer than usual, and when Rowan began pacing, obviously deeply concerned for his sister, Alex gave him a job. She needed food, and so did he. They both needed to stay sharp and energized to see this through. “Listen, I love you, I do, but get those eyes off me now or I’ll shut your system down and keep it down until you stop having me watched.”

Ryder’s gaze searched hers for a long moment, and then he cursed and shook his head. “I don’t like this, Alex.” She wisely stayed silent as he sat back in his chair and crossed his arms, looking like the mighty solider he was. “Hawke has already misled you once.”

“Yes, I know, but…” She hesitated then laid everything on the line. “If this were you, I would do everything I could to help you. Rowan is a sneaky CIA agent, yes, but he also just wants to find his sister. We both know I am the best one to help find this killer. Rowan and I…there’s history there, and it’s good history.” Especially considering she’d always thought in that moment of weakness where her heart felt all exposed, she’d run out on him. Apparently, she hadn’t been the only one shaken by their week together.

Good to know.

“Then why didn’t he just tell you that in the first place?”

Because he thought I hated him for leaving me… “Because I’m so damn irresistible.” She grinned.

Ryder scoffed, though the joke worked its magic and he gave a half smile. “Just be careful with this one. Hawke typically works deep undercover. Confirming his identity came at a price. Most files on him at the CIA have been buried.”

Alex instantly cringed. “Do I want to know that price?”

A hint of a grin lifted the corners of Ryder’s mouth. “You owe a favor.”

To the CIA was what Ryder didn’t say. “I hope I don’t regret that.”

“You and me both,” Ryder agreed. “I know why you’re doing this, Alex.” Yeah, Alex knew something about losing a sister, and she’d been on a mission to save as many people as she could to fill in that dark hole that came from the inability to save Lena, but Alex really didn’t want to talk about that as Ryder went on. “I also k

now that’s the only reason you didn’t kick Hawke’s stupid ass out for not being upfront right away. But this girl is not your sister.”

Alex wouldn’t even pretend that a little part of her didn’t think of Lena now. Alex always tried to fix that wrong. “I’m not on a personal quest here. Besides, the way I see it, I’m the only way to find Hawke’s sister. I think that provides me some level of control here, don’t you?”

“Just making sure you realize the stakes,” Ryder said.

The door suddenly opened, and Rowan walked in. All man, jeans, and a leather jacket… Sweet Jesus, she nearly drooled. Rowan was danger and sex all rolled up into hard muscle. He carried a tray of coffees and a paper bag, and met her with a warm smile. Obviously not realizing she was on a call, he said, “You can’t come to New York City and not have a crème brûlée danish. Figured you probably wanted a coffee too. Still take it with one milk?”

“Suck up,” Ryder muttered.

Rowan froze, now aware they weren’t alone in the room before setting everything down on the coffee table.

When Rowan handed her a coffee, Ryder said, “Let me talk to him.”

Rowan smiled. The type of smile that was challenging, deadly, and screamed testosterone.

“Play nice, boys,” Alex told them both before she turned the monitor to face Rowan.

They both promptly ignored her.

“You know who I am,” Ryder stated.

Rowan inclined his head, his gaze turning harder than she’d seen before, making her realize he softened a lot when he looked at her. “You know who I am,” Rowan retorted.

“I’m aware,” Ryder said. “No games, Hawke. Any sign that Alex is in danger, she’ll be pulled out.”

Rowan’s hair fell down his jawline, and Alex tried desperately not to want to kiss along that sculpted line. She barely resisted, her lips twitching to press right there, when Rowan said, “The goal here is to save lives, not lose them.”

A heavy pause. Then Ryder’s voice firmed. “Trick her again and you’ll regret it.”

Rowan didn’t even hesitate. “If it were your sister…or your wife”—Alex flinched, picturing the intensity filling Ryder’s expression at the mention of wife—“you would stop at nothing to find them either.”

“Which is the only reason you’re not dead.”

At that, Rowan’s eyes narrowed into slits. “You could try, Blackwood.”