Edge of Control: An Edge Security Novel (Edge Security Series Book 1) by Loye Trish

Author:Loye, Trish [Loye, Trish]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tough Girl Press
Published: 2015-07-09T07:00:00+00:00

Something was tapping her cheek.

“Wake up, Dani.”

Jake’s deep voice. She cracked her eyelids. He crouched in front of her. She lay sideways on the couch in the fetal position, a blanket over her. His smile deepened.

“Don’t you ever get tired?” she asked. It didn’t seem fair that she could barely hold her eyes open and he looked as if he’d had eight hours of sleep.

“I’m tired,” he said. “I’m just used to dealing with it.” He paused and studied her for a moment. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“Do I need coffee for it?”

He shook his head. “I’m just wondering about your family. You haven’t mentioned them, but we need to know if there’s anyone else connected to you that the Rusakov family can find.”

“No family. My parents died when I was ten,” she said shortly. “Besides, I doubt Dmitri remembers me.”

“And what about Vladimir?”

She stiffened and pulled the blanket more firmly around her. “He didn’t see me tonight.”

Jake tilted his head. “You’re scared of him.”

She scowled. “Well, I’m not stupid.”

He shook his head slowly, his eyes never leaving her face. “No. It’s more than that.”

“I’m tired. You should go.”

He moved to sit beside her on the couch. “How did you become a hacker?”

She blew out a breath. “If I tell you, will you leave?”

“If you want me to.”

Oh, she wanted him to, and yet his presence comforted her. Her shoulders slumped. What harm would it be to answer a few questions? Chuck was always telling her she should open up to people.

“Computers were my escape,” she said. “My foster families never really wanted me, just the extra cash they got for taking me in.”

He nodded. “How did you meet the Rusakovs?”

“A friend.” She scowled. “I thought he was a friend. Turns out the Rusakovs wanted more hackers working for them. They paid him to troll for some. He found me.”

“I’m sorry,” Jake said. “So Dmitri approached you?”

She yawned and shook her head. “His son, Vladimir. The charmer.”

Jake stilled. “He charmed you?”

She hugged herself. “Is this really necessary? I was fourteen and Vladimir was nineteen. I had a crush and he used it to get what he wanted. I was stupid, okay?”

Jake rested a hand on her knee and squeezed. “You weren’t stupid,” he said. “You were young and alone.”

She bit her lip and stared at her hands. “Is the inquisition over?”

“When did you find the courage to leave?” he asked.

So it wasn’t over. She blamed being tired for the reason she didn’t fight answering his questions. In a way it felt good to answer, as if something inside was cracking open and letting in fresh air. She could breathe just a bit easier.

“The first time, I didn’t leave—I got sent to juvie. Spent six months there. It sucked. By the end, I was determined to turn over a new leaf.” She swallowed.

Jake took her cold hand in one of his and rubbed his calloused thumb over her palm. Back and forth, over and over.

She took a shuddering breath.

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