Storm Keep: A Fast Paced International Thriller by Steven Becker

Author:Steven Becker [Becker, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The White Marlin Press LLC
Published: 2024-05-20T00:00:00+00:00

18

Strasbourg, France

John Storm stared at his phone. He recognized the device for what it was. Having the world at his fingertips was far better than the old days of landlines, phone booths, snail mail, and libraries. Like everything else, the spy game had changed with the technology. He never knew how much to trust the devices, though. Huge sums of money were spent by both sides in the battle to hack or stop hackers intent on stealing a user’s data.

That wasn’t what worried him. This was a different kind of nervousness, one that he generally avoided. Mako sitting across from him at the small table in the hotel room was not helping.

“She’s not going to say no. I saw the way she looks at you.”

John wasn’t about to ask what that meant. The phrase “don’t screw it up” ran through his mind. He didn’t want to be the overbearing type and knew she had a high-pressure job. Maybe she didn’t have time for him.

“You know it’s not always about you, right?”

Mako’s attempt at encouragement was not helping. The only thing John could think of was if she said no. Did that mean that she didn’t want to see him tonight, or not at all—or something else entirely? Had their tryst been a simple fling? It had meant more to him than that, but he had no idea about Catherine. This was not a happy place for someone used to being emotionally isolated.

“If you don’t, I will.”

John hated to show weakness, even about an affair of the heart. “Stoic” was the descriptor most often assigned to him. That knife cut both ways, so he picked up the phone, found Catherine’s contact information, and started to peck out a message.

“Negative. Call. It’s way harder to say no on the phone.”

“If she wants to say no⁠—”

“Dad. Grow a pair. You’re a mess.”

That was enough for John Storm. He scrolled to the call icon and pressed it, giving Mako a look like that was what he intended all along.

“Hi, it’s, ah, John.” The words sounded stilted, and from Mako’s expression, John suspected he had started badly. He turned away from Mako.

“I was hoping we could have dinner tonight. Mako has a friend …”

“That would be wonderful.”

The stress from his pent-up apprehension suddenly released. John turned back to Mako and mouthed, “She said yes.” He suddenly felt like an awkward teenager.

“Did you have something in mind?” he asked Mako.

Mako glanced at his phone and read the name of a restaurant from his text conversation with Danielle. John peered over, trying to see if Mako had asked Danielle out via text. They agreed on a time and he disconnected.

“Relieved? You like this one.”

It was a statement, not a question. There hadn’t been many women in John’s life after Mako’s mother had passed. John had convinced himself that the lack of attachment was good for him. Not having to worry about a wife or girlfriend allowed him to be better at his job. He had never been good with Mako and had passed that responsibility to his sister.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.