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.“At least not in any way I can determine.They’re just data sets and theories.”Shit.I scrubbed my hands over my face and through my damp hair.“If Zia had additional files coded to conceal them there’s no way I could have found them.”“There’s more somewhere.They’re supposed to be in the SI, but there could also be data sticks or hard copies.” Willem’s voice had returned to its normal pitch, but that didn’t make him any less menacing.His blue eyes found mine.“You’re not done yet.”He wanted me to go back to Exeter.Back to Zia.I swallowed the groan of dread that started to build in my throat.“What do you expect me to do? Ransack her desk? Copy every file she has on her computer?” I shook my head.“It’s not gonna happen.”He jabbed his stiffened fingers into my shoulder, pushing me back a little.I winced, more out of surprise than pain.“You’d better find a way to make it happen,” he said.Tonio’s chair crashed to the floor as he shot up.He shoved Willem’s shoulder and put himself between the elder Grey brother and me.“Hands off.”My hero.But the way Willem’s face darkened and his fists clenched, I was afraid he’d take a swing at Tonio.Or shoot him.I was pretty sure Willem wore a pulser under his jacket.“She’s been fucking around that office for weeks,” Willem growled.“You said she could do the job.”Tonio’s hands flexed at his sides.“Would you rather she tried for the files and got caught? Be glad she’s been so careful.Natalia sure as hell wasn’t.She didn’t last a day.”Ha! So that’s who Zia fired before HR could finish paperwork.I was surprised Willem had even considered using Natalia.Getting close to Zia required more than a pretty face, and I couldn’t imagine languid Natalia keeping up with her.“So lay off,” Tonio continued in a softer, more dangerous tone.“We’re as anxious as you are, but we’re gonna do it right so no one gets caught.”The two men stared at each other, Tonio’s back muscles bunched and Willem taking controlled breaths through his nose.Tonio wasn’t a fighter, or hadn’t been when I was with him.Willem, on the other hand, had the coldness in his eyes associated with a lack of conscience.Tonio had said the Greys would kill if it meant getting the job done.I’d seen it in Chaz, but this was the first time Willem made it so obvious.I suppressed a shiver and tightened my robe.Willem gave himself a small shake.He cleared his throat and adjusted his perfectly straight tie.“You get one more week, Liv.” He spoke to me but kept his eyes on Tonio.“Talbot may have stashed the files.If they aren’t at Exeter, they could be at her flat, maybe kept as hard copies.But they’re somewhere.” He walked to the front door, sparing me a glance over his shoulder.“Stay close to her.As close as you need to be, got it?”Arms crossed over my chest, I nodded once, showing him confidence in my ability and guaranteeing I was on the job.When the door clicked shut I closed my eyes, knees locked to keep from falling over.I had to go back.“You okay?” Tonio asked from behind me.I took a deep breath, let it out evenly, and turned to look at him with a crooked smile on my face.“Sure.Disappointed, but I’ll keep at it.Zia’s not bad to work for.”It wasn’t working for her that I was worried about.His eyes narrowed.“What’s going on?”Giving him my most innocent face, I said, “Nothing.I’m just not sure what to do next.”That was a lie.I was afraid of what I had to do next.He stared at me for a moment then ran his hands through his hair and sighed.“The files were supposed to be in Talbot’s computer.If they aren’t at Exeter, her flat is the most logical place to try next.” He dropped down onto the couch and closed his eyes.“Who else would know for sure?” Not Natalia.She hadn’t spent enough time at Exeter to have a lunch break, let alone become knowledgeable about Zia’s computer.“Just James,” Tonio replied, sounding very tired.That was likely a dead end.No pun intended.I sat on the other end of the couch, drawing my legs under me.“How can I find files if I don’t know what else to look for?”And how could I face Zia again? She’d said we’d talk, and more than hinted that she was interested in me, but not for a quick fling.If I rebuffed her to save myself, would I lose the chance at the files? Probably.The stakes just went a little higher, and I was starting to lose control of the game.I let my head fall back against the couch.“This stinks.”Tonio snorted a mirthless laugh.“That’s an understatement.” He opened his eyes and turned toward me.“What was with you before?”Shit.Now he decides to be Mr.Communication?I slanted a look at him without turning my head.“Before?”He gestured toward the door.“When you came in.You were panting like you ran the fifteen flights of stairs, and acted like you wanted…you know.”We both knew what I’d wanted, if not exactly who I’d wanted.He shifted and rested his arm on the back of the couch.“You caught me by surprise.”It was my turn to snort a laugh.“I bet.But don’t think I haven’t forgotten our agreement.”“Then what made you so anxious?” He reached out, as if to stroke my hair.“You looked beautiful, by the way.”I jerked upright and scooted back against the corner of the couch before he touched me.“Too much wine, Tonio, but I’m sober now.Knock it off.”“No, Liv,” he said shaking his head.“I’ve seen you when you’ve had too much to drink, and I’ve seen you when you’re turned on.That had nothing to do with alcohol.”“Don’t be ridiculous.I’m going to bed.” I rose, wrapped my arms around myself and took the long way to my bedroom, behind the couch rather than passing in front of him.“Liv.”Despite wanting to nip this conversation, I stopped and turned.He stood, hands on his hips and suspicion in his eyes.“Was it Talbot?”I felt my cheeks heat like a keracite furnace.Guilt, embarrassment and trepidation twisted in my gut.It was a combination I didn’t recall ever feeling before and hoped I’d never feel again.Frown lines deepened on his forehead as suspicion turned to worry.Or was it jealousy? “Liv, you can’t—”“I know what I can and can’t do,” I snapped.Allowing Zia to affect me was a mistake I shouldn’t have made.It was unprofessional to risk the job like that.“I can handle it.”“Can you?” He sounded as angry as I was, but was he concerned about me or the job? “Can you handle getting as close to her as it might take?”He knew me better than anyone in the ‘Verse.He’d know if I lied to him.But I did anyway.“Yes.”The look on his face said he believed me about as much as I believed myself.Frustrated and confused, I turned my back on him and continued to my room.“I have to work tomorrow.Good night.”The next morning, hands shoved deep into my coat pockets, I emerged from the PubTrans station several long city blocks from the Exeter building.Fat flakes of snow drifted down in lazy spirals from low, slate-colored clouds.They melted as soon as they landed on the well-trodden walkway, leaving everything wet and chilled.The dismal day reflected my mood perfectly.I could have taken a taxi, but I wanted a little time to clear my head before facing Zia.There would be no avoiding “the talk” she wanted to have, so I needed to prepare myself.Maybe she’d come to her senses in the light of day and decide a quickie on the desk was a good way to go.It would certainly make my life easier.But life wasn’t going to get easier any time soon.Head down against the gusting wind, I rounded the corner, intent on making it to the main entrance of the Exeter building two blocks away as quickly as possible [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]