Page 59 of The Orc of Wall Street

It would be easy to taunt him right back. To argue some more. But I’ve already put so much time and effort into him, and Sloane matters more right now.

“I’m not playing your games today, Craig. The investors are going to see you for the pathetic uncreative cretin you are, and I won’t have to lift a finger. So get out of my way because honestly, you’re a waste of my time.”

I spin on my heels when Craig calls out to me. “Looking for your little thief, are you?”

I stop dead in my tracks. He knows. Slowly, I turn back to him. “What do you mean?”

His smile grows impossibly wider. “I mean, if you’re looking for Ms. Sloane, she’s not here at the moment.”

My blood runs cold and I grit my teeth. “What have you done?”

“Let’s just say my spy got to yours first. Don’t worry,” he all but purrs. “She’s perfectly safe and alive, so long as you cooperate.”

“What do you want?” I bite out. He could ask me for any number of things right now, and I’d give any of them to him if it meant keeping Sloane safe.

“I just wanted to present you with an ultimatum. Stay for your investor’s meeting starting in an hour or save your precious Cyber Thief. I’ll even make it easier for you and tell you she’s in one of my warehouses. The decision is yours.”

There isn’t even a doubt in my mind. I’m going to save Sloane no matter what. I turn to leave when Craig calls out one more time.

“Oh, and Tarek, no cops or she dies.”

It takes everything in me to not turn around and throttle the man. But I have no doubt that if I lay one hand on him, Sloane’s life is forfeit. So I force myself to walk away.

I all but run, and my anger begins to become eclipsed by an overwhelming sense of dread. What if I’m not fast enough to save her? I don’t even know where she was last.

But there’s one person who always knows where everyone is.

The team has gathered in the ready room and Angel seems to be prepping everyone on their roles for today. She gives me a puzzled look as I approach. “Tarek? What’s the matter?”

“Angel, where was the last place you saw Sloane?” I demand.

The pixie looks slightly taken aback but furrows her brow. “I heard that she and Amber went to go get coffee. But that was over half an hour ago. They should be back by now.”

Amber.

Suddenly all the pieces start slipping into place. Amber, who would have had the same connections as Sloane. Amber, who was always running things around the office for everyone. Amber, who would have constantly had access to privileged information but was always inconspicuous enough to go unnoticed.

Amber is the spy. And she’s the one who took Sloane.

A new wave of fury rises within me. Val seems to notice the look because she steps forward. “Tarek, what’s going on? Do you know something about Sloane and Amber?”

For a moment, I consider lying to them. But looking into the eyes of Val, Gage, Angel, and Lewis, I know they’re not going to take some bullshit lie. Not when their friend is on the line.

And so I tell them everything. From how Craig has been sabotaging us. About how I recruited Sloane to help track down a spy that I highly suspected was among us. How I even suspected them. And how Amber is in fact the spy and has taken Sloane hostage.

When I’m finished, I’m met with a mixture of stunned and angry faces.

“Sloane is a thief?” Lewis mutters in disbelief.

“Amber has been spying on us?” Gage demands in minor horror.

“No wonder she was such a crappy assistant when she got here. She didn’t actually have any real experience! Now I almost feel bad for riding her so hard.” Angel frowns. “Almost.”

“I can’t believe you thought I could have been the spy,” Valentina says deadpan. “Don’t you know I would have taken you out way more easily?”

I give her a half smile. “Yes, you could have.”

My expression becomes grim again. “I need all of you to hold down the fort until I get back. Hopefully with Sloane.”

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