Page 54 of Wine, Whiskey, & Lipstick 2

Ben was at a loss for words. Until finally, he said the first thing that came to mind, “What the actual fuck?!”

Chapter 24

Dillyn wasn’t surprised to see Syntax’s number pop up on the screen of her cell. This time he was calling. Not messaging. That meant whatever Syntax wanted may not have been top-level important, but it was close.

He couldn’t possibly have found out about my hack this quickly.Dillyn was nervous. Actually, he could.

Ben watched Dillyn closely. He could tell she didn’t want to answer her phone and had a suspicion as to why. “It’s him isn’t it?”

She nodded as her phone rang again.

“I want to talk to him.”

Dillyn released a long sigh, “It doesn’t work like that.”

Ben was fed up with the games, “Make it work like that.” If Syntax could help them figure out what the hell was going on, he was the perfect person to speak to.

The phone was on its third ring. Inhaling deeply, Dillyn pressed the accept button on her cell. “I was just about to call.”

Syntax was usually a master of keeping emotion out of his voice, but today, his irritation was on full display, “What took you so long to answer?”

Dillyn made an excuse, “I was downstairs and had to run up to my room.”

“Hmm . . .” Syntax didn’t sound as if he was buying her excuse.

Shit. He doesn’t believe me. Maybe he knows what I’ve been doing?Syntax would eventually find out, but Dillyn hoped she had more time. Just in case she was wrong, Dillyn didn’t plan on outing herself. She would wait for him to tell her what he wanted and then, if necessary, plead her case.

Each passing moment led to more silence and an uneasiness that made Dillyn want to word-vomit everything. She was a hacker, not an Operative. She wasn’t built for that level of secrecy and stress. Her job was to be invisible and to find information from digital footprints left behind.

Dillyn watched the time on her phone change, and Syntax still hadn’t spit out whatever he wanted to say.This isn’t like him.This is a man who didn’t have any problems reprimanding her over a case.What is really going on?Maybe it’s not about her late-night hack.

Dillyn stiffened at a thought. Maybe he had some new information about Selah’s abduction or Steven’s murder.Was that it?Dillyn’s impatience got the better of her. She glanced at Ben and then decided to prod Syntax a little. “I don’t think I ever remember a time where you haven’t said exactly what was on your mind. Is this about Selah or Steven?”

He released a heavy sigh, “Neither.”

“Oh.” What the hell was it then? Dillyn had exhausted all of hershoulda, woulda, couldas. Whatever it was had to be big, which only intensified the dread in the pit of her stomach.

“Are you sitting down?”

Nervously, Dillyn nibbled on her lower lip, “N-n-no.”

“You might want to.”

Heat rose up the back of her neck and quickly traveled throughout her body as she gripped the phone. Slowly, Dillyn sat down on the edge of her bed.

“What I have to say is . . . personal.”

“Personal?” Her heart started to race. What could it be if it wasn’t about Steven or Selah? What could Syntax have to say to her that was personal? They didn’tdopersonal.

“Okay. I’m sitting.”

It was as if Syntax decided to rip the Band-Aid off the wound as he forced the words out of his mouth. “Your parents were released.”

Dillyn’s face went ashen. She didn’t blink or even dare breathe. Instead, she sat frozen like a statue, sure she had misheard.

Ben immediately noticed the change in her demeanor, and his concern grew by the second. He didn’t plan to remain the innocent bystander for much longer.

Syntax waited for Dillyn to process his words. When she didn’t respond, he wondered if they even registered. “Did you hear me?”

---