Page 19 of Silent Heart

To the hunter known as Wraith,

It has come to our attention that you are making headway against the problems plaguing our city. While our group is new, we have resources that might interest you. The next time you’re in Chicago, perhaps we could share a cup of coffee and discuss our mutual enemies.

Sincerely,

The Cyber Ops

There were very few places they could have found my contact information. I drummed my fingers against the counter. It was likely my cousin Kazimir or one of his techies. While Kaz’s foster brother was a computer wizard, it was his wife, Ellie, who ruled the cyber world with sharp intellect and therefore was the true force to be reckoned with. She knew my cover missions best. Hell, she’d been the one to set up my channels on the dark web. But Kazimir would have messaged to alert me if someone was looking to speak to me.

On the couch, Harley shifted—then jumped upright. “What time is it?”

I studied her, waiting to see what she would say when she realized where she was.

“Kole?” When I didn’t answer, she lunged off the couch and reached for a black, slim stick. The universal remote. Stabbing at the buttons, the lights on the ridiculous TV flickered.

“Oh, thank heavens,” she sighed dramatically. “Plenty of time.”

Harley dropped back onto the cushions, keeping the blanket wrapped around her like a safety net. She looked so cozy, snuggled into the big couch. Hell, she made the opulent space feel normal. Almost homey.

The primal need to keep her here with me buzzed through my veins.

“You can’t come over anymore,” I clipped out, before I could succumb to temptation.

Harley stilled. That steady brown gaze shifted to squint at me. “Excuse me?”

“You shouldn’t be here.”

Her tone turned icy. “We had a business deal. Are you reneging?”

The mental image of her poured into that bathing suit flashed through my mind. Heat roused my groin. So I snapped, “What were you thinking? Coming over last night?”

“Hey!” Harley pointed an accusatory finger at me, not backing down because of my outburst. “I was out on the water, doing some night fishing, when I realized you had all your damn lights on. I made my way over to find you wandering near the water—unresponsive, I might add! You’re welcome for not letting you drown.”

With that, she jumped up and stormed toward the back door.

I shot up after her.

Wait! Don’t go.

Harley was already outside by the time I caught up with her. She snatched two fishing poles from the side of the house but paused to point them at me. “I thought you were different. But you’re just a douche like all the other cidiots.”

“Harley.” I grabbed the poles but didn’t yank. “About last night.”

She stilled, watching me expectantly.

Words jumbled and blended on the way from my head to my mouth. The right ones never made it to my tongue. I let out a breath that didn’t catch any sound on its exit. My jaw slammed closed, and the molars threatened to crack under the force. My mindspunwith chaos.

The corner of Harley’s mouth quirked. “Hey, it’s okay, big guy.”

The morning air filled the silence between us. Birds gossiped and sang, greeting one another with chirps of excitement. A steady breeze rose from the water, bringing that strange scent of lake, both clean and fresh, but also muddy and damp.

Any further response was pushed aside when Harley’s stomach growled.

She clapped her hands over the offending organ. Her cheeks turned pink. “You didnothear that.”

Humor made my lips twitch. “Hungry?”

Harley shrugged. The simple gesture brought my immediate attention to the fact that she was in a button-up shirt that was sleek and shiny. The black color was lightened with pink dots. The matching sleeper shorts might as well have been underwear there was so little to them.

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