Page 20 of Pressure

“Mind leaving your car here? We can send someone for it later.”

Lance nodded and got out while the bodyguard opened Isabelle’s door. They got into the back of one of the SUVs and all three pulled out and went in different directions.

“From what we could tell we only picked up one follow car so it should be easy enough to lose them. Russell is waiting on us at the club.”

Lance nodded and Isabelle lifted her phone to her ear.

“It’s OK, Shelby. Just have security stay near the entrances and exits. I won’t be coming in today but I’m available by phone and Mr. Novak is sending someone in to look after things.”

“Sounds like some of the crew from the house went to the hotel,” she said when she ended her call.

“It was a reasonable guess on their part that would be where you’re headed, and it’s unlikely they know the location of Solitaire yet.”

She shuddered. “I don’t like that you said yet.”

Lance stared out his window. He hated that too.

At the club, Isabelle gave them both hugs and went upstairs saying she wanted to lie down. Lance called Marissa.

‘We’re at Solitaire,” he said. “Do you feel comfortable coming on your own or should I send a car?”

“I’m good. I feel better having my own wheels. Listen. I think we need to shut your entire system down and just rebuild it from scratch. New encryption, new layers of protection. Just start fresh.”

“No. We still don’t even know how this leaked and if I just wipe everything, I may never know. Besides, you of all people know that malware or whatever RAT they might have used could still stick around. The only way to guarantee it didn’t, would be a total new build from the ground up. That means new servers, new equipment, all new code. It would take months.”

She sighed. “I know. But it would guarantee that your friends weren’t in danger.”

“Except it won’t. Because we have no idea what information they accessed. Quit trying to do something other than the job we hired you to do.”

She huffed. “That’s not what I… You know what. Never mind. You’re right. I’m on my way.” The call disconnected and he tossed his phone on the table in front of him.

It slid the length of the table and Russell caught it, pushing it back to him.

“Maybe don’t take her head off every time you talk to her.”

“Stay out of this, Russell. You’re the reason I have to interact with her anyway.”

Russell chuckled. “Fair enough. Though just so we’re clear. I would have recommended her even if I knew she was your ex. She’s good and you know it.”

Lance did know it. That didn’t mean he wasn’t frustrated by the situation.

“Did you get in touch with any of the other board members?”

“Yeah. Holly and Eli are still upstairs. Hunter stayed at the hotel last night, so I think he’s looking after things there. Patrick and Austin went to Denver last night and are on their way back. We’ll have everyone but Samuel here by the party tonight and I’m hoping Samuel shows. I don’t like not being in contact with him.”

Lance pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes where a headache was developing. “Me either. I sent up the bat signal but so far nothing. I’m worried.”

“Well I’m going to get out of your hair and touch base with the security team I dispatched. Try to keep your blood pressure down. We need you around here.”

Lance nodded and leaned into the heel of his hand. “Thanks, Russell.”

When his friend and fellow Dom was gone, he slid his glasses on again and pulled out his laptop to scour for anything that would indicate what kind of story news agencies were running with.

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