Page 83 of Beautifully Broken Control

Cain led me out of the kitchen, our fingers intertwining. Just being with him, having that simple touch, gave me such peace. I only hoped he wouldn’t rip it all away one day.

34

Cain

“I believeyou have officially mastered scrambled eggs.”

Kennedy beamed as she took a bite of egg and toast. “Withcheese,” she said around chews.

I chuckled. “The cheese is the most important part.” Kennedy lived with a joy I didn’t think I’d ever witnessed before. It was the simple things that gave her the most pleasure. Mastering a new dish, drinking a Perrier in the evening as we watched the sunset, watching her dog chase after his ball for the millionth time. The kinds of things I had been taking for granted for the past decade. She reminded me of what was important. And I had hurt her.

Kennedy tried to hide it. Still, there was an underlying sadness just below the surface, almost as if she were mourning something. And I knew I had put it there. By holding back. By not telling her everything. I was a bastard for it. Asking her to give me everything but not doing the same in return. I would do everything I could to make up for it.

I cleared my throat. “Sooo…”

“Yes?”

“I finished the program.”

Kennedy shot up from her stool and launched herself at me with such ferocity, I had to hold on to the counter to keep us both from tipping over. “Cain! That’s amazing! When?”

“Last night.” I hadn’t been able to sleep, so I’d pulled out my laptop and worked while Kenz slept peacefully next to me.

The wide smile faltered a bit, and she released her hold on me. “Does that mean you’ll be heading back to Portland soon?”

I pulled Kennedy back towards me so she was tucked between my legs. She still didn’t believe me, that I wanted a life with her here. “I’ve been thinking about building a headquarters in Sutter Lake.” There was an office park on the outskirts of town that I’d seen on my way to pick up food the other day that would be perfect. I’d done a little research, and it was just lying vacant because the last company housed there wasn’t large enough to keep it afloat. Halo was. And I knew I had more than enough employees who would love to make the move with me. To have a chance to work for a company at the top of the game but raise their families in an idyllic small-town setting. It really was the best of both worlds.

Kennedy studied my face, her hands resting on my shoulders. “Is that really what you want?”

I brushed the hair back from her face. “I want you. I want the life I’m building here. A future that is full of you and that tiny terror.” I inclined my head towards the living area where Chuck snored away.

The corners of Kennedy’s mouth tipped up. “I want that, too.”

“Good.” I brushed my mouth against hers, cupping her ass and pulling her flush against me. I let out a groan. “But first, I have to deal with my company.”

Adorable little worry lines appeared between Kennedy’s brows. “How are you going to do that? You still don’t know who the leak is.”

I kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ve got a plan.” I let out another groan as I stood. “One that unfortunately doesn’t include taking you on this counter right now.” The flicker of heat in Kennedy’s eyes told me she wasn’t opposed to the idea. Shit. I had to focus.

She gave my chest a little shove. “Go. Do what you need to do, and then we’ll celebrate.”

“I’m holding you to that.” I headed back to my bedroom to get my computer and make some calls. I’d finally come up with the perfect plan to smoke out the traitor in my midst. I’d created a dummy program. One that would run for weeks before anyone knew something was wrong and that it wasn’t doing what it was supposed to. But once it was uploaded to a new computer and running, it would send me a new notification, and that notification would have a piece of code that was specific to whomever I’d given the program to.

I would know if anyone gave it away. And I was starting at the top. The two people who knew the ins and outs of Halo better than anyone. If I could clear them, I’d breathe just a little bit easier. I reached for my cell and sent a text.

Me:Not a word of this to anyone, but I finished the program. I think it’s going to take us to the next level.

Within seconds, I had a reply.

Jake:I’m in my office now. Can you encrypt and send?

Me:Give me five.

I got to work sending him the program while I tapped out another text.

Me:Keep this between you and me, but I finished the program.

Two minutes later, my phone rang.

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