Page 118 of Hard Wired

They textedevery night for the next two weeks. He told her about Raymond going into witness protection, about the West Oaks DA dismissing his charges, and his work helping the government understand the methods used by organized criminals.

He said his new name was “Nic Anderson,” which was going to take some getting used to, but that she could call him whatever she wanted.

Sylvie told him about Tanner’s full recovery after his concussion. About the FBI coming to headquarters to question her and Max, and to seize several hard drives for their investigation into the Syndicate’s Russian hackers. She’d spent the last few months revamping Bennett’s cyber security protocols to prevent further malicious attacks. Thankfully, neither the Russian mobsters nor their hackers for hire had targeted Bennett Security further.

She didn’t tell Dominic she’d been out of touch with her hactivist friends, or that she’d felt disconnected from her work. It had been difficult getting over her failure to trap the Syndicate using her coding ability, even though it hadn’t totally been her fault. More time in the gym and the firing range had helped, though she had a long way to go toward getting back her confidence.

She told Dominic about Faith coming to stay with her and Ethan. That led into stories about high school, and then college in both Texas and California. Dominic shared more stories from his school days as well, especially ones featuring his brothers.

One afternoon, she came home to find Ethan, Faith, and Luis all cooking and laughing in her kitchen.

“Guess who’s going to be thirty and was totally trying to hide it from us,” Ethan said.

Sylvie looked immediately to Luis, and then narrowed her eyes. “Not you.”

“Hey!” he protested. “It could’ve been me.”

“Sure, it could.” Luis was almost forty, and besides, she’d known him for five years. “Obviously, it’s Faith, because her birthday was always about six months after mine.”

Faith grumbled at them. “I don’t want you to make a big deal of it.”

Ethan was slicing mushrooms and tossing them into a skillet. “That’s exactly why we have to make a big deal of it. Thirty is a milestone.”

Sylvie got a wine glass and poured herself some of the white they’d already opened. The moment anyone had mentioned “party,” Sylvie had immediately thought of the one person she most wanted to invite.

“Faith, how would you feel if I invite that guy I told you about? Nic? Would that be too weird?”

All three of them gasped and turned to her.

“You have to invite him to my party. That’s going to be my present—finally meeting the guy Sylvie’s in love with.”

She made a face. “I’m not in love with him.” Even though her insides were doing a happy dance at someone saying it out loud. Because, wow, she was well on her way.

She was falling for him.

That didn’t mean they’d work out. But she wanted to try, and seeing him in person was a necessary step toward actually dating.

That night, she texted him the invite. We’re having a birthday party next Friday at my house. Do you want to come?

Is it your birthday?Dominic asked.

No, it’s Faith’s. She wants to meet you.

How can I deny the birthday girl? I’ll be there. Send me the address.

She sent it, along with a party popper emoji.

Sylvie had trouble getting to sleep that night. She held her phone against her heart, smiling into the dark.

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