Page 79 of The Geek and the Sheikh

Jameel flashed a frustrated glare at Junebug. She shrugged. He knew by her mutinous expression that she wasn’t going to keep her mouth shut.

“She started it,” Junebug muttered.

Allison’s mouth turned up into a sneer. “And here I thought you only had theheightof a kindergartener."

"It didn't have to be this way!” Bugs exclaimed. “You wanted to be friends, I know it. You didn't just happen to hang out with us for years without doing a damn thing to us, Allison!"

"Didn’t you learn anything from Harlem?" Allison asked. "People like us don’t make friends.”

“Turn around and put your hands behind your back,” Hammer ordered.

Jameel turned around and put his hands behind his back. He shook his head at Junebug when she took a step forward. Hammer wrapped a plastic zip tie around his wrists and pulled it—tight. He winced when the strap cut into his flesh.

“I need my hands if you want me to ever use a computer again,” he muttered.

“We only need your brain. Someone else can do the typing,” Hammer said.

“You don’t have to be such an ass,” Junebug stated.

“You know, for someone so pretty, you sure have a nasty mouth. I wonder what else you can do with it,” Hammer commented.

A blind rage swept through Jameel. He swiveled on his heel and headbutted Hammer. Hammer’s head snapped back and he loudly cursed, grabbing his bloody nose.

Hammer retaliated with a fist to Jameel’s stomach followed by one to the jaw. The blows knocked the air out of him and sent him sprawling. Junebug released a cry of rage and knelt down over him, gently threading her hand through his hair. She glared up at Allison and Hammer who was wiping the blood dripping from his nose with the back of his hand.

“How do you know about Harlem?” Junebug demanded.

Jameel tilted his head and worked his jaw. A frown creased his brow. She was wondering about Harlem at a time like this?

“Do you think you are the only kid he got rid of?" Allison scoffed. "Do you want to know why your sanctimonious guilt trip about my family did nothing to me? It’s because they weren’t my real family. They were my gatekeepers and my fulltime surveillance team, hired by Harlem. And their accident was no accident. The only mistake was they were supposed to die. But… sympathy has its advantages, and baby, I milked it for all I could get.”

Jameel could feel the tremble in Junebug’s hand. His gaze flickered between her and Allison. He struggled to sit up. Junebug guided him back to his feet.

“You were one of Harlem’s kids?” Jameel asked.

The sneer on Allison’s face grew. “I was the brilliant would-be hacker that he wanted to use. You weren’t the only software prodigy. Harlem saw my potential and trained me… until he realized that I didn’t want to waste my talents on saving some poor innocent that I didn’t know. I saw where the real money and power came from. Men like Bronislav might be a dime a dozen, but darling, they have money and power. A smart hacker can access both—certainly a helluva lot more than you have with all your charity donations and your time wasted doing what? Scaring little gamer boys into being more polite? Junebug,” she laughed.

“Damn. You definitely don’t look like that vicious of a bitch,” Hammer commented with a low whistle.

Allison shot her partner an impatient glare. “Of course I don’t. Unlike Sleeping Beauty here, I can walk out in the world without anyone suspecting who I am or what I can do. Harlem liked those of us who could blend in, and I learned. It's unfortunate that he didn't, huh? Harlem didn’t appreciate one of his precious protégés using the skills he taught them for 'The Forces of Evil'. So I had to eliminate him.”

Junebug stared with wide eyes at Allison. “You killed Harlem?”

Allison tsked again. “You really are a princess, aren't you? Gonna mourn a man that you hated now? Of course I killed him and disposed of the body. I knew how he thought, the same way I knew how Jam-man thought… and how a hermit hacker named Bugs who was in love with a prince would think.”

“You were the one who sent my information to Dimitri. You made me think Harlem was still alive,” Junebug whispered.

“I needed to draw you out. What better way than for you to think Harlem was still alive and knew exactly where you were? During a random search, I discovered Harlem had been part of a program called Operation Rebirth. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Hammer had been a part of it as well. Dimitri Mihailov had been making a few inquiries. He is rich… and by most accounts a decent guy. What better pawns could I ask for? I look forward to introducing myself to him and Sergi next. I’m sure they could use another skillful computer nerd in their very vast, very rich corporation,” Allison chuckled.

“What about Bronislav?” Jameel asked.

Allison shook her head. “Once I get my money from Bronislav for the delivery of the two of you, I don’t give a rat’s ass what happens to him. I don’t imagine he’ll be around much longer, personally. But… neither will either of you. He has a temper, you know? And the two of you are infuriating.”

“Enough," Hammer said. "Once Kaffir does his thing, this place is going to be a madhouse. We need to move.”

Allison nodded and waved her pistol at them. Jameel stepped forward, his mind racing. He had no idea how Allison and Hammer planned on getting them out of the palace without being seen.

Hammer opened the door to the server room, peered out, and motioned for Allison to go. She exited the room. Jameel followed her when Hammer motioned for him to move. He paused when Hammer gripped his arm in a bruising grasp.

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