Before he could say as much, Ryder asked, “Is this the tattoo?”
Rowan turned toward Ryder’s cell phone. The photograph was of a woman smiling on the beach in her bikini, but a man was in the background, his back facing the camera. The solider with a gas mask and a helicopter beneath it—it was all there. “Yeah, that’s it. How did you get that?” Rowan asked.
“I told you before,” Alex said. “Ryder has some good contacts.”
Ryder cursed then shoved his phone back into his pockets. “Lewis is a good friend of a senator in New York City we provided protective detail for. They spent time together at the senator’s lake house. One of the senator’s daughters had caught Lewis in that photograph. I had to request she take it down off social media, but of course, we kept the photograph on our server.” He straightened his shoulders and then frowned at Rowan. “You know what you’ve done, then, don’t you?”
Alex glanced between them. “What have you done?” she finally asked Rowan.
Of course Rowan knew, even without the judgmental gaze of Ryder glaring him down. He had known it a second ago. “I’ve made the woman I care very much about the target of a very powerful and brutal serial killer.”
“Well…” Alex said, focusing entirely on Rowan, “it’s a damn good thing that this woman is the one woman who can take him down and find Mia.”
He expected Alex’s strength, though now everything had changed. He cupped her face. “I can’t ask you to be a part of this anymore. Not with Lewis involved. It’s too dangerous, and he now knows you’re driving this show.”
She leaned into his touch, and her eyes warmed. And suddenly Rowan felt like he wasn’t the only one who realized this time things had changed between them. This time, it wouldn’t be so easy to walk away when all was said and done.
Maybe this time they would both choose to stay.
“You don’t have to ask me, Rowan,” she said, breaking the silence. “I’m in this. Until the end. Until we find Mia.”
“I’m with Rowan,” Ryder added. “This is too dangerous now. You’re out of this. I’ll bring in another hacker.”
She glanced between them and snorted. “So, now you’re suddenly getting along?” She placed her hands on her hips and glared at them. “I’ve had more than enough of arrogant men than I can stomach tonight. I’m going to find Mia, with or without the help from either of you.” She turned and headed down the alleyway, the dark night swallowing her.
Rowan slowly glanced at Ryder. “Is she always like this?”
“She’s usually worse.” He grinned before following Alex.
Rowan smiled too. Damn, she was perfect.
Check out the conclusion of Stacey Kennedy’s
Dirty Hacker duet . . .
RISKY LOVE
Rowan Hawke and Alex McCoy can’t keep their hands off each other, even as they’re running from a criminal who is intent on silencing them. Together, they’ve uncovered the truth about a cold-blooded serial killer using the dating website SiR to play his disturbing sadistic games.
Now, Rowan’s instinct to protect Alex is put to the test when secrets come to light and Alex becomes more determined than ever to help Rowan solve the case and finally find some peace. As he grows closer to Alex, he must open up about his past and give her the chance to prove that she’s the right partner—in work and in life.
The couple are up against a powerful perpetrator, with only their courage and their love for each other to help them through. But Alex’s choice to put herself in the killer’s sights might be the one thing that breaks them apart…permanently.
Find out more about Risky Love.
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About the Author
Stacey Kennedy is an outdoorsy, wine-drinking, nap-loving, animal-cuddling, USA Today bestselling romance author with a chocolate problem. She writes sexy contemporary romance full of heat and heart, including titles in her wildly hot Dangerous Love, Kinky Spurs, Dirty Little Secrets and Club Sin series. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her family and does most of her writing surrounded by lazy dogs.
Learn more at:
www.staceykennedy.com
Twitter @Stacey_Kennedy
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