Edge of Control: An Edge Security Novel (Edge Security Series Book 1) (9 page)

Her eyes widened, not at his words, but at his tone, and she sucked in a breath, putting their chests into contact for the briefest moment. Her nipples tightened and a different kind of tension curled through her. Jake glanced down and stilled.

He raised his head and heat darkened the gray of his eyes to molten steel. Dani wet her suddenly dry lips and his gaze tracked the movement. She no longer felt as if she were on trial, but rather as if she were being hunted by something dark and dangerous. Something sensual.

The air in the room thickened and she had to take deeper breaths, each one brushing her sensitive nipples against his shirt. Neither one of them moved away, their gazes locked on each other. She swallowed and curled her fingers to stop them from reaching for him.

She wanted to kiss him, needed for him to kiss her. It didn’t matter that she didn’t trust him. She wanted to feel him, the power of his hands on her.

No. She’d been too close to a powerful man before and it’d almost destroyed her. She spun away from him.

When she looked back, Jake stood on the far side of the room, all evidence of the seductive man gone and the ruthless soldier back in place. Her gaze traveled over him and paused on the front of his pants. She smirked. Well, maybe not
all
of the evidence had disappeared.

Her smile faded when she saw what he held. “What are you doing with my laptop?”

“See me first thing in the morning,” he said gruffly, and left through her front door.

Jake had skipped the gym that morning and now wished he hadn’t. He’d wanted to avoid any possibility of seeing Dani, but his muscles protested not doing anything, especially after the restless night he’d had. He’d tossed and turned, thinking about Dani’s skimpy tank top and the way her nipples had peaked when he’d been close.

He definitely had energy to burn. Maybe he’d drop the laptop off with Mike and go hit the bag in the operatives’ gym on the fifth floor.

He found Mike in front of some serious tech gear, using what looked like electronic gloves to flip through screens on a clear panel set up in the control room. He frowned and spoke into his earpiece as he worked.

Jake waited until Mike noticed him before holding up Dani’s laptop. “I need you to crack this and access the files.”

Mike lowered his hands. “Whose is it? And why?”

“Everett’s. She hacked into the company under our investigation. I need to know what she found.”

Mike walked over and took the laptop. “She won’t tell you?” he asked after a minute of tinkering with the password.

“No.”

Mike stood up and looked at him. “And she still works here?”

His words left Jake cold as realization hit. This was ample cause for firing someone, if not incurring charges for breaking the law.

He wasn’t sure why he cared what happened to the feisty Danielle Everett, but he did. Last night he’d thought for sure she’d tell him what she was doing. He knew it had to have something to do with her missing friend. She’d softened toward him and he knew from the desperate look in her eyes that she was in some kind of trouble. He’d seen that look too often in men under his command when they’d gotten in over their heads. Hopefully this wasn’t a life-or-death situation.

He headed to Knight’s office, since he was technically his commanding officer on this mission. Jake needed to let him know what was going on. Dani had proved last night that she was capable of lying to a co-worker and was an accomplished thief. She’d have probably done well in the CIA.

His lips twitched as he remembered her defiance in the face of his anger last night. Once he’d seen those files, he’d lost his cool, something that rarely happened. But the thought that she could be messing with the mob and endangering herself made him lose control.

He stopped as he entered Knight’s domain. He needed more information before he got her fired. Knight’s receptionist, Ms. Waters, looked up from her book. “Can I help you?”

“No. I changed my mind.”

She shrugged and went back to her novel.

Jake stood debating for a moment before clearing his throat. Ms. Waters turned a page and kept reading.

“I need information,” he said.

She didn’t look up, just turned a page. “Yes?”

“Personnel files.”

She moved her book to the side and gave him a pitying look. “They’re on the system, under personnel.”

“I need more info.”

“Koven. Fifth floor,” she said, turning back to her book.

Jake walked away. Working with civilians might just be the end of his sanity.

He found Koven’s office. Marc Koven, a CSIS agent, Canada’s equivalent of the FBI and CIA rolled into one, was in charge of intel for this investigation. Apparently he also had access to personnel records that others didn’t.

Jake rapped on the door and entered to find a man with dark hair almost brushing his shoulders, which contrasted oddly with his khakis and crisp white dress shirt. He looked up from his laptop as Jake entered.

“I was told to see you. I need information on Everett from IT.”

Koven leaned back in his chair. “You’re Harrison, the new SEAL here to take us for a test ride, is that right?”

“Call me Jake. And I’m not posted here, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Koven smiled. “It wasn’t, but I’ve got my answer.”

Jake wasn’t sure how to take that, so he didn’t reply. Koven looked laidback, but Jake had seen his record, or the parts of it that weren’t classified. This guy was beyond smart.

“You want to know about Danielle Everett? Why don’t you ask Chuck? He’s the one who sponsored her to work here.”

“Chuck might be a little biased.”

Koven’s lips twisted ruefully. “He might. What is it you need?” He started typing.

“Her psychological profile and a deep background check.”

Koven tapped a few more keys and read something on his screen before studying Jake a moment, then he nodded. “Technically, her juvenile records are sealed, so I can’t let you read them.”

“But she has sealed records.” Jake blew out a breath. That usually meant someone had been involved in criminal activity as a kid. Had she gotten a job at E.D.G.E. as a cover for her hacking? No. There was no way E.D.G.E. hadn’t fully checked into her. They’d know if she was doing something illegal or not.

“Does her background have anything to do with the
Bratva
?”

Koven closed his laptop. “If you suspect she’s done something, then she needs to be suspended pending investigation. If she hasn’t done anything, then I’d like her for my team.”

By not answering, Koven had basically confirmed Jake’s suspicions. Had Dani worked for the mob as a kid? But more importantly, was she working for them again?

Dani knocked on Jake’s door. He’d been here less than a week and he already had his own office and team, one that she hoped never to be on. Though she doubted she’d even have a job here after today.

“Come in,” Jake said. He sat behind a desk that held nothing but a file and a laptop. An empty bookshelf was the only other thing in the office.

Dani strode in and stuck her thumbs through her belt loops. She wore tight, ripped jeans, an old Darth Vader t-shirt, leather wraps on her wrists, and rings in her upper ear. Her dark hair was caught up in a high ponytail. “I’m here, as ordered.”

Jake’s eyes widened slightly before his gaze traveled up and down her body. “I can see that.”

Dani suppressed a shiver and stood tall, daring him to say anything. She was done with trying to be something she wasn’t. And she wasn’t a stuffy suit. If Jake or anyone at E.D.G.E. didn’t like it then they could shove it.

She’d survive though. She always did.

“So, are you going to get me fired?” she asked.

Jake tilted his head as he watched her with those piercing eyes. “Should I, hacker girl?”

She gritted her teeth in annoyance. She hated playing games. “Just get it over with.”

“Have a seat.” He nodded to the chair in front of his desk.

She flopped into the seat and drew one booted foot up onto the chair. He looked at her foot and then at her. She compressed her lips and kept her foot up. She was acting like a sullen teen, but she couldn’t seem to help it. Something about this man and this situation reduced her to a seething mass of emotions.

“Tell me why,” Jake said.

Dani couldn’t see any anger or condemnation in his face, but neither could she see compassion. “Does it matter?”

“I know this will surprise you, but it does to me.” He studied her a moment and she fought against squirming.

“I’m guessing you’ve had a hard life,” he said. “And that you’ve done your share of criminal deeds.” He paused and took a breath. “But you found your way out. I understand how hard that is and I respect you for it. You’re a fighter.”

He paused as if waiting for her to say something, but she kept her mouth shut. Was this an act to see if she’d confess? He didn’t fidget or keep talking, he just sat there calmly, like her job and life weren’t on the line.

“If I tell you why, are you going to get me fired anyway?” she asked.

“Is keeping your job important to you?”

She snorted. “Only if I want to keep eating.”

His eyes went icy. “So this place is only a paycheck to you?”

She sucked in a breath. “That’s not what I meant.” She put her foot on the floor and leaned forward. “I like it here. You’re right, I haven’t had a great life. This is the first job I’ve had where I respect myself. I want to work here. I want…”

He watched her closely. “What do you want?”

“I know this isn’t just a security company. I think E.D.G.E. does a lot more than corporate security. All of the operators are military or CIA and CSIS, and I want to help. I want to do something good with my life, to help others. I want to be a field operator.”

His voice matched his frost-laden eyes. “Then tell me the truth.”

She hesitated for only a fraction of a second. He wasn’t her supervisor, but she knew he could get her in deep trouble with a single complaint. But even more than that, she wanted him to understand her, to know she wasn’t a criminal anymore. That she’d given up that life long ago.

“It started three nights ago when my friend went out on a date…” She told him what had been happening and what she’d found. He listened intently and every now and then asked a pointed question, but otherwise he let her talk. When she was done he stared into space, a small frown furrowing his brow.

“You’d be willing to let us look over the information on your laptop?” he asked.

“Of cour—”

The door burst open and Chuck stomped in. “You leave her alone.”

A tall, lean man with longish dark hair followed behind more sedately and shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry about the interruption, but Chuck felt someone might need a rescue.”

Jake stood up. “Danielle, have you met Agent Koven? He’s from CSIS.”

Dani stood, wary of what he was doing here, and extended her hand to shake Koven’s. “Call me Dani,” she said.

He nodded. “I’m Marc.” He lifted her laptop. “Mike gave this to me. Pretty interesting stuff on here. Do you speak Russian?”

Dani swallowed and her gaze flitted to Chuck, who gave a slight nod. “Yes, though I’m a bit rusty.”

Koven gave her a quick perusal up and down, his gaze calculating. “I could definitely use someone like you on my team, if you’re interested.”

“No, thanks,” she said. “First I need to know exactly what E.D.G.E. is and what your team would do. It’s past time someone told me who you guys really are.”

Koven’s eyebrows rose but he didn’t say anything, just nodded and handed her laptop back.

Chuck squared his shoulders. “I think we should take this little gathering up to Knight’s office. He can explain everything.”

“I agree,” said Jake. “Also, Dani’s found out some useful information pertinent to this op. Knight should hear it.”

Dani suppressed a smile at the look of consternation on her old friend’s face. He’d obviously come in here expecting to defend her. She gave him a small smile and a nod, trying to act confident about the way things were turning out, even though her stomach roiled at the thought of what they might ask her to do.
 

“I’ll get Blackwell too,” Koven said. “He’s back from an overseas mission and needs to be brought up to speed.”

Before they trooped out of the office, Chuck put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you about your friend.”

She laid her hand over his, very aware that Jake stood a few feet away watching intently. “There was no evidence to back me up,” she said. “Of course you wouldn’t believe me.”

Chuck pressed his lips together. “But that’s just it. I shouldn’t need evidence when you’re the one telling me.”

Dani didn’t know what to do with that admission. She’d always had to prove herself. It seemed strange that anyone would just take her word on something. Her thumb rubbed the small scar on her shoulder. It had been given to her by Vladimir when he’d thought she’d been lying to him.

She lifted her gaze and met Jake’s intense one, as if he were trying to see inside her. She dropped her hand and forced a smile for Chuck. “You’re an old cop,” she said. “Of course you need evidence.”

When Dani walked into Knight’s office, Derrick Blackwell waited for them. Introduced as Knight’s second-in-command, he sprawled his long, muscled body on one of the comfy chairs in the corner. He looked as though he was about to fall asleep, but his slitted eyes gave her the impression of a resting lion, ready to pounce.

His dark hair had a few streaks of gray at the temples, but otherwise he looked younger than his late thirties. According to Ashley, he’d asked her out on a date. Looking at him now, she seriously doubted he even knew who Ashley was.

Rhys, Mike, and the female operator with the cold eyes came into the room as well. When everyone had assembled around the conference table, Knight looked at Dani. “E.D.G.E. is the Elite Digital and Global Enforcement for International Security. We are a secret organization connected to, and yet separate from, our governments. We can go where governments can’t. We can get the job done faster because we have no red tape to cut through.”