Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(72)

“More,” she whispered. “Make me forget. Make me—”

His hard thrust cut off her words, and with each successive surge, his body sang in triumph. She reared back as he drove deep inside her, clutching at his arms as he kneaded her swollen breasts. He felt her tremors begin, her body clenching around him.

Skin damp with exertion, he drove her up and over and she shuddered to completion. Holding her hip, he thrust deeper and deeper, then shouted out her name, stunned by his explosive release.

Panting, she sank down on top of him, her heart pounding against his chest, but she didn’t move.

Finally, she rested her chin on her hands, looked up, and smiled at him. “If this is what you do on a couch, I can’t wait to try the bed.”

His fingers ran through her hair. “Damn straight, lady. After what I intend to do to you on that bed, you’re going to wonder why we waited so long.”

She kissed him gently. “I already do.”





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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN




* * *




ASHLEY STOOD IN the Warden’s office, hovering near a window that overlooked the primary testing room. Justin sat in a chair close to the corner. A new recruit had just been brought in for that first fun-filled tour. Whoever it was had no idea what was about to—

Oh God. No!

Ashley closed her eyes, praying she’d been imagining things. She squinted. Sure enough, two guards shoved Mylo forward. He fell to his knees. Mottled bruises covered his face. She recognized that terrified look.

She hated this. A new recruit meant the guards were distracted. The perfect time for the escape. Why did Justin and Dave’s one chance mean Mylo had to be imprisoned?

Then she realized the truth. They’d been brought here to die.

Now even more depended on Justin making it through. She didn’t know if Dave had cleared the last level, but he was very smart. She hoped he’d reached Level 88. She didn’t want Justin to have to try to survive and get help all alone.

She squinted at the new computer they’d put Dave on. He was attempting Level 88 again, one of the many missions from the new game.

She prayed it was just a simulation. With the upgraded code and the right knowledge, anyone from homegrown terrorists to an enemy country could access classified information.

Her heart skipped a beat as she realized how blithely she’d hacked into NSA with Justin. Everything had been fun and daring. She’d never considered the damage—even though she and Justin had never intended to use the information. They’d screwed up big-time.

If Justin and Dave didn’t get the information to Deb and her father, people could die. A lot of people.

The door behind her squeaked open. “Well, Ms. Lansing. I see you’ve been causing trouble again.”

She hated that voice. She straightened and slowly turned. “I haven’t done anything you haven’t already punished me for.”

The Warden stood, his bearing stiff and military-straight, his expression very much like her father. She recognized the cold, aloof attitude well.

“Somehow, Ms. Lansing, I highly doubt that.” He walked over to stand before her, too close. “You’re the brightest, most instinctive, and inventive code breaker I’ve ever seen. In fact, we haven’t witnessed anything close to the likes of you since the first version of Point of Entry was released. That girl, too, was curious and unwilling to cooperate. Do you know what happened to her?”

He opened a desk drawer, lifted out a photo, and passed it to Ashley.

Reluctantly she took it.

A bus station. A blonde-haired girl, her body riddled with bullets. Blood everywhere. Other people lying on the ground, wounded.

The girl looked eerily like Ashley herself, and the similarity made her recoil. Suddenly, it dawned on her that the victim must be Shannon, the girl for whom Niko still grieved.

“Look at all those bullet holes,” the Warden pointed out. “You wouldn’t want something like that to happen to you. Or your sister. Would you?”

Ashley shook her head numbly.

“Or to your brother Rick. Or how about Ben? Isn’t that the name of the one who’s a black ops operative?”

She snapped her head up, fear slamming through her like bullets from a machine gun set on automatic.

“Oh yes, I know about your brothers. We’ve been doing our research. In fact, we know exactly where they are at this moment. What unit they’ve been assigned to, the coordinates where they’re currently encamped. Everything.”

He opened the door. “Come, Ashley. Let’s join your boyfriend, shall we?”

He led her to Justin’s station. He was completely focused, clicking the controller buttons in his hand faster than she’d ever seen.

“Mr. Connell, your friend, Ms. Lansing, is here to observe you.”

Justin turned toward her, his eyes haunted. “Ashley?”

The Warden backhanded Justin. “How dare you speak to her? I did not give you permission.”

Justin dropped his gaze immediately to the controller gripped tightly in his hands. His face was red, but whether the color was from the blow or his anger, Ashley couldn’t tell.

The Warden leaned over Justin’s shoulder, studying the screen. “Very nice. You’ve nearly completed Level 89, Justin. Well done.”