Razor: A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance(28)

Mason grunted. “Unfortunately.”

“Who was he?”

“Aubrey Locke — a douchebag hacker that never could pull his own weight. We were just in high school when he got me into Anonymous. I don’t know how he got in to be honest, he’s more of a brute. I’m sure he thought he could elevate his status by bringing me in. Not sure what he was doing at the library right then, though, probably a stroke of luck, but then again, maybe not. The worst part about all of this is now they know you’re with me.”

A feeling of dread settled on my chest. Suddenly, I remembered why we’d come to the library in the first place “Did you get the video on my site?” I asked. To me that was more important than anything else at the moment or this would’ve all been for nothing.

Mason nodded. “The only thing that went right today. After I got it set up, I forwarded the link to the video to all the major news and media outlets. By the time we get back to the cabin, the mayor should have been exposed for the scumbag he is.”

Despite the dark pall that hung over us, I was filled with sudden giddiness. Shortly, my name would be known in all of the news circles and then . . .

Jesus Christ, get a hold of yourself!

I was irritated by my need to be validated by my peers and my hunger for recognition. There was much more going on here than just my career. Mason was a wanted man, and now I was possibly just as wanted by the hackers that were after him.

“Mason,” I said as he pulled off the freeway, “we’re going to need to start planning how we’re going to clear your name and make these Anonymous people leave us alone—”

A vibration in the pocket of my skirt interrupted me. I frowned. It was my cell. I thought I’d turned it off, but now was a good time to do it. It would be only a matter of time before it would be vibrating off the hook.

I slipped a hand in my pocket and pulled it out. Mason reached over to stop me before I could press the power button.

“Who is it?”

Funny, I hadn’t even bothered to look at the screen. When I did, my mouth went dry and I looked over at Mason with trepidation.

“It’s your father,” I replied.





Chapter 11





Carly




“Answer it,” Mason ordered as he pulled onto the winding road that would take us to my cabin.

I stared at him with surprise as the phone thrummed in my hands. “Are you sure? I thought you didn’t want me talking to anyone?”

“I don’t, but I think he suspects something. We need to find out what he knows.” He nodded at my cell. “Answer it.”

“And act normal.”

I stared at him for a moment then I took a deep breath, my mouth as dry as a desert as I pressed the answer button.

“Hello?” I tried to sound as innocent and as cheery as possible.

“Hey pumpkin!” Brian greeted cheerfully, using his favorite old nickname for me. How’s my favorite girl doing?” There was static in the transmission and I had to turn up the volume to hear him over the motor. He didn’t sound angry or pissed, so that was good at least. Maybe this was just his routine welfare check up.

“I’m fine,” I replied, relaxing a little and keeping my voice even. “How are you?”

Brian chuckled. “Good, good. How’s your mother?”

“You know what? That reminds me. I haven’t talked to her in a while. I so need to call her. But the last time we talked, she was doing just fine, complaining and carrying on . . . you know how she does sometimes.”

“I sure do,” Brian laughed dryly. “Good, God, I do.”

I flashed an easy smile at Mason, letting him know the call was going well.

“Everything alright with your new gig at that newspaper you said you were working for?”

I cringed. Not wanting any sympathy, I lied to Brian about what I was doing employment-wise. He’d paid for my college tuition and I didn’t want any more handouts.

“It’s going real smooth,” I lied. “Really good. In fact, I’m getting a promotion next month.”

Shit, I’m such a terrible liar.

“Really?” he asked, sounding surprised. “Well I’m very happy for you!”

I grimaced. “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without the support of such kick ass parents.”

Mason stuck his finger in his mouth and made a gagging sound. I slapped him on the arm.

“I always knew you would succeed, Carly,” Brian was saying. “You always worked your ass off, getting good grades, raising the bar with each achievement . . . and at least you didn’t waste my hard-earned money like someone else we know,” he muttered.

An awkward silence settled over the phone. I didn’t know if he was trying to bait me into talking about Mason or not. I did know for a fact he was bitter over Mason, so it wasn’t hard to believe he was just being genuine.

Surprisingly, I found myself coming to Mason’s defense. “Well, uh, you know, maybe he was going through something and couldn’t handle all the pressure—”

“Oh please!” Brian snarled. “The boy was spoiled, that was his problem! I gave him everything he wanted growing up when I should have been harder! Had I done my job, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten into those damn drugs.”