Code Name: Genesis (Jameson Force Security #1)(17)

But she’s not budging. After a long, hard look at me, she starts to stand from the chair and I’m immensely disappointed. She would have been such an asset to Jameson. More importantly, I need her on Joslyn’s case.

Bebe is stopped, however, when Joslyn reaches a hand out and places it on Bebe’s forearm. It’s the lightest of touches, yet Bebe stops, twisting her neck to focus on her.

“You can trust Kynan,” Joslyn says softly. “He’s the real deal. I’ve put my life in his hands because I trust him, and I promise you… he can help you if you just tell him what he wants to know.”

It’s a sweet effort and I’m touched by the sincerity, but it doesn’t appear to sway Bebe. She just stares at Joslyn, her lips pressed in a thin line of distrust. My mind moves to my backup plan, a man I heard about who works in the CIA in their cyber-espionage division. I can lure him away easily, but he’s not as good as Bebe.

“His name is Aaron,” Bebe says quietly as she sinks into her chair. She smiles at Joslyn, then addresses me. “My son’s name is Aaron, and they threatened to kill him if I didn’t get the codes for them.”

“You were a mother first and a hacker second,” Dr. Ellery says softly, an understanding smile on her face.

Bebe gives a nod but clarifies. “I was a mother first and a patriot second. I wasn’t about to give away nuclear codes to anyone. So I left an obvious trail of crumbs as I hacked my way into the database, and I made sure I got caught.”

Joslyn now is fully invested and asks her own questions. “But why not give up the people you worked for?”

“Because word was passed to me very quickly that they’d kill Aaron and my mom if I did.”

“Oh, wow,” Joslyn whispers, her eyes full of sorrow for Bebe.

“And so you gave up your life and your freedom to protect your son and your country.” It’s exactly as I suspected, but I had needed to know if I was right, and, more importantly, if she would be willing to put her trust in me to tell me. For all she knows, I could work for that black-hat group and I’m here to test her loyalty about keeping her mouth shut.

“I don’t regret what I did,” Bebe replies tersely.

“Why would you?” I ask with a smile. “It was the right thing to do.”

I cock an eyebrow at Dr. Ellery. “Do I offer her the job?”

“Yes,” she replies with a firm nod of her head. “I do believe you should.”

The smile I bestow on Bebe is genuine. “How would you like to get out of prison today and come to work for me?”





CHAPTER 8




Joslyn


I stare at Kynan as he sits in the sleek, leather captain’s chair on a private Leer jet after just having walked out of a federal maximum-security prison with one of the actual prisoners by his side.

My review of him is critical, searching for signs of some type of holiness because right now, I’m thinking he has some super powers I knew nothing about.

I mean… who in the hell has the ability to walk into a prison and come out with a prisoner?

“What’s his deal?” the woman who is sitting beside me asks.

My neck twists slowly, and I tilt my head at Bebe Grimshaw. She hasn’t said a word to me since the jet took off almost two and a half hours ago. We parted ways with Dr. Ellery, and she flew back to God knows where she was from. Kynan didn’t bother saying, and I didn’t ask.

I was afraid to ask him anything. Frankly, because I’ve so deified him since his miracle of springing Bebe from jail that I’m not sure I want to hear anything he has to say.

My gaze goes to Kynan, who is doing a good job ignoring us as he works on his laptop with headphones on.

“I have no clue,” I drawl in confusion. “I mean… I thought I knew. He does security and protection work. I hired him to protect me.”

“And yet, he has some pretty powerful connections,” Bebe muses. “He had my release from prison already pre-arranged. That only comes from extremely high up in the government, and I’m sure it’s off the books.”

“I almost feel sorry for my stalker,” I say in awe as I continue to stare at Kynan.

Bebe snorts. “What’s the deal with this stalker of yours?”

That direct question snaps me out of my thrall, and I turn in my seat to face her. The jet we’re on has four rows, two large captain’s chairs on either side. The first two rows face the rear of the plane and the second face forward. It’s how I’m able to stare at Kynan—in the first row—in miraculous wonder.

“A few years ago, someone started sending me creepy letters and gifts. When it escalated, I moved a few times trying to hide, but he always found me. Three days ago, he managed to break into my house and tried to strangle me, but the police got there before he could finish the job. I hired Kynan the next day.”

Bebe’s brow furrows. “No offense… but why would a man who has the power to spring a national security risk from prison help you? It’s sort of small potatoes.”

“No offense taken,” I reply with a smile. “We have a history together.”

Her face brightens in understanding. “I kind of got the sense something was there.”

“Oh no,” I insist, bringing both my hands up in denial. “Nothing there. We dated for about three seconds like twelve years ago.”