Free Hard Target by Marquita Valentine Page B

flash drive that hangs from the chain around my neck seems to weigh me down, my own, personal albatross.
    I can’t risk removing it though. It’s our only hope for survival.
    *
    The next morning comes all too quickly. The three of us head down to breakfast in the hotel’s private café for VIP guests. I check my messages while Morgan and Dmitry alternate eating with eying each other across the table. Only Maxim has responded, saying that he can help us in London only. Outside of that, we’re on our own.
    “Fucking brilliant.”
    Morgan’s lashes flick up, her blue gaze assessing. She doesn’t say a word as she covers my hand with hers, attempting to comfort me. I don’t push it away. I crave the contact she so willingly gives me.
    “Maxim is a no, I take it,” Dmitry asks.
    “He’s a yes for London.”
    Dmitry grunts. “That is of no help.”
    “Thank you, Captain Obvious.”
    Morgan taps my hand. “Don’t be so grumpy.”
    “Who is Captain Obvious?” Dmitry asks with a serious face, but there is a gleam of humor in his eyes.
    “Shut up.” I throw my napkin at him.
    Dmitry flashes his gun.
    “Boys,” Morgan says with a pointed glare. “Mind your manners and eat.”
    I shoot off another email to Violet, then dig into the food. Who knows when we’ll be able to stop and eat again.
    The television captures my attention and I can’t take my eyes off of it. I fully expect to see our image with the word wanted appearing underneath. But that never happens. Instead a morning cooking show fills the screen.
    “Have you heard from Violet, yet?” Dmitry asks.
    “No. It’s not like her to be silent for so long.”
    “Who is Violet?” Morgan asks.
    “Hacker with a background in biology. I thought she could decipher what’s on the drive.”
    “Oh,” Morgan says lightly. “Are you close to her?”
    I don’t miss the flash of jealousy in her blue eyes. “We’ve never met, actually.”
    “That doesn’t mean anything. People have online relationships all the time,” she points out.
    “I don’t even know her real name.”
    “So?”
    “She’s a respected colleague in the hacker community.”
    “Which means that you do know her.”
    Dmitry keeps eating, his gaze landing on us every so often as he scans the room.
    “You’re welcome to cut in at any time, mate.”
    “You’ve got it handled.” He smiles at me, then winks at Morgan. “Go on, dig deeper, cuz.”
    She blinks at him, like she’s just been dazzled. I can admit that my cousin is a handsome bloke. Women like him well enough, but I loathe the look on her face. Normally, that look is reserved for me. All right, so over the past four days that look has been for me alone.
    White-hot jealousy flashes through me and I stand, grabbing Morgan’s hand as I do. “Come with me.”
    “Why?”
    “I need to take your mind off Violet.”
    I stride across the room, my steps so long and quick that she nearly has to run to keep up with me.
    “I was done with breakfast. Thanks for asking,” she says as we step inside the elevator.
    “I didn’t ask.”
    “You’re so obvious.”
    Releasing her, I cross my arms and lean against the wall. We are the only people in here. I could fuck her right now and no one but the security cameras would be the wiser.
    However, I won’t take her now.
    Besides, she wants me just as bad. Her nipples are hard and poking through her thin shirt.
    “As are you,” I point out.
    The elevator doors open and I grab her by the arm once more.
    “Stop grabbing me—unless we’re in danger.” Her face pales slightly. “We’re not in danger, are we?”
    “The only danger you’re in at this moment is from me.”
    “I thought you trusted me,” she says, pulling out of my grip.
    “This has nothing to do with trust.” I hold the card to the door, waiting impatiently for the millisecond it takes for it to unlock. As soon as I hear the click, I shove open the door. “This has everything with you getting in