Free Dark by Erin M. Leaf Page A

point and all the more reason we need to set a
trap.” Solomon didn’t sound happy. “We need to stop this, and sooner rather
than later.”
    Greyson tamped down his anger. He needed to think clearly and the
protective urge he felt towards Eva threatened to overwhelm his reason. “She’s
innocent. And really young. We can’t put her in the
middle of this.”
    “We can, and we will, especially if it means the preservation of
Earth.” Bruno’s voice was suddenly on the line.
    Greyson blew out a harsh breath. “Bruno. I thought you were
talking with the President.”
    “I was, but I finished up soon enough for me to catch the tail end
of your conversation.” He sighed. “You know your duty, Greyson. If we need to
sacrifice one person to save countless others…”
    “She’s innocent, Bruno. But you didn’t hear that part, did you?”
    “I figured as much,” Bruno said, shocking him.
    “Then you know that using her to flush out the real traitor is
wrong.” Greyson clenched his fists. “If it was your woman, you wouldn’t even
consider doing it.”
    A pause. “So, you’ve finally decided to
claim her?”
    Greyson growled and hung up. No way was he playing that game with
his brothers. He stood up with the backpack and deliberately walked past the
box holding Eva’s computer on his way out the door.
    ****
    Eva looked up from the sofa when the front door opened. “Greyson. I was getting worried you’d abandoned me,” she
teased, trying to put aside her frustration with him, but then her smile
dropped from her face. He looked like hell: wet hair, t-shirt plastered to his
chest, and a thunderous expression. And even like this, he’s still the
hottest man I’ve even seen, she thought, annoyed with herself . You’ve got to get over this crush. He was the unattainable guy four years
ago and that was fine, but now you’re grown up and he’s the man who kidnapped
you against your will. And he’s still unattainable.
    He strode over, eyes glittering with some complicated emotion she
couldn’t begin to decipher. “I got your clothes,” he said, dropping her
backpack on the floor next to the sofa. The cloth of the bag was as damp as he
was.
    She reached down and rummaged through it, exasperated with his
clothing selection. Why did men never think to match colors? Ugh. When she didn’t
find her computer, she frowned. “You didn’t bring my laptop,” she said, confused.
“I need to get to work. I have a deadline. I told you that.”
    “I didn’t want to chance it getting wet,” he said.
    She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re lying.” She wasn’t sure how
she knew this, but her gut told her she was right.
    He looked away. “You won’t need it.” He pushed his fingers through
his dripping hair.
    “Greyson, you might think my job is a joke, but I take it
seriously. And I owe John for everything he’s done for me and Mom.” She dropped
the bag and kicked it away from her. “You can’t just decide things for me like
this.”
    He lifted the bottom of his t-shirt and scrubbed at the water on
his face, and then leaned against the cold stone mantle. “How well do you know
John?” he asked, ignoring her complaint.
    Eva tore her eyes away from his muscled abdomen, blinking at the
weird question. “You’re kidding right?”
    “No, I am not.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Mom met him a few years ago. They hit it
off. They got married.” She shrugged. “He’s not an asshole, which was a relief
after the other boyfriends she collected. I was happy for her. And he’s been
good to me.”
    He rubbed his jaw, not responding.
    Eva had no idea what he was thinking. She fidgeted, suddenly
uncomfortable. “Maybe you should go change. You look like a wet dog.” She
wanted to lick the water off of his arms. At
this rate, I’m never going to get over him.
    He gave her a strange look, then sighed. “My
brother Solomon has traced the hacker who infiltrated our tech.” He crossed his
arms over his