Free True Deceit (Blindsided Book 1) by A.J. Carella

to me.”
    “It’s the website, there’s been a security breach.” James took a sip of the Scotch, smiling appreciatively. “Last night someone hacked in.”
    Daniel frowned. “How? I was told that the site was impenetrable.”
    “Whoever it was, they were good. They got round every security measure we had in place.”
    Daniel felt himself getting angry. He never wanted the website in the first place, seeing it as a potentially dangerous security issue, but he’d been outvoted by the other members who’d insisted it would bring in a lot of revenue, which none of them needed. “I knew that site was a bad idea. Do we have any idea who is behind it?”
    “At first, no. Whoever it was took steps to make sure that we couldn’t track them, but then this afternoon, they went back on the website. I’ve no idea why, but this time they weren’t so careful.” James reached in to the pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a piece of paper. “We managed to track their IP address. We have a name.”
    Daniel took the piece of paper. The name meant nothing to him. “What do we know about this person?” They needed to know whether this was just someone working alone or whether the authorities were behind it.
    “Well, we can’t find any connection between her and the police but it doesn’t look like a random act. She is the sister of our latest guest, the woman you insisted on.”
    Daniel hadn’t expected that and for a minute he didn’t know how to respond.
    “How do you want us to deal with it?”
    Daniel held up his hand silencing him. “I’m thinking.” He walked over to the fireplace and stared at the cold ash, sipping at his whiskey.
    The Kings had been his brainchild, born out of necessity. A group of like-minded men in positions of influence who, like him, had a dark side. A dark side that if left unchecked, could ruin them. The idea was simple. A steady stream of women, kept in a single location, that the men could use in any way they liked to satisfy their urges. Urges that would otherwise see them facing life sentences if they were caught.
    He had wanted to keep it to their small group, and the others had initially agreed. But their greed had got the better of them. And now we’re paying the price.
    “The security breach. Explain it to me in terms I’ll understand. Does this mean they know who we are? Where we are?” He couldn’t make a decision without the facts.
    “No, it simply means that someone unauthorised has found the website.” James explained. “Usually a person is invited and told how to get to the site. Once there they have a series of passwords to input that we have given them. All very secure.”
    “Obviously not secure enough.” Daniel snapped, not turning to look at him.
    “No. Well, it appears that this person has found a way in through the back door. But they still know nothing about us.”
    “So what threat is it exactly?” Daniel turned this time and looked at him.
    James shrugged. “Well, other than the fact that they know of our existence, none. They can’t find us. Getting into the website is one thing, tracing its origin is another altogether.”
    “In that case, we do nothing.”
    “Nothing?” James sounded surprised.
    “Yes, nothing. Think about it, if we really want the police looking for us I can’t think of a better way to raise their suspicions than to have two sisters suddenly die. Can you?”
    James didn’t reply.
    “Keep an eye on it and if there’s any sign that they’re onto us, let me know. For now though, I think the safest option is to just watch and wait.”
    “Okay, Daniel. What about the surveillance on Mike? Do you want that to continue?”
    “Yes, absolutely.” He put his empty glass down on the table. “Now if there’s nothing else, I have to get ready. I have guests for dinner.”
     

Seventeen
    Michael threw off his sheet and climbed out of bed. It was past midnight but was lying awake, staring at the ceiling, waiting Sarah was