Chapter 22

Janus

Danielle is such a tease.

I’ll get back at her eventually for that football bashing.

For now, the proper comeback line escapes me, because I can’t think straight. She took off to the shower and left me with my morning wood straining against the sheet.

When she talked about a repeat performance, I thought she meant doing it again right now. As flirtatious as she was, maybe I should just join her in the shower.

Last night was absolutely incredible, but I feel like we’ve only begun to explore a fraction of our passion. But just when I ponder and picture the possibilities of what we could get up to in there, my phone buzzes.

It’s a scrambled message from one of the many aliases Leviathan uses for his communication. If it’s scrambled like this, then it means big news. I run it through the process of decryption and decoding to find he’s sent me a short line only.

At times, all these extra measures strike me as a bit paranoid. But on more than one occasion, Leviathan has saved the brotherhood with his caution and hacking skills. He’s the best and is an invaluable asset.

I bring up the short message on the screen.

Found an interesting location in the data you provided. Call me for more info. L.

I sit up straight in bed, my mind all of a sudden completely focused on the task at hand. We have to break this human trafficking ring wide open.

I jump through the hoops necessary to get a secure line to Leviathan. He picks up on the first ring.

“Jackal.”

He sounds all excited, the way he usually does when he’s hacked a highly secure server, gotten his hands on government secrets, or cracked a huge database.

“What’s up, whiz kid? What news have you got?”

“So, that data package you sent me turned out to be a treasure trove of information. Remind me again how it fell into your hands.”

I remember the trafficker holding a gun to my head and how Danielle saved me just in the nick of time by knocking him out. Not one of my finest moments, although I enjoyed being undercover with Danielle as Felicity Rogers and Antony Marshall.

Thank god she was there to take him out.

“Danielle and I infiltrated a small trafficking ring and went to an auction here in Athens, all protected by corrupt police. There were people bidding on men, women, and children. Disgusting how human beings are treated like things to own and sell.”

“People can be such assholes. It’s the very reason I prefer computers, for the most part.”

“Anyway, I asked them nicely for the information, and they handed it over.”

“You’re charming, Jackal, but not that charming,” he says with a playfully mocking laugh.

“Oh, you wound me. And here I was, going to tell you the truth about how I broke into their computers using some of the tricks you taught me.”

“Bravo. Well done.”

“So, tell me, what did you find in that collection of data, hacker genius?” I ask impatiently.

“There’s a lot that implicates more people involved, and there are extensive transaction records, both of finances and people. It’s actually a lot to look into, and some things still require more work. I’m still running code on it.”

“The location, you mentioned something of interest?”

“Yes,” he continues excitedly. “What caught my attention was an encrypted part, and I immediately went to work on that. You know how I like puzzles.”

“Yes, you’re almost as good with them as you are with women,” I tease.

Some of Danielle’s afterglow and feisty demeanor have clearly rubbed off on me. Leviathan ignores my comment.

“I found a map with locations, and I used some of the accounting and routing data to establish a web of how they’re all connected. It’s still rudimentary, and I keep adding to it and improving it as more data becomes available. But I think I’ve established a hub.”

“A hub?”

“Yes, there’s a node with a lot of cash flowing in and out of it, and also a lot of what they refer to as product—which is people, I suppose.”

I whistle through my teeth. “Nice job, script kiddie. Where is that place then?”

“Istanbul.”

“Got it.”

“I’ll keep digging through the data and let you know if anything else of significance comes up.”

“Perfect. Good work, Leviathan. Thanks, mate.”

“My pleasure.”

We hang up, and I pull back the sheet, lower my feet to the floor, and get out of bed.

The kid’s excitement has infected me—this is great news.

Just at this moment, Danielle comes out of the bathroom. Steam is wafting around her from the inside, and a few drops of water are standing out on her forehead. She’s slung a towel around her head, but a few strands of her wet and dark hair have escaped it, hanging loosely into her face.

She’s wrapped herself in one of the big hotel towels, but I get a good view of her firm thighs. Just then, I realize, I’m still stark naked myself.

“Hey there,” Danielle says, her voice playing at lasciviousness. “Nice birthday suit.”

My morning wood is gone, but my regular girth is nothing to hide either. I fully embrace the situation and turn to her.

“I just received a message from Leviathan. We’ve got work to do in Istanbul.”

I wave the phone in my hand at her.

The instant change in Dani is astounding, and I’m a little sorry to see the slightly sexual look on her face immediately be replaced by her manner of a professional journalist. She tucks the stray strands of hair back into the towel on her hand and comes over.

“Istanbul?”

“Right. Leviathan analyzed the data we pulled from the computer at the auction. The city is an important hub for the trafficking ring, or possibly even their headquarters of some sorts. All the money and people flowing in and out of there seem to suggest so.”

Her face lights up, and she’s genuinely delighted by the information, like only a true investigative mind can be. I can literally see the gears in her head turning furiously.

“Istanbul isn’t far from here, either!”

“Indeed, and if we want to bust these traffickers, this is most likely the place to do it.”

She’s beaming with excitement. “Good work, Janus!”

“It was Leviathan who extracted the location out of the data we collected, for which you deserve credit as well. You know, saving my arse and all.”

She playfully pinches my ass cheek. “And don’t you forget it.”

“Dani, one thing,” I say, getting all serious. “This could become even more dangerous, and I know that won’t hold you back. But if you want out, now would be the moment to say so.”

She shakes her head vigorously. “No way! I’m with you on this.”

“Okay, I just wanted to have brought it up. I’ll arrange our transport then.”

She places her hand on my chest and runs her hand over my muscles. “Thanks for bringing it up, and for the transport.”

That’s a job for the Eagle.

I finally put on some clothes before calling him up.

“What do you need, Jackal?”

“Transport for two, from Athens to Istanbul.”

“That’s just a short hop over,” he says cheerfully.

“The sooner it happens, the better. It’s important.”

“You got it. Are you bringing any cargo?”

“Just some personal belongings. Nothing grandiose like last time.”

“Understood. Meet me at the hangar, and I’ll make sure we’re cleared to go once you arrive.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

I turn to Danielle. “Time to pack. We’re heading to Turkey.”