I wake up while it’s still dark outside.

There’s a soreness between my legs that defies anything I’ve ever known. It’s a soreness that can only come from being fucked really well.

Marcus is everything I could want and more. I know it’s dangerous ground to feel this way because it makes me vulnerable to him―but suddenly I’m okay with that.

It’s not typically how I work. I need to have power and autonomy over my life no matter what, but for the moment, I’m glad that I let Marcus into my life. Just a little.

I look over at his sleeping face and body in the darkness of night, and I can’t deny that he’s handsome even now, shrouded in shadow. He’s thoroughly fucked me and made me submit. I’m trying not to let my feelings get involved, but it’s hard not to with him.

That’s why I have to make yet another escape. I can’t let myself fall down the rabbit hole of love and lust for someone I just met.

I have to get out of here before he realizes that I’m awake. Marcus has this charming way of wanting me to stick around. He’ll probably offer me breakfast or coffee or something, and I won’t be able to deny him because he’s startlingly good at having me wrapped around his finger.

That’s not good news for me.

I slide out of bed and gently tiptoe to the bathroom where I can find my clothes and sneak out of here. I splash some cool water on my face, and images of last night keep flashing across my brain.

It was the best sex I’ve ever had. I can definitely see myself becoming addicted to him, and for a moment, I become jealous of all the women he will have in the future that are not me.

This is my final goodbye to him.

I put on my clothes haphazardly and leave his place.

It’ll be good for him to see that I disappeared before he awoke. I can’t have him thinking this will develop into something further. And now, he won’t be able to find me ever again.

It’s so early in the morning that the sun hasn’t even risen. I grab a taxi and make my way downtown to my own little place.

It could have been a walk of shame, but I feel no shame about it. I feel nothing but excitement and happiness about what Marcus and I did last night. Rarely has a guy rocked my world like that.

All I have left are memories of it, and that will have to suffice. I never sleep with a man more than once, lest he finds out my identity.

As soon as I get home, I begin my research.

I make a pot of coffee and then delve into the world of Marcus Layman.

That’s the name he gave me but I can’t be sure if it’s real or fake. Like I said, I never trust anybody, not fully.

It’s an occupational hazard. I’m sure I’m the target of many investigations because of how much money I’ve stolen from the rich.

I look up his organization, and everything looks legit as per the website. There doesn’t seem to be anything fishy or crazy about Marcus. I can’t be sure, but he seems to be fairly clean cut and on the straight.

Maybe Marcus really does want me to work with his organization. Maybe I’m judging him too harshly. But the thing is, activism is not my real work.

I work alone. I like my inner circle that involves other hackers that I only meet online. They have the same beliefs as I do, and they’re also running from the law. So far that’s the only kind of relationship I want in my life.

I sip my coffee and take a break to change my clothes.

I get into my little shower and let the hot water flow over me. As I do so, I realize I’m washing off Marcus...his touch, his kisses, his hands, his essence.

A part of me wishes I never had to shower again. A part of me wishes I could be closer to him, if only for the sex.

I shampoo my short, pixie cut hair and then douse myself with a couple essential oils.

I pull on my satin robe and go back to the task at hand, researching Marcus.

Being at home in front of my computer is where I feel most comfortable. It may not be ideal but this is my lifestyle.

I’m somehow destined to do this work. My brain just thinks in terms of numbers and software and engineering. I’m very good at what I do, and while it may not be legit work, I know I’m bringing at least some good to the world through my efforts.

By stealing money from businesses that I know are corrupt, I have the power to help people that really need it. I’ve sent so much money to different orphanages that really needed it that I know I’ve affected at least some lives in a positive way. Of course, I always make sure my actions are untraceable. And I only keep a little bit of the money for myself, just enough to live on.

If I were as corrupt as some of these banks and stole the money for my personal use, then I’d be a billionaire by now. As it is, I live in a simple apartment, with my only fancy piece of equipment being my computer.

This is why I have to keep people out of my life. I’m an orphan, after all. I have no family to speak of. And in terms of friends or boyfriends, well, if they knew about my lifestyle, they wouldn’t understand it. So it’s better for me to be alone. At least that’s what I tell myself on a daily basis.

I log into the chat room I have with the other hackers. It’s my home away from home.

It’s the only place where I can be honest and open and talk candidly with people about what we do. We’re all in it together. It’s kind of like a pseudo-family.

At least, it’s the closest thing to a family that I’ve ever known.

I lean back in my chair and sip the black coffee, which slowly wakes me up. The sun is inching over the horizon, and I know that soon, people will be awake in the city.

In the chat room, we start to discuss what business we should target next.

Hey, guys, I type. What’s our next target gonna be?

A fellow hacker that goes by the name Dragon168 writes, The heat is still on from the last target. The last bank and the other big companies we shattered are still on guard. I think we need to go for something smaller.

I agree. We don’t want to be too conspicuous. We have to keep this thing tight, I write.

Another hacker named Mia_intrigue types, We have to really plan this out, you guys. The attack should be synchronized. Nothing can go wrong this time. We have the cops looking everywhere for us. In fact, I’m not even sure this is the right time to do another job. What do you think?

It’s the right time, Dragon168 writes. It’s always the right time. We have so many organizations to take down that we can’t afford to wait. No one will catch us. We’ve got Spider5d3r tracking the cops and their every move. We’ll be way ahead of them if they ever even have a clue as to who we are.

I write, I think Dragon is right. We can’t afford to miss this opportunity. I know of an orphanage that’s in dire need of some money. Let’s do it for them. But only if we’re all in it together. Are we?

Enigma16n4 writes, I’m in! I’ll start researching the logistics of how we can take a smaller fish down.

Everyone agrees, and I guess it’s onto our next mission. We always have to wonder about escaping the heat, but it’s usually not a problem. I can escape from jail, after all.

I know my other hacker friends are equally talented. We have nothing to fear.

I log off and, my thoughts naturally go back to Marcus. If only he knew what I really did, I doubt he’d be so interested. He seems like a player, anyway.

I don’t regret sleeping with him, but I do hate the fact that I might be starting to form an attachment to him. This is something I avoid at all costs.

No matter how bad it hurts me, I’m gonna have to keep Marcus at a safe distance by not seeing him. I can’t have him in my life no matter what my emotions are telling me.

There’s no other course of action to take.