Connor stood in the doorway of the company jet, watching Sophie approach across the tarmac. He had flown back to Hilo from Oahu after meeting with Security Solutions department heads and reviewing quarterly statements. He’d already done a run around the rim of Kilauea Volcano, just to get the kinks worked out from all that sitting, and now, he savored the sight of Sophie walking toward him in one of her Mary Watson dresses.

Sophie’s legs had a beautiful line revealed by the dress. The sunset gleamed on her golden skin, the well-turned definition of her arms. She’d always reminded him of a human equivalent of his Doberman: sleek, graceful muscle, and elegant proportions.

Connor had spent weeks alone with Sophie on his private island as she recovered from her ordeal on the lava flow and awaited the Chang trial. His dog, Anubis, was good company at his private paradise, but far from enough—he’d missed Sophie acutely, and it had been hell trying to keep busy since he’d seen her last.

Trying to keep from watching her through various surveillance channels. Trying not to imagine her in bed with Jake.

There was a little more spring in Sophie’s step than he remembered seeing since the bomb went off on Oahu. He hated to even imagine how close she’d come to dying that day.

Connor was trying to protect Sophie any way he could—but discovering that Akane Chang had escaped was a major complication.

Akane was wily, staying off the grid and out of sight. Other than a few facial recognition pings from Oahu street cameras and at the Honolulu Airport, Connor had not been able to find any trace of him.

Now they needed to move forward with Sophie’s involvement with the Yām Khûmkạn, Thailand’s shadowy, cultlike spy agency.

Sophie ascended the jet’s steps and greeted him. “You could have come to meet with me at the office downtown, now that I’ve told Jake we’re working on a special project.”

“I prefer the increased privacy and security here on the plane.” Connor’s body tightened as Sophie slid by him into the interior of the plane’s main area. She seated herself at the built-in dinette table and unfolded a small tablet produced from her backpack.

Connor picked up his own tablet and joined her.

“What’s the plan?” Her eyes were down, her fingers flying as she launched an app.

“Our next step is to set up a meet with Pim Wat.” He blew out a breath. “I’ve been trying to locate Akane Chang, but I can’t get a solid lead on him.”

“That son of a goiter-riddled goat!” Sophie glared up at him, clearly enraged at Akane’s escape. “That maniac needs to die. Did you find out how he got loose?”

“Classic insider breakout. He’s being hidden by Chang connections somewhere in Honolulu, I think. However, I’ve heard there’s a shake-up happening in the Chang empire. Terence Chang is stepping up to lead the family, and he’s no friend of Akane. I’m sitting tight for now and watching what happens. Maybe Pim Wat might be interested in doing something about him.”

“What do you mean?” Sophie’s golden-brown eyes narrowed. “Are you suggesting that I manipulate my mother into killing someone for me?”

Connor tapped his chin with the finger. “A crude way of putting it, but yes. People like Pim Wat have their uses.”

“Spoken like the Ghost.” Sophie snorted. “I’ll fight my own battles, thank you very much. I will contact her after our discussion, though. Should I wear a camera or recording device? What do you think the CIA is going to want from us?”

“From my talks with them, they will want to monitor all interactions. I don’t know whether you will be searched by Pim Wat or her team, though. I wouldn’t want you to take the risk of going in with a wire or other recording device until she trusts you. And you want her trust, need it really. We will set up the meet in a public area where I can video and record your conversation. I have a location picked out. I will transmit the intel to the CIA if they require it.”

“I already know that Pim Wat wants me to go to Thailand to do the programming for the Yām Khûmkạn. It’s a setup; I won’t do it.”

“Agreed. That woman cannot be trusted, even though she is your mother. Tell her that you have a secure location from which you can access and work on her computer systems. You don’t need to go anywhere, and you shouldn’t.”

“And where would that secure location be, exactly?” Sophie cocked her head. “I don’t have anywhere secure enough to deploy programs like DAVID currently, let alone a place to tinker with Thailand’s government’s black ops software.”

“I’ve already sent workmen to the Security Solutions extension office to put in state-of-the-art rigs and load them with top-end encryption and multiple VPN routing capabilities. We’re making that third office into a computer room, and we’ll increase the security of the office location at the same time.”

Sophie smiled. “That is most thoughtful of you, Connor. I can always count on you to anticipate what I need.”

The compliment lit something inside of Connor, expanding his chest painfully. His heart rate sped up, but he concealed his reaction as he gave a brief nod. “Make the call to Pim Wat. I’ve got you covered with a location for the meet, and everything you need to stay safe. Set it for tomorrow morning.”