“There you are!” Thad’s voice echoed throughout the gym.

It had been two days since Leonard had started talking, but Hal still wanted to get more information out of the guy. He knew it was in there, and he wanted it. Fortunately it seemed he intimidated the man, so he’d been working out down there. His theory was that if Leonard could witness how strong he was, then he would be even more intimidated, which would lead to more talking. The added benefit was if he tired himself out enough, he didn’t dream when he slept—at least, not for a while—so the sexy redhead dreams were banished for a few hours every night.

“Hey!” Hal panted as he jogged on the treadmill.

“There’s something you need to see.”

Thad’s tone made Hal’s stomach clench. Something was wrong. He grabbed the towel and water bottle and followed his brother into the hall.

“What? Don’t want to share with the class?” Leonard’s voice called out as they walked away.

When the door shut behind them, Thad finally explained what was going on. “We received a message from Tony. Looks like the hacker who alerted Cin to Aster’s kidnapping has another message for us.” He pulled up the photo on his phone. “Dem is working on decoding it right now, but it looks like it’s a cry for help.”

“The hacker was the redhead?”

“Robin. Yeah.”

“Shit. I knew we would have to go get her. Didn’t I say it?”

“You mean, didn’t you ask us to help you go get her? Yeah, you did. We just needed more info from the jerk in the cage.”

“You know what I meant.” Hal bristled at Thad’s tone. Sure, he’d asked, and he’d told them about the dreams, but none of that meant anything. She’d saved his life and Thad’s. The least they could do was save hers.

“Oh, I know.” Thad chuckled.

Hal followed his brother upstairs as they went to meet up with Dem. He had a good head for ciphers.

“So another code, huh?” Hal made sure his voice was devoid of emotion as he spoke.

“Yeah. It’s one she’s used previously, so this is easier than the first time.” Dem scratched out the message as he spoke.

Within a few minutes, Dem had decoded the whole thing and demanded the laptop.

“Holy . . .” He let out a low whistle.

“What are we looking at?” Thad leaned over his shoulder, studying the screen. “Is that what I think it is?”

“What is it?” Hal’s patience was wearing thin.

“It’s the research they had been doing at the facility Aster was being held at.”

Hal’s brain shorted out for a moment. If they had lost that data in the fire, then maybe the brothers could use it to get a couple steps ahead of these wackos. His brain launched itself into overactive mode. “What did the message say?”

“It gave the web address and log-in for this site, and something about a charity.” Dem shoved the notepad toward him.

His chicken scratch was hard to read, as always, but thankfully, after centuries of deciphering it, he could at least read it without getting a magnifying glass out now.

I have important information that I can’t put here. Meet me at the CANF gala.

That was all it said, other than the website and log-in information.

Hal didn’t know what to make of it. Did she need rescuing? Was she just passing along more information? Did she even want to leave? The questions bounced around in his mind. With his brothers preoccupied with the data, Hal pulled out his phone. A quick search told him that CANF was an Alzheimer’s charity, and they had an annual charity gala, which was tomorrow night. Of course it was. Things could never be easy. Hal went to buy tickets to the gala. He knew at least a couple of his brothers would go with him.

It was almost completely sold out.

All the lower-priced tickets were gone. It looked like he would be shelling out a cool ten thousand dollars per ticket. The charity would be grateful for the purchased tickets, as it helped their cause, and he would get to save the girl. Seemed like a win-win. Besides, it wasn’t as if he didn’t have the money. He and his brothers were all very comfortable. If they were ever short on cash, they could just sell something they had acquired over the years and they would be fine.

“Who’s coming with me to the gala?”

Dem and Thad both turned and looked at him blankly.

“I just bought three tickets at 10k a piece.”

“I’ll go,” Dem offered, while Thad remained silent.

“Okay, I guess I’ll go bug Alec, then. Oh, and it’s black tie, by the way.”

Dem groaned as Hal left to track down his other brother.

* * *

“Stop fidgeting with your dress.” Randall’s harsh whisper cut through Robin’s sense of embarrassment at what she was wearing.

The emerald green dress was beautiful; she just hated how low cut it was. The long skirt and long sleeves didn’t make up for the neckline that descended past her breasts. She had been advised via a note on her keyboard that morning to report to the spa located in the building.

Her hair and makeup had been done for her, and she hadn’t looked less like herself her entire life. The woman who had curled her hair into vintage Hollywood waves had returned with her to help her into her dress. She had been taped into the dress. Literally. And she was wearing pasties over her nipples that lifted her breasts into a better shape for the dress. Something she didn’t even know existed until a few hours ago. The pearl earrings and heavy gold necklace were just the icing on a crappy situation, and don’t even get her started on her shoes.

She was so far removed from who she was right now, it was as if she was living someone else’s life.

Every time her fingers drifted to her neckline, or to the dual slits in the skirt of the dress, in a subconscious attempt to cover herself, Randall scolded her.

Robin was meant to be his arm candy tonight. While she would admit that she looked decent now that she was all dolled up, she was definitely not comfortable.

He escorted her around the room, picking at canapés while he bid on seemingly random items. She watched him schmooze. He pulled off the charming but humble young CEO effortlessly. The women he spoke with tittered with excitement at his attention, occasionally shooting jealous glares at Robin. She knew they wanted to be in her place, but they didn’t know the half of it. If she could trade with them, she would in a heartbeat.

Randall’s behavior was different from normal, more attentive and jovial. It had taken her a while to figure out what was going on. Robin had the distinct feeling that he thought this was how a woman was supposed to be seduced. That pretty dresses and jewelry and spa treatments would get her into his bed. None of that worked for her. Ever since she’d put it together, though, she could see the excitement bubbling in him. The bounce in his step, the enthusiastic handshakes, and the glances and smiles he showered on her.

Maybe she gave him the wrong impression. Sure, she smiled and talked to people who talked to her, but it wasn’t as if she could tell people she was being held against her will. Technically she wasn’t. She’d signed a contract. She was his employee; it was just a change in the terms of their arrangement.

Her stomach rolled at the thought of how far he was willing to exploit her humanity. She hadn’t wanted to see people murdered. Was that so wrong? Plus, there was her family to think about. Sure, she could escape—this was probably the best opportunity she was going to have—but then her family would pay the price.

“Randall, do you mind if I go get a drink?” She pitched her voice, trying to make sure she sounded as innocent as possible. She really did just want to get a drink, or two. Maybe three.

His eyebrows drew down, as though he was evaluating the flight risk of her going to the bar. It was only when the people he’d been talking to cleared their throats that he seemed to realize how odd this looked.

“Of course not, sweetheart. Could you bring me back a glass of Cabernet?”

“Sure thing.” She smiled, but it felt so forced, she was worried that she looked slightly crazy.

He patted her hand and gave her shoulder a hard squeeze, reminding her of her place. As Robin walked away, she was able to take a deep breath for the first time in what seemed like days. The urge to disappear into the crowd was stronger than she had expected it to be.

Glancing over her shoulder, she found Randall’s eyes on her. He was going to watch her like a hawk. At least, until the crowd swallowed her. She gave him a little smile before turning in the direction of the bar. Skirting the cocktail tables and winding around the groups of people, she finally spotted her target.

The long sleek black surface only had a few openings. Other than that, people were packed around it like the watering hole it was. Robin took her place, and one of the bartenders gave her a nod to let her know he’d seen her. While she waited, she glanced around the room. A steady flow of people passed the tables that ringed the edges of the room, each one displaying items to bid on. In the corners of the room were a few more formal tables where people could sit down and talk, but this wasn’t really that kind of event. Everyone seemed focused on networking and being seen spending money.

“This spot taken?” a deep, melodic voice sounded behind her.

“No—” Robin’s voice broke as she turned to look at the man who had spoken.