04:32 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> Why do you ask?

04:33 <T0x1cwrath> Shut it down.

My mouth went dry and I felt myself getting angry.

04:34 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> This was your idea. I’ve gotten a lot of useful information.

04:34 <T0x1cwrath> He’s there, isn’t he?

I felt a cold chill go down my spine. I couldn’t help but look around the room, feeling suddenly very exposed.

Toxicwrath was guessing, but I felt as though I were being watched.

04:35 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> This plan has proven successful. I’m being careful.

04:36 <T0x1cwrath> We don’t need him anymore.

But I did.

04:37 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> This isn’t up for discussion. You can’t dictate this part of the plan.

Clearly Toxicwrath needed to be put in his place. He wasn’t the one calling the shots.

Our roles were getting confused. I was the boss. Not him.

04:38 <T0x1cwrath> It’s become personal.

Again I felt disturbed. Too many things had happened in the last twenty-four hours to throw me off balance.

Mason. Kyle. Now this.

04:40 <T0x1cwrath> We’re both on the line. What you do affects us both. If you can’t keep it objective, then there’s no use for him. He’s become a liability. Shut it down.

I didn’t like being told what to do. Not by anyone. Definitely not by my anonymous partner.

04:41 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> Trust me. I have it under control.

I saw new words come up on the screen and I felt ill.

04:42 <T0x1cwrath> In the chaos you have to find calm. I think this agent is messing with your head.

I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

04:42 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> Rose?

04:43 <T0x1cwrath> Excuse me?

I didn’t type anything right away. It had to be a coincidence.

Or maybe it wasn’t.

04:45 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> Who are you?

04:45 <T0x1cwrath> Who are you?

I wouldn’t be put off. The coincidence was too much. And after everything lately, I had to be sure.

04:46 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> If you’re just here to mess with me, tell me. If this is Rose, now is the time to tell me. I won’t be led around like a fool.

04:47 <T0x1cwrath> I’m not Rose. I don’t question your identity. Don’t question mine. You may be queen, but that doesn’t allow you to demand answers you have no right to be given.

I didn’t trust Rose. But I had learned to trust Toxicwrath. Could they be one and the same? Was that why Rose was back in my life? Because she had infiltrated my cyberworld as well?

04:48 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> Why Key West?

I should have asked it from the beginning. Why hadn’t I?

My heart slammed in my chest. I could hear Mason moving around in the bedroom. He had stopped snoring. Was he awake? I should close down my computer. I couldn’t risk him seeing what I was doing.

But I needed Toxicwrath to answer my question.

04:49 <T0x1cwrath> Why are you asking about this? Are you having second thoughts about Virtuant? I need to know now. Everything is planned and ready. If you can’t go through with it, now is the time to say something.

Was I backing out?

Maybe I should.

04:50 <T0x1cwrath> I’m not Rose. You don’t need to doubt me. We’re in this together. I have as much to lose if this goes south as you do.

“Hannah?” Mason’s voice drifted down the hallway.

04:51 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> I have to go.

“I’ll just be a second,” I called back.

04:52 <T0x1cwrath> Are we still on? I can’t do this without you. You’re the best there is. No one else can take Douglas Howard down.

He was stroking my ego again. Did I trust him?

Did I trust anything anymore?

Lines were starting to blur. I was losing track of my original purpose.

04:53 <Freed0m0v3rdr1v3> Yes. We’re still on.

“What are you doing up?” Mason appeared in the kitchen looking groggy. It was still dark; the only light was the glow of the computer screen.

I quickly shut down my chat window and closed my laptop, getting to my feet.

I crossed the room to him and put my arms around his waist. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“It was my snoring, wasn’t it?” Mason sighed, running a hand over his sleepy face. He was wearing only his boxer shorts. He looked exhausted and sort of adorable.

“No, it wasn’t your snoring. Though you do sound a bit like a chain saw,” I teased. Mason kissed my forehead, holding me close.

“It’s cold out here. Come back to bed.” He rubbed his hands up and down my bare arms.

“I hadn’t noticed,” I said, now feeling the chill.

Mason glanced at my computer. “What were you doing?”

I shrugged. “Reading BuzzFeed. Did you know that I’m most like Hermione from Harry Potter? Those quizzes reveal so much,” I deadpanned.

Mason chuckled, tucking me under his arm as we walked back to my bedroom. “I can see it. You’ve got the whole hot, brainy thing going on.”

We got back into bed, snuggling underneath the covers. I couldn’t remember the last time I had shared a bed with someone. It felt strange having Mason’s heat and smell all over my sheets. Sleeping next to someone else took some getting used to. I couldn’t work out which side I should lie on. Should I face Mason, or should I face the wall?

I found out quickly that I wasn’t the kind of woman who liked to sleep pressed up against someone else. I needed my space. Mason, on the other hand, wanted to spoon.

But aside from all that, the soft sound of Mason’s breathing as I went to sleep was comforting. Pleasurable in a way that I hadn’t expected.

My cheek was pressed against Mason’s chest; his hand was heavy on my back. “I need to leave soon,” he said. I could feel the vibration of his voice beneath my skin.

“I know.” I sounded sad. And I was. I liked having him here. In my space.

“But I’ll see you tonight. When you come by to pick me up to go see Charlotte,” he went on.

Yes.

The root kit was ready. The thumb drive was safe in my purse.

Today would be the day.

I tried not to be nervous, but I was. This could be the point when it all went wrong.

I felt his lips in my hair and I wanted to relax against him. But I was too wired thinking about the precarious situation I found myself in.