Page 125 of Power
“Show me.”
He went searching for the thread, but couldn’t find it. “Sometimes they’re removed,” he explained. “It was written by Inferno531.”
She pulled the laptop closer, read several of the threads. “Such hate out there. Why can’t we all get along?”
He pressed his mouth to her ear. “What would I do in my spare time if I’m not taking out the bad actors?”
Her breath hitched.
He loved how she responded to him, and he didn’t give a damn that he wasn’t being professional. He hadn’t felt this way in a long, long time.
“Have dinner with me,” he murmured.
“A working dinner?”
“If that gets you to a ‘yes’, then yes, a working dinner.”
“I’ll think about it.”
He liked watching her work, her fingers flying over the keyboard, her attention laser-focused.
“Luciano, work,” she scolded.
“Sì, signora capo,” he said. “Yes, boss lady.”
A smile lifted the corners of her mouth, but she said nothing more. They worked until someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Luciano said.
Providence entered with a large, brown bag. “Lunch, courtesy of Mama Maria’s.”
“Thank you.” Luciano pulled out his wallet.
“It’s on ALPHA.” Providence set down the bag. “Most of us are heading out and will be working from home. Red, I feel like the team’s abandoning you on your first day. If you need anything, please call.”
Simone nodded. “It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it’s great to be back.”
“Are you finding your way around ALPHAnet okay?” Providence asked.
“No problem.”
Providence regarded them. “I’m a phone call away, but I know you two are going to rock this.”
“Absolutely,” Simone replied. “I’ll keep you posted.”
In the doorway, Providence said, “Luciano, do you have an ALPHA SUV?”
“Hawk jacked up my Range Rover to ALPHA specs,” he replied. “I’ll make sure the hangar door is closed.”
On a nod, she wished them luck and shut the door.
“We don’t need luck,” he said.
“No, we don’t,” Simone replied. “We need grit?—”
“Cunning and ruthlessness,” he bit out. “We need to flush out this monster and rip his heart out of his chest.”
“Then, shove it down his throat,” she replied.
