“It wasn’t. I’m good with faces. That’s how I stay alive.”

“And may I ask why you were meeting with a bunch of Russian mobsters?”

“No.” Then he stood up and left the room without another word.

I jumped up and followed him to my front door. When he reached for the handle, I grabbed his arm. “You can’t just leave.”

He stared down at my hand as if surprised by its appearance there. Then he encircled my wrist with his fingers and forcibly removed my hand from his arm. He didn’t hurt me, but we both knew he could’ve if he’d wanted to.

“What about the flash drive?” I asked.

“I can’t help you,” he said then walked out of my house, slamming the door shut in my face.

I was still enraged over my conversation with Alex when Brian Sullivan called. His tone wasn’t as friendly today as it had been earlier in the week. He didn’t even bother with the pleasantries.

“You gave the messenger the wrong flash drive,” he said.

It took me a minute to even realize what he was talking about. “I did? Are you sure?”

“Yes. The thumb drive you gave us didn’t match any of our recovery keys.”

“Sorry. I told you I didn’t know if it was Jonah’s. I guess it wasn’t.”

“No, it was Jonah’s. Or yours. It was filled with photos of you and your baby.”

Shit. I knew he’d be able to check how much memory was used, but I didn’t think he’d be able to actually see what was on it without the password. “Then I’d like it back. I probably—”

“Here’s the curious part, Grace. All of those photos were saved to the drive the day you gave it to us.”

My heart started pounding in my chest. I didn’t realize that’s something someone would be able to check. I thought it would only show the dates the photos were taken like it did on my phone. “Really? How weird.”

“That’s how I know you gave us the wrong drive. By accident, I’m sure.”

“Of course, by accident,” I said even though we both knew that was a lie. “The thing is, Brian, I don’t have any other flash drives.”

“Maybe you should check again,” he said, a hint of menace in his voice. “Just to be sure. It could’ve fallen behind a desk or under a piece of furniture. These things turn up in the strangest places sometimes. Will you do me that favor?”

“Sure.”

“Thank you, Grace. I appreciate it very much.”

“Not a problem. But I can’t do it tonight. I have plans.”

“Tomorrow’s fine,” he said. “I can come over and help you search, if you’d like.”

I did not want Brian Sullivan anywhere near my house. “No, that won’t be necessary.”

“Alright,” Brian said. “Call me when you find it, and I’ll come pick it up.”

“Okay, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up. If Jonah left another flash drive lying around the house, I think I would’ve found it by now.”

“Maybe,” he said. “Maybe not. Text me either way.”

“Will do.” I hesitated, then decided this was a question an innocent person would ask. “By the way, how did you open the flash drive without the recovery key?”

“It took us a while, but eventually we figured out the password.”

“Really? How?” I didn’t think anyone would be able to guess the password I’d given MJ to use.

Brian chuckled. “Using family member’s birthdates in passwords is pretty common, Grace. That’s actually why it took us as long as it did. Jonah knew better.”

Jonah did, but I didn’t. I thought I’d been clever using our birthdates in reverse. I didn’t ask Brian how he knew my and Amelia’s birthdates, and he didn’t offer an explanation.

Chapter 17

I really wanted to cancel my date with Daniel. My thoughts were consumed with Alex’s accusation that Jake was working for the Russian mob. I knew it couldn’t be true. But I also couldn’t come up with a reason why Alex would lie. He gained no advantage that I could see. There had to be a reasonable explanation, but I sure as hell couldn’t figure it out.

I wasn’t worried about Brian Sullivan. I’d text him tomorrow, tell him I’d searched the house again, and I’d found nothing. Even if he was sure I was lying, what was he going to do?

My immediate problem was Daniel. I knew if I tried to cancel, we’d have a fight, and I didn’t have the energy for it. It was easier to take the path of least resistance. We were seeing a movie anyway, so not much conversation would be required. And maybe post-movie sex would relax me.

I should’ve known better than to think it would be that easy.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Grace. I’m very much enjoying our physical relationship.”

“Mmmm,” I murmured. Daniel’s bed was so comfortable. If he’d just stop talking, I could easily fall asleep.

“But I want more.”

I sighed. I’d just had an amazing orgasm and now he was ruining my post-coital bliss. I rolled over to face him. “I don’t mean to be sexist, but isn’t it the woman who’s supposed to want more?”

“That is sexist.”

I laughed. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” Then I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes.

He pushed my head off of him and sat up. “Are you?”

I pulled the sheet around my bare breasts and sat up too. “Yes. I like you. Isn’t it obvious?”

“I know you like sleeping with me. I’m not sure you like anything else about me.”

I sighed. “Now you’re just being ridiculous.”

“Am I? What else do you like doing with me?”

“Did we not just see a movie together? And how many times have we had dinner this week?”

“Yes, you come to my house for dinner and sex. But it’s only ever my house, never yours, and getting information out of you is like pulling teeth.”