Humor Me (Alpha Four, Book 4)

Humor Me

Alpha Four, Book 4

By

Mia Dymond

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2016 Mia Dymond

Published on Smashwords

Cover photo: Vladimirs Poplavskis|Dreamstime.com

Cover by The Book Nymph, PR

* * *

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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CHAPTER ONE

Too many men, too little time.

Olivia Blackwell, Liv to her friends, giggled as her fingers sped over the computer keyboard, pressing keys to gather information that would allow her to put the wheels of another happy ending in motion.

Not an average dating service, Forever Yours boasted a very exclusive clientele and she worked very hard to keep it that way – exclusive and private. Her clients, elite and successful men and women, utilized her services mainly because she did all the prep work. A licensed psychologist, she screened prospective matches with a fine-tooth comb and then waited for chemistry to do the rest. And, her success rate was admirable.

She pressed several more buttons, confused when her screen suddenly went blank. She frowned and glanced down at the power button on her tower. Green means go. Now even more concerned, she punched a series of letters and then stared in awe as a red square with an ominous message appeared on the screen.

Your secrets are safe with me.

Liv felt the blood drain from her cheeks as she swallowed hard. How did this happen? Her system was supposed to be impenetrable. Although client information in this particular database was coded, she still preferred it not to be shared. Especially because she’d recently added someone who didn’t exactly give her permission.

Working hard to keep panic at bay, she pressed several keys in succession in an attempt to clear the message. Again, the red letters remained embedded in place. She took a deep breath. This was not good – not good at all.

Panic now took a back seat to anger. Someone had a lot of nerve, attempting to breach her confidentiality. She smirked. Attempted, being the operative word.

She released a short huff and leaned back in her chair. There was just no way around this annoyance. She would have to summon help and there was only one person she trusted – one person she knew would get to the bottom of things in mere minutes. Unfortunately, that one person would not be happy to find his name within her database. She twisted her lips to one side while she considered not making the call. After all, with a few simple keystrokes she had the knowledge to wipe the hard drive clean and no one would be the wiser. Yet, that wouldn’t solve anything. If she’d been hacked – and it appeared she had – the thief most likely already possessed the information. She released a soft, relenting sigh.

Time to make the call.

Barricaded in the safety of his office, Captain Beck Thunder Raines leaned back in his chair, folded his arms behind his head, propped his legs on top of his desk, and crossed his ankles as he welcomed the silence around him. He gazed out the window into the lazy Florida evening as he reflected. The last few months had been a whirlwind of activity and he, for one, wouldn’t argue with a reprieve. When he retired from the Army two years ago, he created Alpha Four Investigations as a means of distraction, a vehicle with which to use his skill and to keep him busy and focused. Although business was good, he preferred a little less time in the thick of things.

And then there were the changes to his team.

He took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. Every single one of his guys was now under the influence of a very potent female cocktail; he was the last man standing. He chuckled at that thought, genuinely happy for each of them; ecstatic that they were the ones under the watchful eye of a woman and not him.

Although a certain hot-as-a-firecracker blonde had managed to occupy his thoughts quite a bit lately, he hadn’t succumbed to her womanly wiles. She was a beautiful woman, inside and out, and she tempted him like the devil. Her ocean-blue eyes seemed to peer right into his soul, hypnotizing his libido into cooperation and he utilized every ounce of his self-discipline to keep from surrendering. He had to admit, Olivia Blackwell had an amazing mind. Equipped with both intelligence and a quick wit, she delivered them with a genuinely honey-thickened technique that dared him something fierce.

Damn his sweet tooth.

Buzzing from his cell phone rudely interrupted his thoughts and sent it dancing across the desk. No rest for the wicked. He quickly captured it beneath his palm and then lifted it to his ear.

Raines, he said into the mouthpiece.

Thunder, it’s Liv.

Surprised by the soft, feminine voice on the other end of the line, he lowered his feet and leaned forward to brace his elbows on the desk. She probably called to rope him into another community project. Not that he minded helping out, he just didn’t agree with her reasoning that he needed to get out more.

My calendar is full.

I’m sure, she drawled, but this is important.

He lifted an eyebrow at the sudden distinct note of distress in her voice. He knew from experience that very little rattled this woman – other than rats.

Okay, shoot.

Someone’s hacked my database and unfortunately, your profile is at the top of the list.

***

He typed another command into the computer and then frowned at the verbiage that appeared on the screen. Although this information may be useful, it wasn’t what he expected.

He pressed another series of letters and then waited patiently while the machine cycled through its thinking process. Privately, he was impressed. The firewall he had finally penetrated was sophisticated – obviously, his target wasn’t an amateur. In fact, if it wasn’t for the new superbug he’d received from his contact, he couldn’t have ever gotten in.

He smirked when the processor refused to reveal additional information. Whatever was hidden in the database was locked down good and tight. Either that or there was no more information to be had.

He thought about that possibility for a moment. Was it possible the target kept records in a separate computer? Or maybe used the old-school method of paper? He tilted his head first to one side and then to the other. Anything was possible.

Not his problem; he’d only been recruited to do a job.

He stuck a thumb drive into his computer and then pressed the necessary keys to copy his findings there.

While the files transferred, the lack of information continued to concern him while questions marks assaulted his brain. Who was this target and why couldn’t he access the identity? Not that he needed to know whose database he hacked – in fact, he preferred not to know. He only required that his clients provide an IP address and a very short, very sweet explanation of the expected outcome. Business was business; the less he knew the better, in the event he was questioned.

His contact had given explicit instructions: hack the IP, capture the data, issue a warning, wipe the drive, and leave no footprint. The last demand was given with an unnecessary, indirect warning; he never left evidence of his identity behind but this source caused him to heed the advice. Although they’d only spoken by telephone, he got the impression that failure would put a stamp on his death warrant.

He put both his curiosity and fear to the back of his mind as he unplugged the drive from his computer and tossed it into a nearby, already-addressed envelope. His assignment was now complete and he had several others lined up to occupy his attention.

He reached for the phone beside his computer, accessed the call log, and then pressed the number at the top of the list. His call was answered immediately and again, he followed orders.

"The check is in the mail."

He disconnected, grabbed the envelope, left the building, and dumped both the envelope and the phone into a dumpster on the way out.

CHAPTER TWO

Liv sat behind her desk and grinned as she pressed the button to unlock the outside door of her office building and then focused on the image captured by the security camera above the door.

The man on camera stood over six feet tall – six feet, three inches, to be exact – with a pair of smooth, broad, muscled shoulders and an equally carved set of biceps. A trademark stony expression covered his handsome face while muscle after muscle rippled as he moved to push open the door. Unable to help herself, her grin widened in pure appreciation. Clearly on a mission, this man oozed unmistakable confidence and an undeniable sexy arrogance that caused her blood to heat.

The mountain-of-a-man who entered the reception area like he owned the place would incite the fear of God in most people. The sheer power in his mannerism demanded complete and utter submission with the promise of consequences if his demands weren’t met. Yes, most people were intimidated; she, however, wasn’t the least bit fearful.

His military-regulation, short, brown hair matched the deep, chocolate color of his eyes and she didn’t need to gaze beneath his Aviators to see them intensely narrowed.

She squeezed her eyes closed while a slight shiver traveled the length of her spine and tightened her thighs. Dressed in a light blue, long-sleeved dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows and black jeans that hugged his lower body, he portrayed a mix of casual and professional. Yet underneath that suave, debonair manner, a dedicated soldier crouched in the shadows on full alert, intent on conquering evil at a moment’s notice. No, fear was the furthest emotion from her mind.

Lost in lustful euphoria, she didn’t even realize he stood in the doorway of her office until he cleared his throat.

Her eyes sprung open and she did her best to hide the fact that she’d been gawking like a silly schoolgirl. Hello, Captain Raines.

Good evening.

He stepped in front of her desk and crossed his arms over that magnificent chest, the move tightening his muscles in the process. Her mouth watered and unable to stop it, her gaze moved downward past his equally-tight abdominals and trim waist to his thighs and long legs and then zeroed in on the very impressive bulge under his zipper. Her nipples gave him a standing ovation while desire warmed her blood at least another ten degrees.

Liv?

Hearing her name on his lips did little to suffocate her burning inferno of a body, but she managed to move her gaze to his. She almost groaned in agony to find he now held the sunglasses and his deep, intense gaze penetrated hers.

Yes?

The front door was unlocked.

I buzzed you inside.

Lock it.

She raised an eyebrow at his command but still complied. She wasn’t necessarily doing it for his benefit, she reasoned with herself, she always kept the door locked after hours anyway.

You called me, he prodded.

I did. I’ve been hacked.

He simply nodded and she took the cue to continue.

I’m afraid someone may have more information than I’d prefer about my business.

How the hell did I get in there?

I added you.

You added me to your meat locker?

She rolled her eyes. Relax, Thunder. I didn’t use your name or any of your personal information. You’re simply a number with a list of my observations.

Why?

I had a hunch. She shrugged.

I need more of an explanation than that.

Of course you do. And really, she couldn’t blame him. She just wasn’t ready to confess her reasoning at this exact moment.

Do you really want to discuss the specifics of psychology right now?

Again, his deep gaze bored into hers with a determined stare. She knew from experience this man was used to getting his way and most people gave in under intimidation. Most, that is. She simply met his stare with her own determined one.

No, he said finally. Any ideas about the identity of your hacker?

None.

Any particular reason why?

Millions. It could be anything from a lucky break to an attempt to gather dirt on any one of my clients. I’m just glad someone only hacked this computer.

You have another?

She nodded. I keep a separate laptop to store my full database. That machine is never connected to the Internet.

And you can locate it?

It’s locked in the safe at the Melbourne Palm.

A wave of relief passed over her. Thank goodness for that – her family’s hotel provided excellent security. And, since Thunder already knew that as well, she wasn’t surprised when he didn’t question her knowledge.

How much information do you store inside this program?

A lot of personal observation, she admitted, but no evident personal information. Each client is assigned a code of identity.

Photographs?

She shook her head. No. I keep photos locked in the safe. Honestly, hacking my database is only an aggravation to me. Despite the message, the author didn’t get information other than approximate age and a vague description.

No reference to wealth?

Heavens, no. My clients are wealthy in their own right. They don’t put emphasis on anyone else’s worth.

So, if you don’t get much information from them, how do you match them?

The old fashioned way – a personal meeting.

How do you assure privacy?

I keep a personal suite at the Melbourne Palm. Although she gave him additional information that she was fully aware he already had, she continued anyway. He had a process and she respected it. Between the staff and my parents, privacy is not an issue.

You have quite an operation.

I did, she mumbled.

Have you notified anyone of the breach?

Only you.

Let me take a look.

She stood as he slid one arm of the sunglasses inside the neckline of his t-shirt and then rounded the desk to sit in her chair. His fingers moved rapidly over the keys of her computer keyboard until the message finally disappeared.

How’d you do that?

Skill. He punched several more keys and then paused. There are email addresses attached to these files.

Yes. Each client establishes an address where he or she wants to receive information. They’re instructed to keep it unidentifiable and no revealing information is exchanged online. She released a hard breath. But now, the hacker most likely has the addresses."

You don’t provide the address?

No. The client gives it to me.

I didn’t give you one.

No, I left that field blank on your profile. She sighed. I’ll have to notify all of them.

His cell phone sang from its holder on his belt, giving her a momentary reprieve from his interrogation. He gave it a casual, quick glance and then frowned as he looked back up at her.

Hold that thought. He unsnapped the case, swiped the screen to connect the call and then lifted it to his ear. Raines.

Over his broad shoulders, Liv turned her attention back to the computer screen and moved her gaze over her client profiles, not really concerned until Thunder’s voice took on an altogether different tone. A soft, gentle one.

I always have time for you. Hang on a sec.

Careful not to expose her extreme shock, she watched in awe as he lowered the phone and stood.

I need to take this, he told her as he walked toward the door. I’ll be right back.

Liv sat back in her chair while he closed the door behind him and wondered if she’d really witnessed what she’d just witnessed. The moment he figured out who was on the other end of the line, his shoulders relaxed, his face softened, and