Black Hat Hacker (Chicago Syndicate Book 6) Read online

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  CHAPTER 36

  CHAPTER 37

  CHAPTER 38

  CHAPTER 39

  CHAPTER 40

  CHAPTER 41

  CHAPTER 42

  CHAPTER 43

  CHAPTER 44

  CHAPTER 45

  CHAPTER 46

  CHAPTER 47

  CHAPTER 48

  CHAPTER 49

  CHAPTER 50

  EPILOGUE

  Black Hat Hacker

  Chicago Syndicate, Volume 6

  Soraya Naomi

  Published by Soraya Naomi, 2017.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  BLACK HAT HACKER

  First edition. March 28, 2017.

  Copyright © 2017 Soraya Naomi.

  Written by Soraya Naomi.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Black Hat Hacker (Chicago Syndicate, #6)

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  CHAPTER 36

  CHAPTER 37

  CHAPTER 38

  CHAPTER 39

  CHAPTER 40

  CHAPTER 41

  CHAPTER 42

  CHAPTER 43

  CHAPTER 44

  CHAPTER 45

  CHAPTER 46

  CHAPTER 47

  CHAPTER 48

  CHAPTER 49

  CHAPTER 50

  EPILOGUE

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ABOUT THE NOVEL

  Sign up for Soraya Naomi's Mailing List

  “The power of a glance has been so much abused in love stories that it has come to be disbelieved in. Few people dare now to say that two beings have fallen in love because they have looked at each other. Yet it is in this way that love begins, and in this way only.” ~ Victor Hugo, Les Misérables.

  black hat hack·er

  /blak/hat/ˈhakər/

  Noun

  · COMPUTING informal

  A person who attempts to find computer security vulnerabilities and exploit them for personal financial gain or other malicious reasons.

  This differs from white hat hackers, which are security specialists employed to use hacking methods to find security flaws that black hat hackers may exploit.

  Black hat hackers can inflict major damage on both individual computer users and large organizations by stealing or changing personal (financial) information, compromising the security of major systems, or shutting down or altering the function of websites and networks.

  CHAPTER 1

  Mary

  I tuck my brown curls behind my ear as I sneak down the narrow hallway of a dog shelter near my college, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Reaching the end, I open the door of an office and the first thing I notice is what a dump this place is – yellowed wallpaper peeling off the walls, junk everywhere, and a dirty fenced dog cage shoved in the corner. But what’s worse is that there are five Chihuahuas piled together inside of it, some of them hurt with bandages covering their paws.

  “Oh, my god,” I mutter, having no idea what to do next because I’m here all by myself.

  Or at least I think I am until, out of the blue, a hand smothers my mouth and a strong arm hooks around my waist, pulling me against a rock-hard chest.

  Shrieking, I claw at his wrist when a low, controlled voice whispers into my ear, “It’s me. Calm the fuck down.” And I can feel the intense anger radiating from him.

  Recognizing the black leather braided wristband with a silver ring looped into it as he lowers his hand, I relax and turn around, letting out a loaded breath. “You scared the crap out of me, Henry!”

  Since he’s over six feet tall, I come face-to-face with the black spade tattoo peeking out from under the collar of his dress shirt that’s stretched taut over muscled shoulders, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows to expose the Celtic cross tattoo on one forearm.

  When I look up, I meet his vivid yet outraged grey eyes which are streaked with shards of silver, giving his gaze a lethal edge as he stares me down through his black rimmed glasses. His thick hair that’s dark as coal is a flawless, spiked mess, as if he’s been dragging his fingers through the strands.

  “Jesus Christ, Mary! What the fuck are you doing here alone?” Henry barks, and the sharpness in his tone astounds me.

  “I’m alone because I called you earlier tonight to ask you to come with me but you didn’t answer. And when I saw the owner leave half an hour ago – for the first time in days – I knew I didn’t have time to wait. Remember that I told you I heard a rumor on campus about illegal underground dogfights in the Loop? Well, another rumor is that this shelter works with the organizers.”

  He edges closer until he towers over me, clenching his jaw. “I was working. But when I called you back and you didn’t answer, I knew you were up to something.”

  “So how did you find me?”

  “I tracked your phone,” he answers, and I perk a brow.

  “Tracked me? That’s not very nice,” I retort, refusing to back down under his unrelenting glower until he abruptly grabs my arm and tugs me with him down the hall. That’s when I believe I’ve finally pushed him to his limit. He’s warned me over and over not to go on these missions, yet I can’t help myself when I think of those poor, defenseless dogs that are probably being used to rile up other dogs to fight.

  “No, Henry!” I dig my heels into the floor, but he’s much stronger, so I have to yank free from his grip, annoyed at his interference.

  Spinning around to face me, Henry states, “Mary, don’t fucking argue with me on this. Let’s go.”

  He’s never been this incensed with me, but I’m not leaving without freeing these dogs. “Oh, my god! We don’t have time for th
is.”

  “Then I suggest you move your sweet ass.” Arrogantly, he angles his head to the side, warning me not to disobey him.

  Because his commanding behavior slightly intimidates me, I decide on another tactic, asking in a vulnerable voice, “Henry, since you’re here now anyway, couldn’t we free the dogs and drive them to another shelter that can take care of them properly?” Then I place my hands on his warm, solid pecs.

  His breaths coming harder, he shuts his eyes, shielding them from my probing gaze, and after a few agonizing seconds, he relents, “Fine.”

  “Maybe you can hack into his computer, screw up his system for me?” I suggest quickly. “I think the owner is some kind of bookie for these fights.”

  Henry shakes his head slowly, but he seems less mad. “Just hurry up before I change my mind.”

  At that moment, one of the Chihuahuas whimpers in pain, and I run back to the office with the cage as Henry follows me.

  “You said dogs. These are rats,” he accuses from behind me.

  Snickering, since I know he doesn’t share my love for animals, I explain, “They aren’t rats. They’re Chihuahuas.”

  Glancing back at Henry, I pull the lock out to the side, indicating for him to break it. He snatches his handgun, which is equipped with a silencer, from the back waistband of his black jeans as he makes a jerking movement with his head, indicating for me to get behind him. After I step past him, he holds me back to protect me, steadily aiming and releasing one bullet, the destroyed lock trickling onto the ground as just a soft thud resonates off the walls and only one of the animals stirs awake.

  Pulling open the door to the cage, I scoop up the tiniest little mutt, who’s covered in scratches and small enough to fit inside a mug. I check to find that it’s a girl as her round black eyes stare sadly at me, so I hug her gently, ensuring not to hurt her.

  Meanwhile, Henry’s pacing toward the corner of the room where there’s a desk with a computer and stacks of paperwork resting on it.

  As Henry starts up the computer, he sets his gun on the desk.

  “Where are you parked?” I ask. “I have my sister-in-law’s car, but it’s two blocks away.”

  “Around back. In the alley.”

  “Okay, we’ll take yours, so I’ll go ahead and load these five in. I’ll get Cam’s car tomorrow.”

  “No—”

  “We’ll be finished much faster that way. I’ll just run in and out.”

  Henry grunts, not granting permission, but I don’t want him to abort this mission, so I take it as a yes.

  “You come back immediately,” he orders in a tone that leaves no room for argument. “Don’t wait at the car.”

  “Okay.” I nod my chin in the direction of the computer screen. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m screwing with his system as you requested,” he says with a smirk as his long fingers run across the keyboard with controlled accuracy.

  “You’re awesome,” I compliment him before pushing open the door with my back.

  “I do this only for you, Mary,” he responds without looking away from the screen.

  “I know. And I appreciate it.” As I carry out the first two, I’m relieved he didn’t ruin my chance to help these precious little dogs.

  Running back and forth twice into the barely lit street, I arrange the Chihuahuas on the back seat of Henry’s silver sedan as the summer breeze cools my cheeks.

  After closing the car door, I freeze when I see a man prowling toward me. The fat, balding owner of the shelter leaps forward to grab me, but I dive to the side and head for the entrance of the alley.

  “Henry!” I scream as the guy races after me and jumps on me so that I collapse onto my palms and knees, burning my knees through my jeans. “Henry!”

  Fear claws at me while I pray that he heard my shouting. Then the owner lunges on top of my back, flattening me onto my stomach on the dirty asphalt. A rush of air leaves my lungs, and I cry from the agony just as, unexpectedly and lightning fast, he’s ripped off me with a thunderous snarl.

  “Don’t fucking touch her!” Henry bellows, gripping fat guy’s t-shirt and beating the butt of his revolver against his temple.

  Grunting in pain, the attacker punches Henry’s side as I catch my breath and glance around for anything to clock him with. Yet he wrenches free and hurls himself at Henry, causing them to topple backward onto the ground. They wrestle, and the man leaps up, flashing a pistol while Henry’s lying there. However, before he can focus on his target, Henry quickly raises his arm and shoots him in the knee.

  “Argh!” he roars, staggering, but when he attempts to steady his aim, Henry blasts him in the forehead and he drops dead onto the asphalt.

  Freaked out, I scramble to Henry as he sits up and takes off his glasses, putting them in his pocket, and I plant myself astride him. His arms come around my waist as mine circle around his neck, and I find calmness in his caring, solid embrace. I’ve wondered what it would be like to have his powerful arms around me. He’s a tight hugger, and I feel as if he’ll never let go.

  “Fuck!” he grumbles, cupping my jaw and forcing me to look at him. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, I just fell,” I answer.

  On its own volition, my forehead rests against Henry’s while the pad of his thumb strokes my cheek, down to the birthmark above my lip. In turn, my fingertips skim down the side of his face, over the hairs on his unshaven jawline, and we stay like that for a long, hushed moment. The smoldering look I sometimes catch is back in his eyes, and I can feel his bulge between my legs while my mouth hovers an inch above his, almost brushing his lips.

  Then he glances at the attacker, and his gaze slowly cools. He lets out a sigh into the darkness and leans back just enough to put some space between us, stashing his gun in the back of his pants before we stand up.

  Forcefully combing both hands through his hair as the reality of the situation sets in, he spits, “Goddammit, Mary. This is exactly why you can’t go on these missions of yours alone!”

  I tremble and can’t really say anything to defend my actions due to what just happened. And Henry could have been hurt as well; that bothers me. So I concede because his anger affects me. “I’m sorry. I do know it was too dangerous. It was inconsiderate of me.”

  He throws his hands in the air and grinds out, “You always say that and then you go running around by yourself at night again. What if I hadn’t been here?”

  His fuming tone starts to irritate me. “You were here, and stop treating me like a little sister. What’s wrong with you today?”

  He merely tilts his head to the side, pinning his piercing glare on me. “What’s wrong with me? I have to come here to rescue you, and now we need to contact a soldier to dispose of this fucking body, which means your brothers will know. Did you think about that?”

  I bite back my retort since he’s got me there.

  After shooting me another scowl, he takes out his phone to bring it up to his ear. “I need a soldier for clean-up at East Ford Street. Now.” Then he hangs up and marches to his sedan, expecting me to trail him.

  Quietly, I climb into the passenger seat and reach behind me to get the one Chihuahua that’s still awake, setting her in my lap. And with the fresh night’s air blowing through my curls, the adrenaline rush of a few minutes ago lessens. This is my life and I’m not unknown to this kind of violence, so I force myself to put this incident out of my mind for now.

  Henry watches me in an odd manner before shifting the car into drive. “Where do we drop them off?”

  “Here.” Leaning forward, I program the street name into the GPS so Henry can follow the directions to a location only fifteen minutes from the shelter.

  During the short ride, I keep petting the dog as she mewls and gapes at me forlornly. In an instant, I decide, “I’m going to keep this one.”

  Henry glimpses at me sideways, his annoyance still palpable, but I know he’ll calm down eventually.

  “I was afraid of
that,” he comments as his phone chimes in. Grabbing it from his pocket, he shows me the screen and sends me a pointed look. “It’s Adriano.”

  I’ll have some explaining to do to my brother.

  “As I predicted, he knows I ordered a soldier to dispose of a body. We’ve been summoned to Club 7.”

  “Oh, fuck! He’s going to kill me,” I grumble.

  “Probably,” Henry answers, and I make a face as I groan.

  After that, Henry doesn’t have much to say, and I simply watch the skyscrapers go by as we head to our destinations, dropping off all the dogs except my new pet before driving to my brother’s club in the Loop.

  ***

  I have my Chihuahua tucked in my arms while Henry and I careen through the crowd inside the spacious club with a fourteen-foot-high ceiling and a balconied second floor. When we pass the bar, Henry comes to a halt and I bump into him.

  Reaching behind him, he grips the side of my waist as he sneers, “Well, look who’s here: Keano.”

  Instantly, I step back and look toward the end of the bar to view the back of Keano’s blond crew cut.

  “Did you fucking call him?” Henry snarls as Keano spots us and advances in our direction.

  “No,” I whisper, yet Henry doesn’t hear me and faces the bar, waving over a brunette bartender when Keano stops in front of me.

  With both of them there together, for some reason, I notice how much more impressive Henry’s body is compared to Keano’s, even though they’re the same height.

  Keano sends a dirty look to Henry, who casually props his elbow on the bar before scowling at me. Seems like everyone’s mad at me tonight.

  Keano demands, “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you.”

  “I rescued some dogs,” I reply distractedly, fixated on Henry, who tosses back a shot as the bartender leans forward, flashing him her cleavage – her outrageously well-endowed cleavage – and his stare strays to it.

  Ass.

  “Henry, want to play a game of poker with me?” she practically purrs, and I grind my teeth.

  Oftentimes, I have to watch women fall all over themselves to attract his attention, to try to assume the role of being his next conquest. I resist wrinkling my nose as he smiles at her.

  “Jordana, I’d feel bad taking more of your money.” He flirts with her right before my eyes, and I feel the blood draining from my face.