the confines of a prison cell, and that had more luxuries than this converted garage.
They walked to Julian’s truck, the scowl still etched on Julian’s face. Finally sitting in the comfort of the air-conditioned cabin, he turned toward Ben. “I know you want to do this on your own, but you’re not living in a cave or another cell.” He pointed out the front window. “That was hell’s portal and that woman was the gatekeeper.”
Ben raised his eyebrows. He had obviously missed most of whatever they had discussed.
“You’re not picking a place where you’re expected to shower and shit in the same spot.”
He couldn’t agree more. “Yes, Dad,” he signed, holding back a grin.
Julian’s eyes narrowed.
“It’s why I wanted to start early,” Ben signed. “I need to know my options so I can budget for it.”
“We’ve told you we’re willing to help.”
Ben nodded. “I know. So is Shaw. But let me…at least try. Please?” He held his hands together, praying Julian would understand.
“Fine. Besides, Matt texted me that lunch is ready whenever we are.”
After binging on carnival food the night before, he wasn’t sure he could stomach another burger anytime soon. “I might have two of those veggie wraps he makes,” he signed.
Julian stared at him and blinked. “Guess that gatekeeper’s out of a job because hell just froze over.”
He playfully shoved Julian as they shared a laugh.
He let his mind run through the checklist of things to do as Julian drove through Sunday traffic. Ben had a month to find a place to stay. The work program didn’t leave much in his pocket to save up for the required first and last months’ rent plus security deposit, but he knew Julian, Matt, and Shaw were willing to help. But Ben wanted to try doing this on his own. Not just to prove it to others, but to himself.
And Gabriel.
Gabriel would likely join that cheerleading squad, but Ben wanted Gabriel’s genuine love. Pure and simple. Not pity and not a love tainted by his innate need to help and protect others. He wanted Gabriel to see him as an equal. As a partner he could lean on and who would be there for him just as he had been there for Ben.
= ♥ =
“Was it necessary to wake me at this hour?” Rachel said with a sigh through the line.
“It’s three o’clock in the afternoon.” Bull cradled the phone on his shoulder as he paced the living room, thumbing through the security logs Anthony had forwarded for Davenport’s main office and satellite locations.
“On a Sunday. My only day off. You should take a hint.”
“Your breach was internal.” He stopped his pacing when she didn’t respond. “Did you hear me?”
“Of course I did. I wanted to spare you the litany of curses. Can you narrow it down?”
He walked over to the kitchen counter and pulled the sheet with the highlighted entry. “Yes and no.”
“Bull—”
“I can’t tell you who it was. But I can tell you they used your login.”
“How certain are you?”
“There was a log in on the Sunday of that weekend you came down. I know it wasn’t you.”
“How?”
“At the time of access, you were sitting in Serg’s chair getting your hair done talking about some fashion whatever thing.”
“Can you see what they accessed?”
“No. I’ve only got the summary reports Anthony sent over to me yesterday. He’s been banging his head for the last month trying to find the breach. If they’re in the system with your access, that’s likely why he couldn’t catch it. IT needs to isolate anything you’ve accessed so you can verify which transactions are actually yours.”
“I’ll call them now.”
“Sorry to ruin your private Sunday.”
Rachel’s sigh filtered through the phone line. “I was actually sleeping. Rafe and I broke up.”
“Sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s fine. The attempt on my life upset him. Deep down, I’m a girl at heart who wants love and attention. Not anger and ultimatums.”
“Maybe it’s because he cared and got scared.”
“Then he should have said that. I need to make a few phone calls. Are you available later for a video conference?”
“Yeah. Just text me the time.” They said their goodbyes and disconnected the call.
Bull grabbed his keys from the dish on the side table and took the elevator down to the garage. He figured the call later would take a few hours while they assessed the damage of the breach, so he had to see Ben before he got tied up on that call.