Page 101 of Tracking Wolfe

As far as the world knew, my cousin was a game designer. A coding geek. But it was a poorly kept secret in the family that he could also hack into whatever the fuck he wanted and get away with nefarious acts.

I’d never asked him to do such a thing for me, and the guilt from it cratered in my stomach, but I knew he would have no issues whatsoever.

I scrambled for my phone, turned the backlight down as far as I could, and texted him with my idea. Except I realized I didn’t want to put the word “hack” on the record.

I need you to um… shit. Like, investigate someone?

I sent that part while trying to figure out how to tell him what I needed. He surprised me by answering right away.

Gabe

Sure thing. Who?

why are you awake rn?

Gabe

Stayed up gaming. Don’t judge.

I think a guy named Jake Mason has some photos of my journal that I need him not to have.

Gabe

Got it.

Could be on his sister Shay’s phone.

Gabe

Consider it handled.

I stared at the text chain and started typing another response.

You’ll let me know when⁠—

Before I could send it, another one flashed up.

Gabe

Done. Anything else?

What? Done? Like… Done?

Gabe

Like all copies have been located and destroyed.

That… wasn’t possible.

I glanced over at Trace to make sure he was deep asleep and then hobbled out of the van to call Gabe, grateful the rain had stopped and the sun was barely beginning to light the sky.

“Hey, stranger,” he said, his slight Southern accent warm and familiar. “Am I gonna see you at Aunt Tilly’s bachelor party?”

“Oh fuck, I hope not,” I said without thinking. “What the hell is that?”

His easy chuckle made its way down the line. “She and the ladies are throwing a big matchmaking party for all of us. And by all of us, I mean you, too. Don’t think you can get out of it. Big gala-type dinner in San Fran in a few weeks. Her goal is to marry all of us off. I’m making Hunter come to it as my date to throw her off the scent.”

I raised an eyebrow, though he couldn’t see me. I had met Gabe’s friend Hunter on several occasions over the years and had watched him flirt with more than one beautiful woman. “I thought Hunter was straight?”