The Hacker

"I'm on your side, I promise," (3)

Brynne loved him and she would prefer loving him until her last day.

—that's why she had to do this.

But first, she promised herself she would meet with her mother. If she could fix whatever was wrong between them, then she could focus on Micah's relationship with his father.

—also, she wouldn't be a hypocrite for wanting him to fix his relationship with his father.

Lauren was sitting alone by the window in one of Brynne's favorite cafes. She stared out of the window the whole time Brynne stood across the street. Lauren didn't see her but Brynne could see her. She stood across the street for what felt like half an hour; contemplating whether or not she actually wanted to speak to her again.

How would they even begin to mend what was never there?

Brynne basically grew up without a mother. Sure, Julia was always there but she was never the affectionate type. She would just always criticize and make sure Brynne did her chores. It was never the mother-daughter relationship she saw her best friend Carla have with her mother.

Nevertheless, she took a deep breath and crossed the street. Lauren greeted her with a smile and gave her a one sided hug. Brynne didn't return the hug but it was nice of her at least.

"Thank you for meeting with me, I can imagine how hard it must be,"

"Yeah, I guess so,"

"So, I know we didn't end things so great the last time but I was hoping we could start over," she played with her coffee cup.

"Why now?"

Lauren shifted in her seat a little before replying, "the days after you left... every time I would look at my two girls, I remember that you were that age when I left and now it would kill me to leave them... to have them wonder what they did wrong for me to leave and that must be exactly what you went through. I want to apologize and maybe build something."

"So, you're only here because you feel sorry for me?" Brynne raised an eyebrow.

"No, I'm here because for the time that I was gone, I can't imagine what you've been through," Lauren reached across the table to put her hand on Brynne's own— but Brynne immediately withdrew her hand.

"If you're implying that I've suffered without you, then you can walk out that door. I spent my life with little to no memory of you. My father made sure I needed nothing. I had a hard time with what people were saying, yes, but I've developed a thick skin because of my father while you were off creating a new family,"

Lauren sighed and leaned back in her chair. "We will never move forward with this mentality. I'm reaching out, Brynne. I need you to do the same,"

"Why do you want this so badly? What's in it for you?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Are you being serious? There's nothing in this but my need to reconnect with my daughter,"

"Oh, so I'm your family now?"

"This was a mistake," Lauren grabbed her coat and purse before standing.

"Yes, it was," Brynne folded her arms and looked away from her. She felt her defenses build up but she couldn't do anything to stop it. It happened so suddenly and now her mother was gone and she was left in the cafe with tears pooling in her eyes.

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"How is it that he lived here for seven years and no one recognizes him?" Amira scowled before throwing back a shot of whiskey.

They sat in a pub just down the road from their B&B, called Cock Inn. It was four in the afternoon and the pub was a little crowded. Kai has ordered a few beers and some shots to try and lighten the mood after a bad day.

"To be fair, the photo you have of him was from seven years ago. The Tom we saw was different... but still looked the same to us. If that made sense," he sipped his beer.

"Yeah, well, forgive me for not having recent pictures of my dead ex-boyfriend," she took another shot.

Kai now realized that Amira was a little bit more outspoken when she was buzzed. She had taken at least five shots since they've been here.

"We'll find them, Amira. No good investigation has ever been solved in one day," he said while watching her take another shot. "Should you be drinking so much?"

"Who knows... at least I won't need help sleeping tonight," she raised the last shot glass to him before drinking it.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, I need more shots," she tried to stand but ended up stumbling.

Kai managed to help her sit back down in her chair before she completely fell. "How about some water instead? I'll go and you stay right here."

Amira nodded while he quickly went to the bar for a bottle of water.

—but before he could come back, someone sat down in the third chair at their table. Amira looked up and saw an Asian man with dark hair, chiseled jawline and very soft looking lips. She wanted to ask if he was Korean but she didn't want to be wrong and offend him.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

He's very handsome... she thought. And young... maybe twenty five...

"Actually, it's you who could use my help," he smirked at her.

Even though she had heard her fair share of English accents throughout the day, his accent captured her the most.

"I'm sorry?"

"You're looking for Paul, aren't you?"

Amira could only stare at him wide-eyed. She didn't dare say a word just yet. Tom's words just before he died came rushing back and she feared that this was one of those people who would avenge his death.

It was then she saw Kai behind the man. He placed his hand on his shoulder and by the looks of how the stranger straightened his back; Amira was sure Kai had strategically pointed his gun in the man's back.

"Is there a problem here?" Kai softly asked; hoping not to alert the other patrons of the pub.

"I'm on your side, I promise,"

"How do you know us?" Amira asked.

"It's honestly not that hard to find out,"

"Answer her," Kai demanded.

"It's a small town... I heard you guys asking for Tom and Paul. That alone tickled my fancy because I happen to have a personal vendetta with Paul Davis." He looked up at Kai then over to Amira. "Like I said, we're on the same team,"

"Who the hell are you?"

The man paused before giving her a little smirk, "You can call me The Hacker,"

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Hello Guys! Thank you so much for reading!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

xx