Avery Ryan Csi: Cyber Novels & Stories

“He’s not. Aris walked away from everything. He hates what his brother became. I trust him. And we need him, Bella.” Ryan didn’t waste time. He started digging through old contacts, dark web rumors, hidden networks, just anything that could lead them to Aris. It wasn’t easy. It took days, maybe weeks, chasing digital ghosts and hitting dead ends. Then, finally, Ryan found a small digital trail that led to a remote, high-tech lab hidden deep in the Pacific Northwest.

He wanted them to drink something hot, refuel, and give their bodies time to recover. The shelter had a coffee machine and real beans. Scarlett poured Barbara a cappuccino. Keira took an Americano. Cyrus crossed one leg over the other and spoke as if they were discussing weekend chores. "Babs, network security is yours from now on. That work for you?" Cyrus knew nothing about computers. He was barely better than Scarlett and Zoey. Put him in front of a real hacker, and he would get dismantled in minutes. That was how Dorian had stolen everything tied to his identity.

Ryan was the CEO of an power company and it was my first day to be one of his assistants, he already had two others but one was leaving soon and I was his replacement, I was feeling so nervous, Ryan was one of the most powerful men in the world. My hands was sweating and shacking, well my whole body was sweating, I needed to pull myself together, I’ve only just arrived to the building, haven’t even started the day yet, I quickly ran to the loo to just dry my armpits under the hand dryer.

That was a whole new level of risk. “Why should I trust you?” I asked, my voice low and cautious. “You’ve been hunting me for months. Now you’re asking for my help? How do I know this isn’t some twisted way to get me to incriminate myself?” Ryan exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over her face. “I get it. You have no reason to trust me. But I’m not here as a cop tonight. I’m here as someone who’s desperate to stop something bigger than both of us. I’ve seen the files your people leaked to the FBI. I know what Richter was doing — what he was part of. And I know you killed him because you saw the same evil I did.”

I had work to do. Across the desk, Jenna, the analyst from the train heist case, tapped at her laptop, her glasses slipping down her nose, her fingers flying. She’d come with me to D.C., along with three other agents—Malik, Dorin, and Torres—all unaware of the suspicions brewing in my head. I kept my voice low, leaning toward her. “Jenna, I think Ryan’s tied to these murders. Him and Hayes. It’s clear that something’s off with Ryan’s desperado to keep me out, and Hayes… he’s too clean, too untouchable.”

After some time I speak up impatiently. “Any updates yet?” I asked, “Not yet sir,” he replies “I’m still trying to hack into the tracker’s signal. It’s encrypted but I should be able to crack it soon,” he assures. I nodded and left him to do his thing while Ryan watch him closely. I’m sure Ryan is wondering who he is because I’ve never spoken about him he’s a private investigator for a reason, but one thing I like him for is, he will never ask unnecessary questions or things I don’t tell him.

Twice. Daniel handed Ryan a bottle of water and then gave him space, sitting on the edge of a faded armchair. Ryan lowered himself onto the couch like he was afraid it might collapse beneath him. Chris turned from the window. “I’ll stay up. You should rest.” “I can’t,” Ryan whispered. “I can’t sleep knowing he has it.” Daniel leaned forward. “Ryan. We’ll find a way to get it back.” Ryan looked up at him. “What if he posts it online? What if he already has? My whole life is in there.”

“You’re disgusting.” “Maybe,” he said with a shrug. “But I’ve got the evidence. Pictures. Videos. A witness statement. You name it. I hand it over to the right people, and you’ll spend the rest of your life behind bars. Or worse, Aries and Adrien find out. How do you think they’d react, Delight? Knowing you killed Rochelle?” I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. “You’re bluffing.” Ryan laughed. “Am I? Because I have everything I need to bury you. But…” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a USB drive, holding it up like a trophy. “This can all disappear—for the right price.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, his presence immediately grounding me. After hanging up, I tossed my phone aside and buried my face in my hands. "This is a total disaster." Ryan's arm wrapped around my shoulders, his steady strength calming my frayed nerves. "Let me help you." "How?" I looked up at him. "Your involvement will just make everyone say I'm hiding behind my powerful husband." "Not if we play this smart." His jaw was set in that determined way I'd come to recognize, his protective instincts kicking into high gear. "Blackwood Industries has one of the best digital forensics teams in the country."

“It’s noticed it a few days ago, and today felt worse.” “Give me a few minutes. I’ll be there,” he said without hesitation before ending the call. I stayed on the couch, pulling the blanket over my legs. Aaron was a cyber expert. If anyone could figure this out, it was him.