Page 110 of Crave Me
“You’re serious,” Declan says.
“I am,” Evan replies. “But there’s more. Once Hound latches onto the scent, he doesn’t stop. He tracks it back to the original source.” He looks at me. “In this case, it was Bryant’s computer and his electronic devices.”
I don’t move and can barely breathe. “What are you saying?”
“That every image Bryant had of you, including video is destroyed. Hound broke apart the algorithms, downloads, and screenshots on every device connected to, or even remotely associated with the link and graphics. If there’s so much of a trace, Hound sinks his fangs into it and it’s gone.”
“What about everyone else?” Curran asks, shifting his weight forward. “Visitors to the site? Hell, what about another site this asshole could have dumped these pictures on?”
“Any website containing the material and anyone who downloaded any part of the file, Hound found it and devoured it—”
I slap my hands over my face and curl forward, fighting tooth and nail to keep my composure. Evan’s arms wrap around my shoulders as he kisses my temple. “It’s okay,” he whispers.
It’s what he says, but I need to be sure. “So no one . . .”
I don’t finish my question. Evan already knows what I’m asking. “Unless they recorded the image on a separate device by placing a camera in front of the monitor, which is unlikely, it’s gone. Nothing of you remains.”
My breathing is harsh, all the emotions I buried deep are surging forward all at once.
“Why haven’t you released it?” Declan presses, trying to give me a moment to calm. “Publishing companies and recording studios will pay tens of millions for tech this good.”
Evan’s weight lifts off me slightly all the while keeping me cradled against him. “Because in addition to destroying the file, Hound attacks and corrupts the offenders’ entire network, crashing their computers and infecting their databases.”
“So anyone who did download images of Wren,” Curran begins.
“Lost everything on their computer or device when it crashed,” Evan responds without remorse.
I force myself to look up in time to see Curran’s attention shoot toward Declan’s. “He didn’t break the law,” he tells Declan. “Not technically. I mean, it’s malware, yeah, but he didn’t release it with intent to harm, only to protect.” He motions my way. “Those who had their shit destroyed are the same assholes who illegally downloaded the file or stole the images, seeing how Wren didn’t provide consent.”
Declan sits in Tess’s abandoned chair, rubbing his jaw as he thinks things through. “No, at best he’s walking a fine line. The tech he created is too advanced for the current laws surrounding cybercrimes.”
“My legal team concurred as much,” Evan responds.
I almost expect him to smile. Except while this is the best news I could have learned, the revulsion and shock surrounding the incident remains.
“And this?” Declan asks, shaking the baggie in his hand. “How are Bryant’s files and links in here if his devices crashed?”
“In addition to hunting, Hound also retrieves. He brought back all of Bryant’s information prior to dismantling his devices.”
“Why only Bryant’s, because he was the source?” Curran asks.
Evan nods. “Exactly,” he says. “It’s another reason I haven’t marketed Hound. In addition to crashing devices, anyone who used him would have access to countless amounts of private information.”
The room falls quiet. “Did you touch the jump drive?” Declan asks Evan, as if it’s the most important question left.
“No.”
Declan turns to Curran. “If what’s in here, is what I think is in here, we have him—his distributors, his contacts, everything.” He looks at Evan. “Am I right?”
“Yes,” Evan answers.
“Holy shit,” Curran says.
“I don’t want this going back to Evan,” I say, cutting Curran off.
“Why would it?” Declan asks casually. “Ashleigh gave him access to a potentially dangerous link with a file created by a person of interest we’ve been watching closely. His tech searched for malware on the device and this is what he found.” He smirks. “As an outstanding member of the community and law-abiding citizen, he brought it directly to me the D.A., and to Curran, a police officer. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a witness and under our protection.”
“You won’t let anything happen to him?” I ask, my voice quaking over what legal ramifications Evan could face.
“No, and neither will my legal team,” Evan answers for him. “Just as I’ll never let anything happen to you.”