Aiden stared at him. Matt’s offer had caught him off guard. But then Aiden steadied the knife “It’s too late, Condor. You missed your chance. Just give me the laptop.”

Matt thought of all the times he had dismissed Aiden aka Aggroboy’s bragging as all talk and no action. As he stared at the sharp edge of the knife blade, he thought how wrong he had been.

Or had he?

Would Aiden actually use the knife on them? It was two against one. This was typical AggroBoy manipulation. He was a coward. Plain and simple.

“You fooled us all. The best exploit ever,” Matt said, a smile curving his lips. “I take my white hat off to you.”

Aiden’s gaze flickered from the laptop back to Matt. “You have no idea how big this exploit is, Condor. Tr0lz and I are going to fucking blow up this town.”

“Got an even bigger exploit planned?” Matt’s tone was casual. Hacker to hacker. Talking shop.

“Just give me the laptop.” Aiden glared at Joey. The knife did not waver in its target of Matt’s chest.

Joey closed the laptop and jumped to his feet.

“No, Joey.” Matt shook his head, his gaze never leaving Aiden’s. He was not going to watch Leah’s one chance at immunity walk out the door. “We aren’t giving that up until Aiden lets us in on this exploit he’s talking about.”

Anger flashed in Aiden’s eyes. “You think you’re so smart, don’t you? But you’re just as blind as that stupid girl you’re in love with. Tr0lz and me are going to blow up this fucking town. Now give me the laptop,” he commanded Joey. The kid froze, clutching the laptop to his chest as if it were a shield.

“Or what? You’ll stab him? Like you threated to do to Leah before you left her to die?” Matt stuck his face two inches from Aiden’s. He stared into the heavily-lashed eyes that had beguiled Leah.

He didn’t know what she had seen, but he saw a manipulative coward. The rage that had been building in him exploded. “Just try knifing Joey, you bastard!” He gripped Aiden by the throat and slammed him back against the doorframe, pinning the knife against the wall. He tightened his hand on Leah’s lover’s throat. It felt too good. He wanted to smash Aiden’s head against the wall until the smirk left his face.

Aiden shoved his knee hard into Matt’s groin.

Matt screamed, pain stabbing into every nerve. He doubled over, his grip on Aiden’s knife hand slipping.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Joey rush Aiden, throwing his fist. It landed squarely in Aiden’s face. “That’s for my sister!”

Blood spurted in a violent spray of red.