I don’t want her involved because if this all goes south, she risks jail time, too. But I understand why she wants to assist, and I’ve never been more grateful for a friend like her.
“Talk to Dec for me. Take him out for a drink.” If there’s one thing Ella is good at, it’s listening, and Declan will probably need someone to talk to after what happened with Owen. In fact, I’m counting on it.
Ella nods and beams at me. “Done.”
With our next tasks set up, I head for the door again. “Time to pay Peyton Radd a visit and find our rat.”
Chapter 30
“Ican’t find him,” Noah tells me at the cafe in the lobby of Regenerative Industries.
I can’t help the frown and lick of frustration creeping up my spine.
Noah’s face falls. “We know when Peyton checked out of the hotel. We’re following every lead we have.”
Running a hand through my hair, I drop into one of the empty chairs at the cafe. No one is around. After the news of Owen’s arrest, it’s been eerily quiet.
When I still don’t say anything, Noah pulls out the chair across from me and sits. “Wewillfind him, Nova. In the meantime, is there any other way to get the information you need?”
I suck in a deep breath, willing my racing mind to slow down. “There’s one.”
Noah’s eyes narrow, and even his usually cheery mouth turns downward. “You mean Owen?”
I nod without looking at him. “I never got the whole story from him. We skated around the truth. I suspect he knows more than he ever told me. More than he told anyone.”
Noah’s frown doesn’t disappear as he leans forward, reaching for my hand. “You up for that conversation?”
Meeting his eyes, I let him cover my hand with his own. “No. But what choice do I have?”
Noah pats my hand and pulls away. “You’re going to tell him everything, too?”
It isn’t really a question. He knows the answer, and so do I, but I nod anyway. “I have to.”
“You ready?”
I snort. “No.”
Noah pauses and studies my face for a few moments. “He’s a good guy, Nova. I wouldn’t underestimate him. He knows you, too. It won’t change anything between you.”
My eyes widen, and I shake my head. He can’t be serious.
“It changes everything, Noah,” I whisper.
You can’t love someone if you don’t truly know them. You can’t build a relationship on lies. And when the truth finally comes out, which it always does, everything crumbles. I knew this from the beginning, and yet…I couldn’t help myself.
Noah’s eyes crinkle in the corners. His concern for me is written all over his face. “Was it worth it?”
His question throws me, and I tilt my head. I don’t speak right away, though I’ve known the answer for a long time.
“Yes.”
My heart is racing while I check in at the correctional facility where Owen is being held. With shaking hands, I’m barely able to sign my name on the extensive forms they make me fill out.
I’ve been going over and over what I want to say to him. What I want to start with. But I’m still terrified. Not of what I have to say, but becauseof what I know will be waiting for me. The betrayal, the lies, and—most terrifying of all—a broken man.
The guard walks me through the security gates and down a long hallway filled with prisoners, some of whom I put behind those bars. Most sneer and shout as my red heels click along the tiled floor. I ignore them, keeping my gaze forward and my hands in fists. Clammy sweat builds on my palms but don’t wipe it away.
The guard opens a private meeting room door. Because of my CIA status, the private meeting was easy to procure.
