“I don’t need a cop slowing me down,” he said, but it lacked teeth.
“Bullshit. You need someone who can move without drawing fire. Someone who can track a ghost, interpret the shit he leaves behind, and see things you’ll miss because you’re too close to it. You need someone who can put a bullet in him in the middle of a busy street if I have to and get away with it.” His eyes narrowed. “But that’s not the only reason,” I added. “I’m not doing this as a cop,” I said quietly. “I’m doing this because I saw your face when you thought he’d found your family. Because I’ve watched you fight every instinct you have to keep them safe. Because I care about what happens to you.” A flicker. The faintest tremor in his breath. “You won’t stop looking over your shoulder unless this ends,” I continued. “And you can’t end it alone.”
Novak glanced between us, expression unreadable, but he stepped back a fraction—just enough space for Doc to answer.
Finally, Alejandro spoke, voice low, scraped raw. “No.”
“Yes.”
“You get hurt,” he said as if it pained him, “that’s on me.”
“Then you’d better keep me alive.” Then I gripped his arm. “I can help you track Raven… There’s something you need to know.”
TWENTY
Alejandro
I can helpyou track Raven… There’s something you need to know.
I snapped back, anger flaring hot and sharp. “Like I said, you’ll slow us down,” I snapped, stepping past him, ready to walk out and take care of Raven myself.
Before I got two steps, Levi shoved me back—hard enough to make me stumble—forcing me into a small room. The door slammed shut behind us, cutting off the sight of Novak standing, watching everything with that cold, impassive expression.
“What the hell is your problem?” Levi growled, crowding me back to the wall. “You think running off alone is going to save anyone? You think that’s going to keep your family safe? I have a way to help you!”
I wanted to fight him. I wanted to break something. But he blocked the door, his eyes locked on mine, fierce and unshakeable. He looked like fire—righteous, burning, his temper sparking off him in waves. He was beautiful like that, all heat and fury aimed at keeping me alive, and it terrified me because I was so fucking scared for my family.
I tried to push off the wall, tried to get past him, but Levi’s hand clamped down on my shoulder—firm, immovable. He pressed me back, holding me there, making me listen whether I wanted to or not. The pressure wasn’t painful, but it cut straight through the frantic storm in my head. My agitation cracked my usual icy calm wide open; every part of me felt too loud, too exposed.
“Stop,” he said, low but steady. “Just stop for one second, Alejandro. Please.” His grip didn’t loosen, but his voice was softer. “I know you’re scared for your family. I know.”
“I want them safe. I need to find Raven and end this again. Because I failed last time, I failed them!” My breath stuttered.
Levi steadied me with sheer force of will, pulling me back from the edge without ever raising his voice. “I promise you I can help.”
I stilled. “How?”
“Are you okay? Will you stop and listen?” he asked carefully.
I finally sagged into his hold. “Fuck.”
He dragged a hand through his hair. “I have… people. A team that works off the books—nothing to do with my day job. We call it the Cave. Hackers and investigators who…” He paused. “Fuck, we work in the shadows, but we can find Raven.”
“You trust this Cave?” I asked.
“With my life,” Levi said. “And with yours—and your family’s too.” He pressed a kiss to my lips, and the noise in my head silenced. He moved back then, opened the door, gestured for Novak to join us, then closed the door again, opening his phone and tapping his ear. “Caleb?”
Before I could push for more, the phone pinged. A man’s voice filled the room a second later from the speaker. “Already on it, Levi. Pulled street surveillance near you. I’ve got someone on a camera half a block down from Doc’s house, timestamped a couple hours back—tall, dark coat, moving as if he owns thestreet, and I’ve isolated the best image we have. Is this your man?”
A photo appeared on the small screen, and I peered closely.
My blood froze. “Raven. That’s him.” My voice was flat, dead. The boy inside me—the one who’d watched Raven carve people apart—curled tight in my chest.
“Sit tight,” Caleb said. “I’ll come back once I have more.”
“Thanks, Caleb,” Levi said.
Sit tight.
