I can’t fully process everything that happened because it pulls the rug from under my feet. I stare at Doug with wide eyes.
“Could she be the one who killed Jared?” I ask. “That she did everything else to come close to me?”
She was in my home.
I invited her to my home. I thought—goddamnit, what did I even think?
I know why I made it my number one rule to never bring anyone home or engage beyond the contract.
“I don’t know, but my gut tells me no,” Doug says. “She could’ve killed you on so many occasions, it seems unlikely.”
“Many things seemed unlikely,” I say coldly. “Yet, here we are.”
He huffs in agreement.
“Do you know where she is?” I ask as I watch the video again.
“Not anymore. Not even Zeus does. I am sure she burned the cover.”
“Why didn’t you stop her?”
“I tried, but shooting her on an open street seemed not the right measure at the time.”
I frown. I don’t even ask myself what I would’ve done, because I know exactly what. I would’ve put a bullet in her head without blinking.
“Find her,” I say coldly.
“And then what?”
“Then I am going to kill her for lying and betraying me.”
I am not one to be hurt or feel any psychological pain, but right now, I do. And she’ll pay for it, whoever and wherever she is. The thought of it is the only thing keeping me in check right now.
Doug cocks an eyebrow, but I ignore him.
The conversation is hereby ended.
I spent the entire day rethinking every conversation I had withElla. Each memory intensifies my anger, making my skin feel like it's on fire. How could I have been so careless and foolish?
Doctors and nurses fuss over me, and at some point, I order them out harshly. Doug has no new information, except for feral media speculations and that he’s following a lead on a group called the Lords, something Ella had told him, apparently. She’s everywhere, and I can’t escape my thoughts. Restlessness makes it impossible to stay in my bed any longer.
On day six, I am leaving the hospital against medical advice, but I can’t deal with being stuck here any longer. My wound isn’t leaking anymore, and I feel less jittery now. As far as wounds resulting from a gunshot go, I was very lucky.
I also have responsibilities, a company to manage, and the task of finding the people who are after me. I'm advised to slow down, but Doug and I both know that advice will be ignored altogether.
Being back home does not feel as satisfying as I hoped. Doug set up my living room with an adjustable armchair. It’s not exactly my taste, but I can live with it for the time being, except when I look up and see the wall Ella forced me into.
Every time I see it, my body immediately reacts with a flashback, something that is driving me nuts. I need to find her, and when I do, I’ll make sure she’s out of my head forever.
“Tell me exactly what steps you took to locate her,” I order Doug. He tells me of the Zeus searches, CCTV footage, and log tracking, but all inquiries hit dead ends. Knowing how skilled Doug is only grows my frustration. With all the resources I have, the full force of a government surveillance system, an AI that analyzes every movement behind me, and I can’t find her.
I am spending two more days reviewing all the footage and traces related to her. I also revisit all our materials concerning Jared’s death. Additionally, I rewatch security footage from around the time of his death, both from his home and the company.
I watch that hooker write her number on the wall when my chest rumbles, and I freeze.
I zoom in.
Those hands. The way she holds the pen.
