No, he didn’t hurt her physically. But he assaulted her, just the same. Recording her without permission, stealing her house key so he could sneak into her apartment and plant fucking cameras inside, harassing her, streaming that damn video of her changing at her new job, destroying her career and forcing her out of her home because she didn’t feel safe…
And really, if I’m going to get technical about it, hedidhurt her. If not for the photo he sent while she was crossing the street, Noelle wouldn’t have frozen in the middle of the intersection. If not for that video at the diner, she wouldn’t have cut her hand on the broken glass.
That’s not even taking into account the emotional toll all this has taken on her. I don’t think I’ll ever forget Noelle crying in my arms after I had to tell her about Indy’s discovery at her apartment. Her broken sobs are etched into my memory, alongwith her asking me tearfully, “Will this ever end? I’m not sure how much more I can take.”
My answer?
I’m putting a stop to this. And I don’t care what it takes.
That’s why we’re driving through Slabtown at one o’clock in the morning, only minutes away from Ken Donaldson’s apartment.
That’s why Tyler just hacked into the building security, so we can sneak inside, just like Noelle’s piece of shit boss did to her.
And that’s why I’m going tomakeDonaldson tell me everything, whether he wants to or not.
Is any of this legal? Of course not. But that’s the beauty of my team. When we came together, we all agreed that sometimes the law isn’t enough. That sometimes, in order to make sure justice is served, we have to work outside it.
Would I kill Donaldson if that’s what it comes to? It’s a thought that came to me during our team meeting this morning, while we went over the logistics of our plan. “What if he won’t give up the location of the files?” Indy asked. “What if he threatens to distribute them? Post them on the dark web? Have you thought about that?”
Ihavethought about it. More often than I’d like to admit.
Before Noelle, I couldn’t have seen myself taking a life outside of my duty.
But now? I think I might, if it keeps Noelle safe.
“Sorry,” Ace says. He claps my shoulder. “I know you don’t care about potholes.” As one comes up ahead of us, he carefully steers around it.
“No, I’m sorry,” I reply. “I’m just… shit. This whole thing. I’m trying to keep my cool. But every time I think about seeing that smug fucker’s face, I just want to smash it in.”
“I get it,” Tyler says. “If anyone deserves to be knocked out, it’s him.”
Ace slows as he makes a right on 23rd, then accelerates down the mostly empty street. “You know we’ve got your six,” he says. “And if the asshole happens to trip and smash his face a few times?—”
“Or break a few fingers,” Tyler adds.
Ace nods. “Toes are supposed to be particularly painful.”
The car falls into silence. Then I admit quietly, “I’ll do anything to stop him. Anything. And if it gets to the point where things are looking bad, you guys should go. No reason for you to take risks?—”
This time, Tyler’s the one who hits the back ofmyhead. “Are you shitting me?” he asks in an incredulous tone. “Do you really think I’d just leave?”
Ace glances away from the road to look at me. His expression is a mixture of surprise and hurt. “Would you leave if the positions were reversed and we were here protectingmygirlfriend?”
“No,” I reply immediately. “But?—”
“Think about all the shit I’ve done,” Tyler interrupts. “Not just for Noelle. But for Bea. Eden. Some of our other clients.”
“I might not be a hacker like this guy,” Ace adds, jerking his head in Tyler’s direction. “But I’ve been right there, helping. When we needed to deal with Eden’s attacker, did you see me hiding in a corner? Wereyou?”
“No, of course not.” While Indy was the one who ended up doling out retribution, I was there in case he needed backup. Just like Rafe, Tyler, and Ace were.
“Exactly.” Ace nods. Then he makes another right on Raleigh, the road Donaldson’s apartment building is on. “So whatever you need to do to fix this for Noelle, we’ve both got your six. Just like we have for Rafe and Indy. And just like you would for me or Tyler.”
A second later, Ace grimaces. “Sorry, Ty. I didn’t mean?—”
Tyler cuts him off. “It’s fine. You can talk about relationships around me. And who knows, maybe one day Iwillmeet someone else. Crazier things have happened.”
I’m so startled by Tyler’s statement, it breaks through my single-minded focus on Donaldson for a second. This is the first time since Tyler joined the team last year that he’s said anything about moving on after Kaia’s death.
