“Maybe you have been,” Chief says. His footsteps thud on the stairs as he joins us. Wrecks flops down at my feet, his weight a comfort I appreciate. “But here’s the thing, kid. She might have your words, but she doesn’t have you. You got out. You built a life—you’re building a future. You found happiness—hell, you’ve got a whole town rooting for you. That’s not nothing, and it’s something she’ll never be able to take away.”
“She knows everything about me, Chief. My friends, my routine, my—” Acid burns the back of my throat. “Madi. Savvy. Elle. She has photos of them. What if she goes after them to get to me?”
Valen is already typing on his phone. “I’m texting Grant. He can organize a team in Happiness. We will protect them.”
A weight settles heavily where my heart should be. “You can’t promise that.”
“Yes. I can.” He grips my shoulders, making me meet his determined stare. “Because I will burn through every resource I have, every favor, every connection to ensure that the people you love are protected. All of them. That I can promise you.”
I want to believe him—want it so badly I can taste it.
But that wall. The photos. That dress.
It’s all the meticulous planning of someone who has been living their life for this moment—of someone who has absolutely nothing left to lose—and it makes her more dangerous than I could have ever imagined.
Roman storms out of the house, thunderclouds clapping in his gaze. “We found the tunnel and can confirm that it’s been used recently. It leads to an old storm shelter. It’s how she’s been getting in and out.”
“Can we secure it?” Valen asks.
“We’re sealing it up now as well as stationing people on the perimeter.” Roman looks at me with an apology raging in his eyes. “I’m sorry. We should have been more thorough. That room was built to be undetectable, even from our technology, but knowing what we’re dealing with, I should have scoured every inch of this place with my bare hands.” His gaze darts to Chief. “How did you find it?”
Chief nods, his age showing in his face now. “I didn’t have all that fancy equipment when I went through my training, son. Sometimes, you have to rely on your senses.”
Roman’s shoulders stiffen.
“You didn’t know,” I say. “None of us could have predicted this.”
“Still. This is on me.” Roman straightens. “She won’t get back in here though. And we’re going to find her.”
“That’s what she wants,” I say quietly. “That’s what this game of cat and mouse is all about. She’s showing us she can get to me whenever she wants. She’s proving that she’s in control.”
“Then we take that control back.” Valen’s words carry a confidence I almost believe in.
“How?” I’m tired. Bone-deep exhausted. “How do we fight someone who knows everything about us? Who’s been planning this for years. Who—” My voice breaks. “Who probably killed her own sister to get to me, while we know next to nothing about her?”
“We fight by not giving up,” Chief says firmly. “We fight by sticking together. By being collectively smarter than she is on her own.” He looks at Valen. “We need to move. Get Clover somewhere…safer. Regroup.”
“The inn?—”
“No,” Roman cuts Valen off. “You’re not thinking clearly, brother. You can’t go anywhere you’ve already been. We’ll secure a safe house.”
“Fuck. You’re right.” Valen rubs at his temples.
“Easy,” Roman says. “It’s understandable. You’re both emotionally invested. That’s why I’m here. I’ve got your back.” He’s speaking to Valen, but when he nods at me, I know I’m included in his sentiment.
Roman considers me family, and it means more than he’ll ever know.
“I have Sterling working on the safe house,” he says.
“The police?” Chief asks.
Roman shakes his head, something close to fear flashing in his eyes. “We believe that Terra had something she held over my mother—something about Valen, Clover, or one of my brothers—because my mother wouldn’t have gone through all this shit for herself. Until I know what information Terra has, we handle this internally.”
Chief bristles like he’s about to argue, but one look at me and he snaps his mouth shut.
“I’ll stay here with my team to process everything and document it all,” Roman says. “If she comes back…” There’s a twitch in his jaw—anger, pain and determination all rolled into one tiny movement. “We’ll be ready.”
How can you be ready for someone who always seems to be three steps ahead of every move you make?
