Maverick and Officer Niks join us a few minutes later. “You did really good,” Niks says and gives me a soft smile.
“Thanks,” I tell her, feeling a bit shy about all the praise and attention. I’m sure some of my shyness is because of how I grew up, but I find I only crave Wynn’s attention. Even now, all I want to do is go back to his house and lock the doors.
“I wanted to give you a heads-up that word got to your father shortly before the press conference started. Just so you’re aware.” Officer Niks shakes her head. “I don’t know how, but he’s already called a few people and he’s pissed off. He wants you apprehended.”
"For what?” I ask. “Did I break any laws?”
“No, and there’s no reason for anyone to arrest you. I mean, he can scream slander, but that's a civil matter. We might not know who leaked the information to your father, but with all of this out there, the precinct is going to walk a very straight line. That tip is the most he's going to be able to get from here on out. The risk is too high to help him."
I peek up at Wynn because he was right in his planning. He was cutting off paths my father could take so that there would only be one left. The path Wynn carefully constructed to lead right to him.
“We really appreciate all of this,” Wynn says and holds his hand out to shake with Officer Niks.
"No thanks needed. I take immense pleasure in bringing down men like Boris Walton.”
"You do have a knack for it," Juliet laughs.
"We all have our talents," Niks jokes before growing serious again. "I'm going to pull any patrol vehicles around here so nothing scares him off. Are we still good with that?"
"We are," Maverick says before any of us can respond.
"All right, I'm going to get things wrapped up and leave you to it." She gives us a nod before heading out.
"You really think he'll try to break in here?” I ask. That seems so extreme, but I suppose my father does most things to that extent.
"Fuck, I hope so." Maverick smirks giddily at the idea.
"He will,” Wynn says. “I would if someone took you from me." He cups my cheek in his hand as his face grows stern. “But I’d never let that happen.”
His words aren’t flippant; they are a vow. One that I know he’ll always make true.
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
WYNN
We’ve been waiting for a few hours, and it’s close to midnight. The gym is mostly empty except for a few people we asked to be here. Maverick put the word out that we needed privacy tonight, and with all the underground fighting this place does, everyone got the message. They understood that shit was going down and they needed to steer clear.
“Well, at least I won’t have to do this again for a while,” Maverick says as I fold another towel and stack it next to the pile.
“I guess if being a doctor doesn’t work out, I’ve got this to fall back on,” I tell him as I grab the last one.
“Meh, I’ve seen better.” He cracks a hint of a smile as he neatly arranges the piles together and then starts putting them in his arms.
We’ve folded about ten loads of towels for the gym, but it’s kept me busy. I don’t mind the quiet work because it means I’m not pacing and it calms my brain.
“I’ll go grab the last load from the laundry.”
“All right. I’ll take these up front,” he says before we head in opposite directions.
The laundry is located in the utility room down in the basement of the building. I have to take the back stairs to get down there, and the only light comes from the emergency exit sign. When I get there, the dryer is almost finished, so I decide to wait. There are several washers and dryers down here along with extra equipment for the gym. It’s a catch-all for the most part, but with concrete floors and not much lighting, it could very well feature in a horror movie. On top of that, the old dryer is loud, which is why I don’t hear someone coming up behind me until it’s too late.
“Turn around,” Boris says, and I feel him press a gun to my lower back. “Slowly.”
“You don’t have to do this,” I say as I do what he says. I raise my hands to show him I’m not armed but otherwise remain still. “It’s not too late to turn yourself in.”
Every time I’ve seen Boris Walton, he’s been dressed like he’s about to walk into a courtroom. His hair is always perfectly styled, and his smile is smug like he knows nothing will ever stick to him.
