“She’s coming forward?” I blurt.
It’s the most legal way to handle things, so naturally it rocks me to the core.
“Not just her,” Adeline says, “but she’s certainly the one who got things rolling. It’s shit, but. . .”
“But when the rich white girl says she’s been trafficked,” Tristan says.
“Like I said, it’s shit,” Adeline agrees. “But we also got two of the other girls to talk. And since the Winsleys are well known and becausewemight also know some people on the Met who needed a win.”
Her use of the word ‘we’ could mean several people. The Bratva. The Hallows. Hell, at this point I’d believe it if Adeline herself had a contact at the Met.
“If you’re good with it, the Met is ready to go.” Serious brown eyes look to me for confirmation.
I stare at the photo. It was never just about me. If they’re ready to tell their story, I can’t get in their way.
“They’re not just going to get Cade for the trafficking,” Adeline says. “There was another girl with them. Cade might think he's the shit, but he should have invested in a better cleanup crew. We found the body. The girls are going to testify that Cade’s treatment of her resulted in her death.”
“Shit,” Tristan says under his breath.
I’d never known of any of the girls dying. Adeline places a hand on my shoulder. Tristan does the same on the other side. Instead of abhorring the physical contact like usual, I let them anchor me.
“So. . . That’s it?” I ask.
“After Cade is scooped up, the Stuarts will take over the Weed and Tweed operation,” Adeline says.
“It’s all nice and tidy then.” My fingers wrap along the hem of my shirt.
“Somewhat. The Stuarts look like they’re coming out on top, but the O'Connells won some pretty important London territory.”
I nod but I can’t find any way to really care about the state of London. Anabel Winsley’s green eyes keep staring at me.
“Ren’s really worried,” Adeline murmurs.
I rub my nose. “Yeah.”
“Len too.”
“Tell everyone I’m all right, will you?” The thought of checking my phone makes me want to puke.
“Can I do anything?” Adeline asks. “I’m quite talented when it comes to making ice cream runs.”
The skin on my cheeks tingles when I smile, the movement foreign. “Thank you, Ads. This is. . .”
Monumental bullshit that I should have dealt with long ago. God, I should be happy, but the sense of foolishness doesn’t go away. I wish I were like Adeline, pretty and cool, and able to get it all together.
She stands but motions for me to stay seated. “I’ll let you guys know when the Met grabs Cade.”
“Ads,” I call just as she gets to the door. “Don’t look into the Spider.”
Adeline holds up her hands in surrender. “I would never.”
I don’t believe her, and based on the grumpy expression on Tristan’s face, he doesn’t either.
Lennie always said her sister was a snoop, but she just tied together a perfect sex trafficking case before handing it off to the Met.
“I should have done that.” My fingers play with the decorative edge of the blanket. “Convinced them to go to the police.”
Not that I was in much of a position to help after Cade caught me freeing them.
