Page 75 of The Truths We Find

I glance back at Gavin, offering a small nod. He returns it with one of his own, before stopping, leaving Alexa and me alone with Mr. White.

At the reception desk, a tall man in a plain sweatshirt and jeans stands there waiting, two manila envelopes in hand. He approaches us with a neutral expression.

“Danielle Russell and Alexa Li?”

“Yes?” Caution creeps into my voice despite my attempt to sound calm.

“You’ve been served.” He hands each of us an envelope. “Have a good day.”

Before we can even register what’s happening, he’s gone.

“Are you kidding me?” Alexa huffs. “Twenty bucks I know what this is about.”

We rip open the envelopes. Inside are subpoenas, directed at us, demanding our notes from the Tate story. The very notes that would lead them straight to our anonymous source.

“What the hell?” I mutter, staring at the words in disbelief. “They can’t do this. This goes directly against the Shield Law!”

I feel my pulse spike. The Shield Law is supposed to protect journalists like us from being forced to reveal our sources. The California law in particular is one of the strongest in the country.

Mr. White takes the papers from my hand, reading them over carefully. “Technically, they can issue it. The law just protects you from getting in trouble with the Court for refusing to hand over the records. Sounds like the DA is hoping you’ll just roll over and comply.”

Alexa snorts, rolling her eyes. “Clearly he hasn’t met me.”

I grab her subpoena, flipping through the papers. “How the hell did he even get a grand jury to agree to this? Any judge with half a brain will throw this out.”

Mr. White takes her papers from me as well. “You two don’t need to worry about this. I’ll get everything to the legal department. There’s no way you’re turning over your notes. Focus on your work. Do what you do best.”

I want to believe him, I really do. But despite his reassurances, a low, nagging anxiety fills my stomach.

“Thanks, Mr. White,” I say, trying to steady my voice.

“No problem. Now get back to work and put together a kick-ass show.”

I can’t help the small laugh that escapes. “Yes, sir!”

Alexa and I head back to the newsroom, but my mind keeps going back to the subpoenas. The paper felt heavier in my hand than it should have. A reminder that even when we think we’re safe, the world is still capable of pressuring us. I shake it off, forcing myself to focus.

For now, we do our jobs. The rest… we deal with later.

Chapter 23

Gavin

“Dani, can I see you for a minute?”

Mr. White just left my office and told me what’s going on. I’m sure our legal team will get it all straightened out, but I know my girl, and I’m sure she’s stressing. Hard.

The subpoena might be bullshit, but stress doesn’t care about logic. And Dani feels everything deeply, whether she admits it or not.

She gets up from her desk and meets me at my office doorway. I follow her inside, gesturing towards one of the guest chairs for her to sit.

“I wanted to talk to you about some of the latest numbers we’re seeing,” I say, closing the door behind me.

“Gavin, the numbers are fine. Are we really on this again⁠—”

I cut her off with my lips on hers.

She freezes for half a second before melting into it. Our mouths move together, familiar and heated. That quiet kind of desperate that tells me she needs this more than she realizes. I tease her with my tongue, letting it linger just long enough before pulling back because if I don’t, I won’t stop.