Page 74 of No Fear

“I heard what happened. Fuckers have a lot to answer for.”

Yeah, they did. But Donnie didn’t want to get into that now. “Their time will come,” he grumbled.

“So, Simon Radwell has been in London. Due back in New York tomorrow. There’s been some phone calls and texts to Charlie. He’s been asking her to meet him. So far, she’s declined.”

Donnie sighed in relief. She was staying strong.

“You should know,” Tracer continued, “he was attending a party in London. He’s got friends in high places who arrange exclusive soirées. Discreet. Plenty of booze, drugs, and escorts. Guys and girls. The boy sure knows how to party.”

Donnie clenched his fists. “Son of a bitch. Do you have any proof?” He had no plans to show Charlie, but he damn well was going to pay the fucker a visit and make sure Simon never so much as glanced Charlie’s way ever again. Yeah, you and a white stick?

“Yeah. Photos. I’ll send them over shortly. You’ll be glad you can’t see them.”

“Thanks. Appreciate it,” he said tightly.

“You’re welcome. Now, I want something in return.”

“What?” Mackie jumped in. “You never mentioned anything when you agreed to do this.”

“I don't want anything from you, Mackie. This is for Donnie.”

“What do you want?” Donnie said through gritted teeth.

“Don’t fucking give up. Stop pushing people away, because I know that’s what you’re doing. I’ve been there, and this helplessness feeling is not going to get you through this. It took me a long time to stop focusing on what I’d lost rather than what I still had. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Let people help you. Let your team in. From what I hear, there’s a chance you will recover in full. It sucks, but you are not in this alone. Unless you choose to be.” The phone call ended.

“Shit. Wasn’t expecting that. Sorry, man,” Mackie said.

“Don’t be. How long you and he been talking?”

“I was curious. I wasn't on the team when he was around. I looked into him. Guess he caught me snooping. The man is very good at what he does and has technology available to him like I’ve never seen. Even better than Onyx. We got talking. It’s a tech thing.”

Donnie sighed. “I don't know him that well. Dex and Ryan hung with him most. For a man I barely know, it was good of him to help. You could have told me.”

Tracer was a former SEAL—until an IED tore up his leg. He’d recovered and could walk but was not cleared for duty. He’d set up a security firm, but when his sister was brutally murdered, he had gone underground on a vigilante mission to avenge her death. Raven and Tracer’s paths had crossed a couple of times now, and mutual respect went all round.

“He asked me not to. Then he heard what happened and insisted on talking to you. So here we are. You going to tell her?”

Donnie was quiet for a moment. His life might be ruined, but he didn't want to ruin Charlie’s.

“I don’t want to, but I think I might have to.”

He hoped it didn't come to that because how the fuck was he going to tell her when he couldn't see her face, or be the man she was going to need if she learned the truth.

***

CHARLIE SCROLLED THROUGH cable channels, trying to find something to watch. Her parents had gone out to do some grocery shopping and the house was quiet. She should be looking for somewhere to live, or getting her things from Simon's apartment, but she couldn't bring herself to do either.

Simon had called her again last night, but she let it go to voicemail. He'd sounded drunk. Angry. Telling her she was being ridiculous, and they were destined to be together. He went on about how she would regret letting the best thing to happen to her go. Arrogant asshole. Did he really think tirades like that would win her over? All it did was reinforce her decision to end it. She was glad she let it go to voicemail. She had no desire to speak to him in that mood. He might think he was the best thing to happen to her, and at one point she had. She knew better now. Donnie had showed her how much better things could be.

She still hadn’t heard from Donnie, and she was beyond worried. She’d seen the Donaldsons yesterday and asked politely if they had heard from him. They hadn’t but reassured her that wasn’t unusual. Sometimes he went weeks without calling.

Charlie settled on the news, not really in the mood to get into a movie or show. Donnie’s words swam around in her head.

“I want you, Charlie. In my life. And not just as a friend.”

She had dreamed of hearing him say that in high school, and if she was honest, in the years since. Maddie had been right. However much he’d hurt her by leaving, she’d never stopped having feelings for him. It was those feelings that were making her so hesitant to be anything more than friends.

With Simon, she was upset it was over, but her heart wasn't broken. She had ended it, knowing, while she cared for Simon, maybe loved him for a while, she had never truly been in love with him. She already knew she would pick herself up and get over him. Donnie was a whole different story. She loved him already. Everything about him turned her on. Not just the way he made her body come to life in a way she’d never known it could, but in all the other things he did. His interest in her as a person. Asking about her work, her family, her friends. All the things he’d done for her without asking and without making a big deal. Paying when they went out. Ordering her food because he knew she was hungry. Giving her time alone. Listening. The man ticked all the boxes except trust.