Chapter 27
Iwant to call Ella. I want to tell her all that’s happened and have her tell me that everything will work out. That this won’t end the way I know it will—with my heart shattered and my ass in jail. And Owen in prison, broken by my lies and betrayal. Or worse, dead.
But I can’t call her. I can’t drag her further into this. Plus, she probably wouldn’t even pick up the phone.
I consider ringing Declan and revealing everything, but the same thoughts float through my head. I’m already threatening his position as director with my trial. He doesn’t need to be an accomplice to the mess I’ve gotten myself into.
I find myself sitting on the front porch, unable to go inside. Unable to do anything. Not sure what to do.
The voices of Noah and Owen talking and laughing drift through the open kitchen window. I don’t know how to go in there right now. I don’t want to pretend, and they will both know something’s wrong.
Not a moment after those thoughts, Noah stumbles through the front door and finds me. His smile is broad, and suddenly my chest aches even more.
“Wondered where you wandered off to,” he says, taking a seat in the wooden rocking chair next to me. It creaks under his weight.
I take another slow sip of coffee, not sure I’m ready to speak.
“Owen told me everything.”
I raise a brow.
Noah chuckles. “Well, probably not everything, but most of it.”
I return my gaze to the wild garden in front of us, and the words still won’t come.
“I may not be the smartest guy, but it’s obvious you care for each other.” Noah’s words are soft.
“Caring for someone, even loving them, won’t save them.”
Now it’s Noah’s turn to raise a brow. “I don’t know what your assignment is. I only know what Owen told me, but I do know you. I know it takes a very special person to break down your walls. You don’t just do it for anyone, and I know that’s what he’s done.”
Taking another slow sip, I squeeze my eyes shut. “And would you fight for that person even if it might ruin both of you?”
There’s no hesitation with Noah’s answer. “Yes.”
I open my eyes and look at him. “Why?”
“Because I’d rather die knowing I tried than live with the regret.”
It sounds as if Noah is speaking from experience. What have I missed? I’ve known him since I was a teenager, but he’d always been the guy making jokes. I’d assumed he’d led a relatively easy life. But, I notice it now—the hurt, the pain.
But I see something else, too: resolve.
At that moment, the decision I knew I’d make is solidified by his words. So, I stand, finding my own determination under layers and layers of fear. “So then we fight.”
Owen turns out to be a major distraction, so I make a lame excuse about going home and changing my clothes. He begrudgingly drives me back to my apartment and leaves Noah with me as an extra set of eyes.
I station Noah outside my door and get to work.
I pull up the photos I took at Owen’s and put them into a folder labeled Evidence.
I compile everything Ella’s boyfriend, Eagan, collected on the companies: rape, human trafficking, and drug cases.
Two of the three companies are linked to the black snake crime syndicate, which is the largest worldwide to date.
It is so big that it doesn’t seem like their involvement in the two companies is related, but I don’t rule it out.
Lastly, I include the verbal testimony from the whistleblower, implicating the third company and linking it to the crime syndicate.
Pulling up Peyton's file, I scan it. There are loose threads that suggest he may have also been involved with, or worked for, the black snake crime syndicate, but there’s no hard evidence.
That can’t be a coincidence.
If Peyton is not the one trying to kill Owen, and Owen didn’t hire him to kill the three CEOs, then who the hell is he working for? Or against?
I scan the evidence over and over again, trying to find some link in all this.
When I come up empty-handed, I call Gray.
“Can you hack Regenerative Industries' main drive and search for the words ‘black snake?’ And if anything comes up, anything at all, I don’t care if it’s a reference to a children's story, can you send it?”
Gray doesn’t say anything right away. “Why is that relevant?”
“Just a hunch that the black snake crime syndicate is somehow involved in all this. I’m trying to figure out the link. Were they were the ones who killed the CEOs, or are they somehow after Owen?”
I know they weren’t involved in the deaths of the CEOs, but I don’t want Gray to know that. Not yet, at least.
“So the poison darts found on Peyton came back negative?” he asks, sounding almost disappointed.
“Haven’t gotten the results, but I’m covering every base.”
“Got it. I’ll see what I can find.”
“Thanks.”
After I hang up the phone with Gray, my phone suddenly beeps with a hundred messages. They’re all from Jax and Evan.
Shit.
I left them at the gala last night without saying anything.
Jax: Where did you go last night?
Evan: YOU LEFT US!
Jax: Please tell us you’re ok
Evan: Maybe she went home with Hot Boss Man….
Jax: Can’t believe you Irish Goodbyed us!
Evan: Perhaps she’s still in bed with Hot Boss Man
Jax: Evan! You aren’t helping!
Evan: *shrugging emoji*
I can’t help the smile, despite the evidence I found this morning.
Nova: I’m fine. I did go home with Owen last night, actually. He was so wasted, he passed out with his clothes on.
Evan: Oh man! I so hoped you’d get into those tight pants of his!
I laugh this time.
Nova: I did. This morning.
Jax: Oh Fuuuuuck!!!
Evan: YES!!!! FINALLY!!!!
Everything may be going to shit, but at least I can savor these ridiculous moments before my reality changes.
Evan: Was it good? Wait, don’t tell me. I don’t think I could handle it if you said no.
I send a few fire emojis and nothing else.
Evan: DAMN GIRL!!!
My phone buzzes with a new message.
Owen: You dressed?
Nova: Yes.
Owen: Can I take you to lunch?
Nova: Yes.
Owen: Pick you up in 5.
I decide to take Noah’s advice. I’ll take whatever time I have with Owen, no matter how short. No matter what happens.