Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Parker
I took the dollar bill and set it on the nightstand. Wrapping my arms around her, I held her close. Her story gripped me like no other. What they did to her was unfathomable. She didn’t choose this life. They chose it for her.
“I’m sorry they did that to you.” I pressed my lips against the top of her head. “But what I don’t understand is why you’re doing what you’re doing if the CIA thinks you're dead.”
“It’s my atonement.” She lifted her head and stared at me. “I’ve killed innocent people because the CIA told me they were bad and deserved to die. Yes, a majority were. But others weren’t after I found out the truth.”
“And Gabriel? How does he fit into all of this?” I asked.
“Gabriel is a genius. I’m talking about a bona fide tech genius.
He’s been hacking and coding since he was five.
His father was the financial architect for Hearthstone.
His tech company funded black budget projects, cyber operations tied to Hearthstone, and experimental labs.
He thought he was building a counterterrorism super database, not human weapons.
When he found out what they were doing to children, he tried to shut it down, but they blackmailed him and had him under their control until they no longer needed him.
After his father’s death, Gabriel knew Hearthstone would be coming for him, so he sold the tech company, faked his death, and built a fortress on a private island off the coast of Florida under the name Samuel King.
He now dedicates his life to helping the innocent and taking down the CIA and the criminals and terrorists of the world. ”
“You’re good, Paige. I’ve seen you in action. Why three years? Why didn’t you just go after Hearthstone sooner?”
“Because we needed time to gather intel. About six months after Gabriel’s father was murdered, Hearthstone disappeared, and a new program was put in its place a year later.
A program called Project Nightfall. We needed to research it, find out more information, who was involved, and what they were doing.
Project Nightfall is the evolution of Hearthstone. ”
“If Hearthstone was shut down, how is Project Nightfall the evolution?” My brows furrowed.
“They didn’t shut Hearthstone down. They rebranded it. Buried it deeper. Made it darker. Hearthstone was about creating human weapons. Project Nightfall is about perfecting them, so their old memories don’t resurface.”
She climbed out of bed.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to get something. I’ll be right back.”
She returned to the bedroom a few moments later and set two guns on the nightstand.
“Just in case.” She smiled, climbing back into bed.
“We’d better get some sleep,” I said, holding her close to me. “Goodnight, Paige.”
“Goodnight, Parker.”
I stared at the ceiling, her body wrapped in mine.
Sleep wasn’t coming. It wasn’t even close.
The words she spoke looped in my head like a commercial that wouldn’t shut off.
Programs like Hearthstone weren’t supposed to be real.
I swallowed hard as my chest tightened. Paige wasn’t just dangerous.
She was all alone and trusted me enough to tell me the truth about her.
Now that I knew, really knew, who she was and what she survived, there was no going back.
My eyes flew open as the light from the blinds filtered into the room. Glancing at the clock, it was seven a.m., and Paige wasn’t next to me. Climbing out of bed, I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and headed down the stairs to the kitchen.
“Good morning.” I smiled.
“Morning. I made you some coffee.” She handed me the warm mug.
“Thanks. How did you sleep?” I asked.
“Okay, I guess. You?”
“I’ve had better nights. I couldn’t stop thinking about everything you told me.” I sat on the stool at the island.
“Well, you need to forget about what I told you, Parker.” She leaned over the island with her hands wrapped around her coffee cup.
Her phone rang, and I saw Gabriel’s name pop up.
“Hello, Gabriel. Okay. Okay. Got it. I’ll be in touch.”
“That was Gabriel?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
The doorbell rang, and Pagie and I looked at the wall-mounted touchscreen.
“It’s Simon,” I said, getting up and walking to the door. “Morning.” I smiled, extending my hand.
“Morning, friend.” Simon shook it.
“Come on in. Paige is in the kitchen. Coffee?” I asked.
“Please. Paige.” Simon nodded.
“Detective.”
Simon pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and sat at the table. After handing him his coffee, I took a seat next to Paige.
“This is a waste of your time, detective. I work alone,” Paige said.
“I usually do too, but maybe this once, we can work together. I don’t know you, but I’ve seen what you’re capable of. Where is Elias Dimitri?”
“I don’t know. If I did, he would be dead, and the LAPD and FBI wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore.”
“The warehouse. Was that you?” Simon’s brow arched.
“Yes.”
“So, what are you doing? Taking out his entire crew until he’s the last one standing?” Simon asked.
“Basically.”
“You need to stop, Paige. Let us find and deal with Elias.”
“Elias has people working for him everywhere. Police departments, the FBI, prisons, and the streets. For all I know, you could be working for him, too.” Her brow arched.
“How dare you!” He pointed at her. “I may color outside the lines every once in a while, but I’m not a dirty cop, and I never will be!”
“Okay, Simon. I just wanted to hear you say it. I checked you out, and you’re on the up and up. You’re an excellent detective.”
“Damn right, I am. I did a little digging on you myself, and you don’t exist. Care to explain?”
“No. But you can trust me. There’s a shipment coming in tonight at one of the L.A. ports for Adamar Industries. It’s either guns, drugs, people, or nuclear weapons, I don’t know.”
“We’ve been monitoring the ports, and there’s nothing scheduled for tonight,” he said.
“That’s because you’re not looking in the right place. Trust me. A shipment is coming in, and I’ll be there when it does.”
“And you’re sure it’s a shipment for Adamar Industries?”
“Yes. One hundred percent.” She nodded.
“I’m coming with you then.”
“It’ll be too dangerous, even for you,” Paige told him.
“Danger is my middle name, sweetheart.” He grinned. “What time is this shipment supposed to come in?”
“Midnight,” Paige said.
My phone pinged with a text message from Roman.
Morning. We’re headed to the hospital. Are you coming?
Morning. I’ll meet you there soon.
“That was Roman. They’re headed to the hospital,” I said.
“I won’t take up any more of your time,” Simon said, standing from his seat. “Give me your phone number.” He looked at Paige. She rattled off her phone number as Simon entered it into his phone. Then, sent her a text. “Now you have my number. We’ll meet tonight.”
After Simon left, Paige and I headed to the hospital.
The moment we stepped into his room, my stomach dropped.
Seeing him lying there in the hospital bed, pale and still, surrounded by machines that beeped in a slow, steady rhythm, shook me.
I couldn’t remember a time my father was even sick.
My brothers were at his bedside as was Love, holding his hand.
“How is he?” I asked.
“I’m fine.” He mumbled and slowly opened his eyes.
“He’s grumpy,” Love said.
“I suppose I would be, too. Dad, I’m sorry.” I walked over and placed my hand on his arm.
“Your brothers filled me in on what’s going on. This isn’t your fault, son. Who is she?”
“Dad, this is Paige. She’s—”
“His bodyguard,” Julian said.
“She is not. She’s helping to catch the people who did this to you. Paige, my father, Harrison Hamilton.”
“It’s nice to meet you, sir. I will get the person responsible for this. I promise.”
“Are you a cop or something?” he asked her.
“Something like that.” She lightly smiled.
“I guess I’m lucky whoever did this wasn’t a good shot.”
“Trust me, Mr. Hamilton. He was. This was a warning,” Paige said.
“I want everyone out except Paige,” my father said.
“But, Papa—”
“Julian, what have I told you about calling me that? Everyone out. Paige, stay.”
My brothers, Love, and I stepped out of the room.
“I’m going to get a coffee,” Love said, walking away.
“Why do you suppose Dad wants to talk to Paige alone?” Roman asked.
“Who the hell knows,” I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.