Chapter 9
The next morning, Elena and Reed went on another run.
It was quickly becoming Elena’s favorite part of the day.
They fell into their familiar rhythm around the lake, not talking but moving in perfect synchronization, the way they always had.
There was something healing about it—the steady pace, the crisp morning air, the sense that for these five miles, nothing existed except the path ahead and Reed’s steady breathing beside her.
When they returned to the house, his brothers were already gathered in the kitchen with coffee and what appeared to be architectural blueprints spread across the island.
“Perfect timing,” Terrel said, looking up from his laptop. “I’ve got the updated building schematics, security protocols, and staff schedules for the Blackwood Estate.”
Elena moved to examine the documents, her professional instincts kicking in as she studied the detailed layouts. “These are much more current than what I had. Where did you get them?”
“Better you don’t know,” Terrel replied with a slight smile. “But they’re accurate as of yesterday.”
For the next three hours, they planned every detail of the operation.
Walker and James would infiltrate the catering staff—Pinnacle Hospitality had been surprisingly easy to penetrate once Terrel had accessed their employee database—and Elena would pose as a photographer documenting the event, giving her legitimate access to move throughout the building while capturing intelligence.
“Communication?” Reed asked, pointing to the estate’s layout.
“Encrypted comms, but we’ll need to assume they’re monitoring frequencies,” Elena said. “Hand signals when possible, predetermined check-in times otherwise.”
“What about the server room?” Walker studied the basement layout. “It’s isolated, with multiple security layers.”
“That’s my target,” Elena said. “Once I confirm Webb has the WATCHDOG access codes, I need fifteen minutes alone with that system to plant a virus that will corrupt everything.”
Reed was quiet for a moment. “And Webb himself?”
“We extract him alive, if possible,” Elena said, though her tone suggested she didn’t think it would be possible. “If not...”
She didn’t need to finish. They all understood Plan B.
Reed’s phone buzzed with an urgent notification from his company’s security division. He glanced at it, then went still.
“What is it?” Elena asked, noticing the change in his expression.
Reed’s jaw tightened as he read. “Webb has put out a hit on Elena Vasquez. Half a million dollars, dead or alive. It’s gone out through multiple channels.”
Elena felt the room start to spin around her. She sat down heavily in the nearest chair, the implications crashing over her like a wave.
Terrel looked up from his laptop. “They must know she’s not dead.”
James made a face. “Really, Captain Obvious? We didn’t realize that.”
But Elena was paralyzed, barely hearing the exchange. A public contract meant Webb wasn’t just hunting her anymore—he was mobilizing every criminal with access to the dark web. Assassins, bounty hunters, mercenaries. People who wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who got in their way.
Then Reed was beside her, taking her hand. “It’s okay.”
Walker let out a sarcastic growl. “It’s not okay. People are already reaching out to me, asking if I know anything about this.”
Reed winced, understanding the implication.
“That’s it,” Elena said, standing abruptly. “I’m leaving.”
She rushed from the room before anyone could stop her, taking the stairs two at a time to reach the guest room.
Her hands shook as she threw her few belongings into her travel bag.
She’d been naive to think she could involve Reed and his brothers in this without consequences.
Now Webb knew she was alive, and everyone around her had become a target.
There was a knock at the door. Elena opened it to find all four Star brothers standing in the hallway.
Walker stepped forward, frowning. “You can’t leave.”
“Yeah,” James agreed. “Just because someone threatens you, you don’t back away.”
“Because someone threatens you,” James continued with a grunt, “you don’t run. You do what you wanted to do—you get them first.”
Elena felt overwhelmed by their unified presence, by the certainty in their voices. “You guys... thank you, but I can’t. This contract changes everything. Webb will send people after me, and they won’t care who gets caught in the crossfire.”
Reed stepped into the room, his expression determined. “You’re not leaving. You came to us. We’re in this.”
Elena hesitated, looking at these four men who were willing to risk their lives for her mission. “Reed—”
Reed held out his hand. “Promise me you won’t leave. You won’t fake your death again. Promise me we’ll see this through together.”
The request hung between them, loaded with meaning that went far beyond the current mission.
Walker laughed, breaking the tension slightly. “Sheesh, the things Star men have to say to women.”
His brothers chuckled, but Elena kept her eyes locked on Reed’s face. She could see the fear there, carefully hidden beneath his calm exterior. Fear that she would disappear again, that she would choose to protect him by cutting him out.
Finally, she took his hand. “I promise.”
“Thank you,” Reed said quietly.
“But we need to understand what we’re facing,” Elena continued, her mind still working through the implications.
Walker nodded. “If Webb is doing a public ask sort of thing for you...”
“He knows I’m not dead,” Elena finished. “Which means he’s figured out I survived whatever happened in Prague. He probably knows I’m in Seattle.”
“How?” Terrel asked.
Elena sank onto the edge of the bed, the pieces clicking together. “The facial recognition upgrade he made to WATCHDOG. If he’s got access to traffic cameras, airport security, even ATM surveillance...” She looked up at Reed. “He could have tracked me from the moment I landed in Seattle.”
“Then why hasn’t he made a move?” James asked.
“Because he doesn’t know exactly where I am yet,” Elena said. “The contract is him casting a wide net, hoping someone else will do the legwork for him.”
Walker was quiet for a moment. “Or it’s bait. Draw you out by making you think you need to run.”
Elena considered this. “Either way, it means our timeline just got shorter. If Webb knows I’m alive and in the area, he’ll either disappear completely or accelerate his auction schedule.”
Reed’s phone buzzed again. He glanced at it and cursed under his breath. “Three more inquiries about the Elena Vasquez contract in the last ten minutes. Word is spreading fast.”
“We need to move up our timeline,” Elena said. “Leave tonight instead of tomorrow.”
“Agreed,” Walker said. “How long do you need to be ready?”
Elena looked around at her single bag, already packed. “I’m ready now.”
Reed nodded. “We’ll leave in the morning—my helicopter will pick us up at 0600. Everyone get some rest, and we’ll finalize details during the flight.”
His brothers headed for the door, but Walker paused. “Elena? For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re not actually dead. Reed was pretty unbearable for a while there.”
Elena felt tears prick her eyes at the acceptance in his voice. “Thank you, Walker.”
After they left, Reed sat beside her on the bed, close enough that their shoulders touched.
“You really promise?” he asked quietly. “No disappearing acts?”
Elena turned to face him, seeing the vulnerability he was trying to hide. “I promise. No matter what happens in Vancouver, no matter what we find, I won’t run again.”
Reed nodded, but Elena could see the tension still coiled in his muscles.
“Reed… What if this goes wrong? What if I end up getting you or your brothers killed?”
“Then we face that together too,” Reed said simply. “I’d rather die fighting beside you than spend another five years believing you’re dead.”
The words hit Elena like a physical blow, carrying the weight of everything they’d lost and everything they might still lose.
Reed moved to her and pulled her into a hug, holding her for a long time. Elena felt some of the tension leave her body as she leaned into his strength.
She finally pulled back. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “We leave tomorrow. Get some sleep.”
After Elena finally settled into bed, she couldn’t help but think she was falling in love with Reed Star again. Maybe she’d never fallen out of it. But she hated that he was risking his life again. She hated that so badly for all of the Star men.