79. Delaney
CHAPTER 79
Delaney
T wo days later, I’m staring at my mom’s drawings, analyzing the clues. I squint, my mind racing.
I push my hair away from my forehead, grazing my stitches. A memory of the first time I had to get them flits through my mind. My dad slapped me across the face, and I fell, slicing my arm on the edge of the coffee table.
When Dr. Coffin was finished stitching me, my mom whispered in my ear. “You did so well, Delaney. Such a good, strong little girl. I have an errand at the bank, but afterward, we’ll go to the Double Dip for some ice cream.”
I sat in the back seat of the town car, holding my mom’s hand while our driver, Ronald, drove through town. Once the vehicle stopped, my mom led me inside the bank.
“Don’t tell anyone about this. It’s our little secret.” She pulled out a tiny key, leading me to a room with rows of small boxes.
“What is that?”
“It’s called a safe deposit box. You store things in them.”
My eyes widened. “Like secrets?”
She paused, her eyes lighting up as a smile spread across her face. “Yes. Like secrets. This is one of ours, Delaney. Guard it inside here.” She pointed to my heart.
I nodded, and she beamed at me.
I love it when my mom smiles. She doesn’t do it much when Daddy is home.
But I always coax one from her lips.
“Oh my God. I’ve got it.” I point to the first paper. “This is the post office. The address is 871 Maple Street, which is why 871 is printed here.” My finger touches the block above the door. “She had a PO Box there. It was one of our secrets.”
My gaze locks with Zayne’s. I’ve been spilling pieces of the abuse I suffered, telling him my mom always referred to these episodes as our secrets and how she’d usually find a way to do something fun, as though she were trying to make it up to me.
His brows furrow, a worry line in the center of his forehead as his intense stare bores into mine.
Clearing my throat, I turn back to the picture. “My mom also had a safe deposit box at the bank. Number 89, which is marked right here on the bank.” I point to it. “Judging by the order of these, my guess is she wants me to go to the post office, retrieve the small safe deposit key from it, using this combination..." My finger slides back to the drawing of the post office. “If I take that key to the bank, it’ll open her safe deposit box, number 89.”
“Damn, Delaney. You’re a genius.” Jaxson leans over the other side of me, studying the drawing. “That makes perfect sense to me.”
“That’s my minx. Clever as fuck.” Zayne’s lips press against mine.
When we part, Ryker, Devyn, and Stryker are studying the drawing.
“Damn, Delaney. You fucking rock.” Stryker gives me a big grin and holds his hand up for a high five. I lean across the table, hitting his hand.
“I would have never thought.” Devyn’s gaze meets mine. “Damn, Delaney. Freaking brilliant.”
Ryker looks up at me, a grin on his face. “I second my wife’s opinion. Amazing work.”
I suck in a breath for courage, knowing Zayne isn’t going to like this next part. “I’m certain the evidence we need against my father is there. And from all I’ve heard, the plan is to kill the four of them, correct?”
Zayne nods, and the rest do as well. All eyes are on me.
“I’m in full agreement. I’m sick of keeping these secrets and lying to the people of Green Haven, as well as those who support him in his quest for governor.”
No one says a word as I pause, gathering my thoughts.
“The evidence my mom has in that safe deposit box must be made public.” I meet Stryker’s gaze, knowing he’s excellent at hacking and finding information on the dark web. My gaze slides to Ryker, skilled at hacking, security, and programming. “Not only to expose my asshole father for the monster he is but also to bring awareness to domestic violence. For years, my mom has been a victim, suffering in silence.”
Zayne’s hand squeezes my thigh. “I fully support this. We can make that happen.”
“Thank you, love.” I place my hand on his. His brows furrow, and his eyes darken as he sees the trepidation on my face.
Zayne won’t like this next part.
I turn away from him, the words rushing out before I lose my nerve. “We have the trio. But there’s still one person missing. My father.”
Jaxson leans closer, studying me. “You want to go to the post office and the bank, luring him out, right?”
I nod as Zayne snarls, “No fucking way.”
“It’s the best way. As soon as I arrive in town, my father will be alerted. You know what a rumor mill it is.” I rub my hand over Zayne’s, feeling his veins beneath my palm. “All of you would protect me.” My gaze moves to Jaxson. “But you’re central to my plan.”
Curiosity is on his face, but then it changes to understanding. He locks eyes with Zayne, who immediately explodes.
“Absolutely not.” His fist slams against the table. “It’s too dangerous. I won’t put you at risk.”
I’m unbothered by his outburst, knowing Zayne would never hurt me.
“Baby, it’s the best way.” I turn, my hands cupping his face. “No one knows Jaxson. I’d make it seem like we’re dating…” I put my finger over his lips. “Hear me out, okay?”
When he nods, I unveil my plan. “Jaxson and I can go to the coffee shop first. Get the tongues waggling as we sit at the table and chat. We’ll make it look romantic, but you damn well know it isn’t.” My gaze bores into his, all my love for him shining in my eyes.
His muscles relax beneath me, and I know I’m making sense.
“Afterward, we go into the post office to check the PO Box. Then we head to the bank, where I’ll go to the safe deposit box.”
“And what happens next? Even your dickhead father isn’t dumb enough to show up with guns pointed at the two of you or to assault you in broad daylight.” The vein in Zayne’s temple throbs.
“Right. After that, Jaxson and I head to my cabin, where the gang will be waiting.”
“I don’t like it.” Zayne’s eyes move to the drawing, but the usual vehemence is gone from his voice.
“It’s brilliant.” Jaxson winks at me, then turns his attention to Ryker. “Can you and a team sneak into her old cabin at night before we do this and install our new system?”
Ryker turns his gaze to Stryker, who grins. “Even I haven’t been able to hack it. Also, I found out how Daniel got into her rental without us knowing. Richard had a hacker access our existing system.” He spins his laptop around, revealing a picture of a guy.
“I know him. That’s Brad Simpson. He’s worked in IT for my father’s campaign for years.”
“He’s dead now. Zayne’s bomb took him out.” Jaxson chuckles. “He was one of the unfortunate ones at the mayor’s Halloween party.”
Zayne smirks, and I can’t help the pride that rolls through my chest.
“Damn, babe, you’re unhinged as fuck when you’re on a vengeance gig. I like it.” I wink at Zayne, who growls, pulling me onto his lap.
His hand cups my face.“You really wanna do this?”
“It’s the best way to lure him out. If you blew up city hall and ruined his party, he’ll be madder than a nest of hornets. He won’t be thinking straight. He loses his temper when rattled.”
Zayne’s arms tighten around me. “I’ll make him regret ever putting his hands on you,” he whispers.
I nod, not doubting his words one bit.
A long sigh comes from Zayne’s lips. “As long as we can bring in the special team for this, I’m good.”
“Special team?” I look at Zayne, but it’s Jaxson who answers.
“We have a small army of highly trained and skilled professionals. We’ve had to deploy them whenever some of our customers or competition took things too far.”
His gaze slides over my head to Zayne. “We can have them hidden in the woods. Snipers will be strategically placed around the cabin. Both she and I will wear wires, as well as the new panic devices Ryker and Stryker developed that will notify the core unit if anything goes wrong.”
“Core unit?”
Jaxson points to the group assembled around the table. “You’ll meet Luca soon. He, Keira, and Mia are leaving after her class tomorrow.”
Zayne grins, smirking at Jaxson, who scowls back at him. I noticed Jaxson tensing the second he said Mia’s name.
“You’ll like Luca and Keira. They’re the younger version of us. Like in high school.” His gaze moves to Jaxson. “Mia is really nice, too.”
“A mini-Zelaney. I like them already.”
The smile on Zayne’s face lights up the entire room. “Zelaney. I love it.”