Chapter 9
AERIANNA
We found a body.
My handler's words play on repeat in my head as I throw on a fresh set of clothes and race out to my pickup. The urgency of his tone still echoes a low hum of unease under my skin.
We found a body.
I press the gas hard, speeding through the city and ignoring the angry blare of horns as I run red lights. The streets blur past until I reach the intersection of Jameson Street and West.
The sun is already up, casting the City of Angels in a golden glow. Its light bounces off the glass and concrete as if mocking the darkness of what I’m about to face. The police cruisers come into view first, their lights painting the pavement in an ominous red-and-blue glow. I slam on my brakes, the tires screeching as I pull to a stop just before the barricades.
When I took this undercover job, I told my handler everything—about my search for Allison, about Detroit, and about the personal stake I have in this case. He trusted me because I told him the truth. Now, he stands by the yellow tape, hands on his hips, the weight of his job etched into every line on his face.
Zach is a man who commands attention. In his early fifties, he could have any woman in his orbit with salt-and-pepper hair, a perpetual California tan, and a body kept in shape by early-morning runs. His black t-shirt stretches over his toned muscles, and the backward baseball cap gives him a casual air that shouldn’t work but does.
But not for me.
While half the women at the station openly drool over him, I never have. Zach isn’t a man I lust after; he’s the one person I trust. A father figure in a world where trust is rare, and I’ll cling to that bond before I let myself see him in any other way.
“Aerianna,” he calls out as I approach. His voice is steady and calm, but there’s an edge of concern.
“Sheriff,” I reply, giving him a curt nod.
“How’re you holding up?”
“I’m fine.” It’s automatic, the answer expected of me, though the truth is less certain.
Zach studies me for a moment, his eyes narrowing just slightly. “If this gets to be too much, say the word, and I’ll pull the plug. Your mental health matters, Aeri. I mean it.”
“I know, but until I take these assholes down, I’m not stopping.” He doesn’t know the full extent of my plans. To him, this mission is about dismantling the Black Market Railroad, the network responsible for my missing best friend. But I’ve learned enough to know it doesn’t stop there.
The Royal Bastards are involved, I know they are. The signs are all there, the connections buried in files and whispers, leading me straight to their doorstep. I just don’t know how deep it goes or why.
“Just do me a favor and be careful,” Zach says, his voice dropping a notch. “Sometimes, the people you think are bad aren’t.”
I stiffen, his words hitting closer to home than he realizes. “I’ll be careful,” I say, my voice steady even as my mind churns. But the truth is, I can’t promise him that. Not when the lines between good and bad are already blurring, and I’m not sure which side I’ll be on when it’s all over. “Show me the body,” I say, steering the conversation back on track. The last thing I want or need is for Zach to start convincing me to back out now.
“Right this way.” Zach lifts the yellow tape, holding it just high enough for me to duck under.
The air changes as we step into the alley, the scent of decay hitting like a brick wall. The narrow passage is lined with overflowing garbage containers, their contents spilling out onto the cracked asphalt. The sunlight barely penetrates the grimy walls on either side, casting long shadows that make the place feel colder than it should.
The coroner is crouched by the body, their face impassive, latex-gloved hands moving with practiced efficiency. My eyes are drawn to the small figure lying lifeless on the ground, limp and discarded like yesterday’s trash.
The closer we get, the worse the stench becomes. A vile mix of rotting food, sewage, and something sharper, more sinister. I swallow hard, fighting the urge to gag as I force my focus on the scene ahead.
My chest tightens, but I can’t let it show. Not here. Not now.
Blonde hair similar to my own flutters in the slight breeze. I hold my breath and step closer, leaning over the coroner’s shoulder. “Shit.” My gut clenches with certainty. It’s Allison. I know it without a doubt.
Zach notices the turmoil on my face and steps in, his tone steady and commanding. “What do you have for us?”
The coroner looks up from where he’s hovering over the body. His gray eyebrows rise as he takes me in. I shove my trembling hands deep into my pockets. I focus on breathing evenly, doing everything I can to keep from breaking down.
“As you know, I don’t like to assume, but from what I’m seeing, this young woman suffered severe blood loss and trauma from the stab wounds to her abdomen. Based on the blood on her thighs, she was sexually assaulted multiple times.” He adjusts his gloves and picks up her limp hand. “Her fingernails are broken and jagged, her wrists and hands bruised. She fought back. Hopefully, she left enough DNA on her attackers to help identify them. I couldn’t find any ID on her, but I’ll run her through the database.”
The coroner's words blur as I look into her lifeless eyes. Those green eyes I’ve missed so much now stare blankly at nothing. My chest tightens. I close my eyes, centering myself, and then open them again. “Does she have a butterfly tattoo on her right hip?” I manage, already knowing the answer.
The coroner shifts her slightly, revealing a small blue butterfly. “Yes, she does. How do you know?”
“Her name is Allison Greene. Twenty-six. From Trout Lake, Michigan.” My voice is steady, though every word feels like a punch to the gut. “You can confirm it.”
“Aerianna, hold on,” Zach cuts in, his tone skeptical. “You can’t know this is her.”
I glare at him, the truth weighing heavy on my chest. “It’s her, Zach. The question isn’t who she is. It’s who did this. Was it the Black Market Railroad, or…” I stop before I can voice aloud who I think could have killed my best friend.
Zach’s jaw tightens, and he steps closer, his voice low and resolute. “We’ll find out, Aeri, I promise. And when we do, there will be hell to pay.” He places a hand on my shoulder, guiding me away from the scene. “Come on. I want to show you something.”
“Where are we going?” I ask as he opens the passenger door of his SUV. I climb in reluctantly, my mind racing.
“You need to see this before you make any rash decisions. I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong. I’ll prove it to you.” He starts the engine, and we drive out of the city.
“What about my truck?” I ask, staring out the window as the cityscape gives way to open roads.
“I’ll have another officer take it to your apartment.”
I sigh, resting my head against the cool glass. Images of Allison flash through my mind. Her laugh, her smile, the way she always had my back. The loss crashes over me in waves, each one heavier than the last. We were each other’s rocks. When one stumbled, the other was there to pick them up. When one of us fought with someone, the other was there for backup with no questions asked. She was my soul sister, my best friend, and now she is gone. I will never hear her laughter, I will never see her smile. I will never have the comfort of her presence next to me as I achieve milestones in my life. I will never get to hold her babies or comfort her when someone breaks her heart.
Zach pulls into a gravel driveway, stopping in front of a small white house nestled in the woods. “What I’m about to show you stays between us. Do you promise?”
I nod. “I promise.”
“This is the reason why I know the Royal Bastards don’t have anything to do with Allison’s death or the missing women and children.” He climbs out of the SUV, and I follow.
We step out, and the dry heat hits me like a wall. The house looks cozy, almost serene, with a porch swing swaying gently in the breeze. Security cameras are mounted at every corner. Whoever lives here values safety. A swing sits in the corner, moving gently in the breeze. There is a throw blanket on one end and a steaming cup of coffee on an end table. Someone left in a hurry.
Zach knocks on the door. A moment later, a young woman opens it. She’s maybe eighteen or nineteen, her blue eyes wary as she takes us in. Her long blonde hair is tied back in a messy ponytail, and she’s wearing a long-sleeved shirt and leggings. Her bitten nails, some crusted with dried blood, tell a story of their own. She’s nervous as hell about us being here. My gaze goes back to Zach, and I give him a questioning look.
“Aerianna, this is Denise. Denise, meet Aerianna,” Zach says gently.
Denise doesn’t acknowledge my greeting. Instead, she focuses on Zach. “What do you need?”
“Can we come in for a moment?” Zach asks.
Denise hesitates, then steps aside. “Sure, but don’t wake the others. We had a rough night, and they need their sleep.” Denise opens the door to allow us in.
We follow her inside, past a warm living room and into a modest kitchen. The smell of cinnamon and coffee fills the air, making my stomach growl. Denise pours us each a mug and places cinnamon buns on the table. She sits, clasping her hands tightly, her posture guarded.
“Take a seat. There is a good reason why you’re here.” Denise states before sitting down.
“There is, but only if you feel like today is a good day to talk,” Zach answers. His voice is warm and gentle toward Denise.
“What do you want to know?” she asks, her voice steady but cautious.
Zach speaks first. “Before you start, I need to give Aerianna some context. She’s working undercover to take down the people who did this to you. She just found out her best friend is dead, killed by the Black Market Railroad. She thinks the Royal Bastards might be involved. Can you share your story?”
“Sure.” Denise clasps her hands on the table and begins speaking. “Last year, I was at an end of the school year party. I didn’t have anything to drink, being the responsible one, but that didn’t matter. The man I was seeing showed up, and before I knew it, I blacked out. When I came too, I wasn’t at the party anymore. Instead, I was tied to a bed, naked, beaten and raped several times. This went on for, I think, three weeks. It was hard to tell. Each day, hour by hour, these men would come in and do things to me. Things I don’t want to remember. I thought I was lost, that there was no hope for me. That this would be my life. Violated day in and day out by men who had no right to touch me.” Tears stream down Denise’s face, breaking my heart. “One night, it was late. I was handcuffed to the bed and passed out from the pain of the man who raped me a little bit ago. I wanted to end my life, I was done, checked out, but that was before they rescued me.” Denise stares right into my eyes, deep into my soul. “Then, one night, they came for me. The Royal Bastards. They got me out and brought me here. Like they’ve done for all the women in this house.”
Her words hit me like a freight train. Everything I thought I knew about the Royal Bastards shatters. I stand abruptly, the untouched coffee and food forgotten.
Everything I’ve found points to them, so why would they save this young girl? Am I going at this all wrong? Can they help me instead of stopping me? My gaze cuts to Zach, and he nods his head. Yes. Yes, you can trust them.
“I need a minute.” I step outside, the fresh air doing little to clear the storm raging in my head.
The Royal Bastards aren’t the enemy. They’re trying to save women like Denise, women like Allison. And I’ve been fighting the wrong battle.
Not anymore.
I stare into the woods, resolve hardening in my chest. The Black Market Railroad took everything from me, and with the help of the Royal Bastards, I’m going to burn them to the ground.