Chapter 40 #2
The way Zigzag said his name that time made me think he knew it was an alais. How much had he uncovered?
“I’d never been to his house, which must sound odd, but he said that it was best if I immersed myself at Wayward. I was so thankful that I would’ve agreed to just about anything, so I did.” Zigzag held up his fingers and started listing the things Christov had done for him.
“He called me every other day. Sent me gifts all the time. Took me out to dinner every month. He even gave me a platinum card to buy anything I wanted, including my computer stuff.” Zigzag hung his head.
“Most of all…he told me that he was proud of me and my progress. He told me he loved me like a son, but all he was doing was buying me off, one piece at a time.”
Zigzag turned his head and scrubbed away a tear. Fuck I hated that I understood this guy. They were the same mind games Lawrence had pulled.
“Anyway…up until then, I’d spent every holiday alone.
I thought I could surprise him for Christmas, but when I arrived Sabastian and Ivy were parking.
They hugged and smiled, then they walked into the house together like a happy family.
That was when I started digging and realized he had a whole other identity.
Christov Ivankov,” he said, disgustedly.
Ren stood and held out her hand to help him up. Zigzag accepted the gesture, then walked over to his desk and grabbed a tissue for his nose.
“It took some time to put everything together. Part of me didn’t want to know what he might have done with the access I gave him. I only just found the links between Canada, Halloween night, and the O’Briens getting shot. I felt sick, and I…I cut the feed.”
His eyes filled with tears as he looked at Blake and Theo.
“I’m sorry if my involvement played a part in what happened. I never meant for anyone to get hurt. I’m so, so deeply sorry.”
“Here I was blaming Sabastian, and all this time, it was you,” Blake said, his voice tight. “Fuck you. My mother didn’t deserve to die, not even to keep you out of prison.”
Blake walked out the door, slamming it behind him.
“I’ll go make sure he’s okay,” Myles said, following him out.
Ren watched them go, but I could tell she wanted to chase after them. Instead, she did the queenliest thing she’d done yet. She sucked in a deep breath and focused on Zigzag.
“Did he come here and speak to you on Saturday,” Ren asked.
“Yeah, how did you know that?”
“Because he stopped in to see Sabastian while I was with him. Did he want anything?”
Zigzag nodded. “He said he lost visual of the club. I told him that I cut the feed. He got mad, like really mad. Said that if I didn’t want to land myself in federal prison for the rest of my life, then I’d better reestablish the connection.
I told him to get out. I can’t have more blood on my hands.
I’m not a killer. I don’t want any of this.
I just wanted to go to school, maybe work for Apple or the government as a white hat.
” He sat down on the bed. “Now, I’m just waiting for the Feds to arrive and cart me off. ”
“First smart thing you’ve done,” I growled. “It would’ve been better if you’d come to us when you realized who the fuck he was.”
“Actually, we might be able to use this,” Ren said, tapping her chin.
“What do you mean,” Liam asked.
“Zigzag, can you create a video loop of the club? Something long enough that wouldn’t be caught unless they were watching 24/7.”
He nodded. “Yeah, that’s easy. I can even make one for each day of the week if you want.”
“Let’s help each other out,” Ren said. “This is what I’m thinking. First, you’re going to find out who sent me those texts, and not because I’m going to get you a date, but because you owe us for the shit you’ve already caused.”
“Fair. What else?”
“Make a good loop. At least an hour per day, and reestablish the link for Christov. That keeps you out of hot water and stops him from seeing anything important. Then, you’re going to tell us anything else he asks you to do.
Next, I want you to put a tracker on Christov’s phone and give that to Nash. ”
He grimaced. “I…”
Ren pointed at him.
“No. You said you didn’t want anyone to get hurt. This is your chance to prove it. We need to know where he is and what he is up to, because he is out to hurt me. Good luck getting Ivy back if something happens to me.”
Zigzag ran his hand through his hair. It was clearly a nervous tic of his because he had done it more than a few times during our conversation.
“Fine…I’ll do it. I’m so going to prison, so I might as well help the good guys for a change,” Zigzag said, standing from the bed.
“If you do, consider it penance for having a hand in the death of a woman who never hurt a soul,” Theo said quietly.
His eyes were shrouded, but the pain was evident.
“You’re right. I will.” Zigzag walked toward the laptop. “Let’s do this.”
Ren grabbed my arm and walked me to the other side of the room.
“I need to go find Blake. If there is anything else you can think of for him to do for us, do it. Christov manipulated the entire situation, and I feel for him, but…”
“We need answers by any means necessary,” I finished.
“I hate saying that.”
Cupping her face, I kissed her forehead.
“Go, we’ve got this,” I whispered.
On her way out, she touched Theo’s shoulder like she wanted to remind him that she was here for him, too. He gave her a nod, and Ren opened the door.
“Whoa, where are you going,” Zigzag asked.
Terror filled his eyes like he knew that she was the only thing keeping him from being thrown out the fifth-story window. She probably was.
“I have to go. You’ll be fine,” she said and closed the door before he could object any further.
Walking across the room, I held his gaze.
“Get to work.”