28. Chapter 24
Eli
Zoe…
I can’t tear my gaze from her, captivated by the shimmer of her dress under the soft, ambient light. Everything fades as I focus on the gentle curve of her smile.
I can’t take my eyes off her, and I’m not even trying.
For the past ten minutes, I’ve been standing here like an idiot, looking down from the gallery of Ryker’s office.
She’s sitting down there, at the bar. Chatting with the bartender. They’re laughing. Curiosity killed the cat, but I’m still dying to know what they’re talking about.
After returning from the mission, I could see happiness on her face. Happiness and relief…
As soon as she saw me, she climbed onto me like a tree. Wrapped her legs and arms close around me. Didn’t let go for the next few minutes. So I sat there with her in my arms until she calmed down.
It twisted into a passionate spell between us.
The air crackled, a low hum vibrating in my chest, as the unspoken thing between us coiled, tightening like a hot, invisible thread, pulling us into its potent, intoxicating weave.
I could get used to being welcomed home like that.
And now we’re in Feather. All together.
Everyone who took part in the operation is celebrating downstairs. They’re having fun, drinking, and enjoying the company of the girls. And Zoe is part of it. She’s celebrating our victory.
When we got here, Theo surprised me. Spare with his words, he said to her, “Good job, little one.”
That’s more than any of us expected.
I’m proud of her too. So damn proud.
“A little while longer, and you’ll burn through the glass with that laser gaze,” Theo says, standing next to me. “Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried,” I answer, taking a sip of Coke.
“And that’s why you can’t stop staring? Are you afraid someone will snatch her up?”
No answer. I only grit my teeth. The very thought of it ruins my perfect mood.
“Don’t tease him,” Ryker warns, standing on my other side, taking a sip of whiskey. “Zoe did great. Thanks to her, we foiled Veirix’s takeover. Took down the weapons container.”
“And Nico’s dead,” I add.
“Yeah. And Nico’s dead. Though that doesn’t change much.”
That’s true.
Veirix, like most organizations this size, will simply change its leader. Same as in the Pact. James died; Ryker took his place.
“But Ricardo and Damien are alive. And Emilio wasn’t with them. Which one of them will take the lead?”
“We’ll see.” Ryker gives a sigh. “Anyway, we’ll worry about that later. Today we’re celebrating.”
“You should find a new place for this sort of thing,” Theo adds.
We both ignore him.
There’s no sense in it. My best friend has no intention of staying at the top of the Pact for the rest of his life. It’s all temporary. And Feather—the income from all the circles—is enough so that his grandchildren won’t have to work.
One thing keeps bothering me, though.
We didn’t find Ortega’s body.
Or Damien’s, of course.
I thought Ortega was dead. None of us checked. Apparently, though, that wasn’t the case.
“Doesn’t it worry you that we’ve opened the door for Aiden and his father?” I ask. “We made Veirix weaker by killing Nico.”
Ryker takes another sip. “Not particularly. It’s been a while, and Aiden hasn’t made a move. My gut tells me I was wrong about his motives. He’s plotting something else. I haven’t figured out what yet.”
“And I feel he’s two steps ahead of us,” Theo adds.
From the corner of my eye, I glance at him. For the first time, I take my eyes off Zoe. Theo keeps his eyes on the floor, though. Frowning, he’s deep in thought. Then he speaks again. “We should pull her out of the mole hole now.”
Interesting…
He’s talking about Zoe. It’s almost like he’s…
Worried?
Something immediately stirs inside me…
The urge to say out loud that she’s mine. And only mine.
But I don’t. Something holds me back.
“Yeah... It’s what we planned. Perhaps not right away, so he doesn’t get suspicious. The guy’s not stupid.”
Ryker’s words distract me from Theo.
I spot my woman in the crowd again. She’s talking to Ethan, but at some point she stops. Looks up. Straight at me. Can she sense me? And my gaze on her?
“Let’s go downstairs to the guys. We should be part of the party,” I say, and at that very second, someone knocks.
Ryker invites the visitor inside. Dave from security enters.
“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Elliot, but the courier brought this for you.” He’s holding a cardboard box in his hands.
My muscles knot tight, a sudden clench that shoots through me, a palpable rigidity taking hold.
Too fast. Too hard.
A cold wave of alarm washes over me, prickling my skin. Glancing at each of my brothers, I see in their eyes that I’m not the only one feeling this.
“Just a regular courier?” I ask, just to be sure.
“Yes,” Dave confirms, placing the package on the desk.
When we’re alone, we approach it. Ry pulls a switchblade from his pocket and cuts the tape.
That feeling returns, the same one I had at the terminal.
Something’s wrong here…
But I keep quiet.
Ryker pulls back the paper.
And then we all stop moving.
Not because we want to.
Only because our bodies… simply refuse to cooperate.
Inside, in a clear bag tied with a red ribbon…
...lies Ricardo Ortega’s head!
His eyes are still open. And they’re staring right at us.
His mouth is shut tight. The skin is gray, without a drop of blood.
“What the fuck is this?” Theo says what we’re all thinking. “Disgusting.”
Someone sent us his head? Why? What’s the point?
And now? After the whole mess?
Ryker grabs the bag, lifts the head, and examines it for a moment, turning it over. But underneath it is a note.
I take it. Open it. Read it aloud.
“Thank you for your help. I’m adding Ricardo to Nico’s collection.”
A note. A printout. A meaningless clue.
Yet it speaks volumes.
“What does this mean?” Theo asks.
“Fuck,” Ryker growls.
He throws the head back into the box, grabs the back of his neck with his hands, and leans back. For a moment, he stares at the ceiling, hoping to find an answer there.
“It means this isn’t our victory,” I add.
Ryker finishes my sentence, “We helped them. Without even knowing it.”