Epilogue
One Month Later
As I sit in my office at Cryptoball, my mind is racing, waiting for Adam to show up. My instincts about people are usually dead-on, but how did I not see this coming? I hope I’m wrong. Could he really be capable of something like this?
I look at the texts I’ve sent Dani that have gone unresponded. I haven’t heard from her since she left my place and since Gideon was killed, and it’s not without trying. I’ve been calling, and I’ve shown up to her place. She refuses to see me.
Declan Kruk
Ignoring me isn’t going to make anything better.
Tuesday, December 4th
Declan Kruk
I’m skipping the funeral because I don’t want you to have any added stress today.
Wednesday, December 6th
Declan Kruk
Please call me back.
Thursday, December 7th
Declan Kruk
You do not have to suffer in silence. Please call me.
Saturday, December 9th
Declan Kruk
I’m out front. I know you’re home. We don’t have to talk. I want to make sure you’re okay.
Tuesday, December 12th
Declan Kruk
You don’t have to feel guilty about drinking again. I just want to see you.
Thursday, December 14th
Declan Kruk
Please call these therapists.
Tuesday, December 19th
Declan Kruk
Groceries are outside of your place. Please eat something.
Wednesday, December 27th
Declan Kruk
I’m worried about you.
I decide to text her again.
Declan Kruk
Give me proof of life, and this will be my last text.
I know she’s alive. I know she’s in Bali with Kelsey. She’s drunk before two o’clock in the afternoon each day, but at least she’s safe. I’m so fucking happy I hired the security and know that she’s safe.
Dani Sommer
She responded. It shouldn’t make me smile this much. Progress. I exhale, relieved—angry, but relieved.
“Sorry I’m late,” Adam says, entering my office. I wait for him to take a seat. Then, stare at him. I watch his face. Is he capable of it? “What?”
“I’m done working with you. This is the last time you and I will talk face-to-face. My lawyers?—”
“What are you talking about?”
“I can’t prove it.” I test, staring at him, examining his body language. His knee isn’t bouncing. He doesn’t look like he’s sweating.
“Prove what?” There isn’t a flinch or a tell. His tone is even. However, my gut is telling me my suspicions are right.
“You’ve been making emotional business decisions. I no longer need your connections. My lawyers?—”
“What are you talking about?” Adam looks genuinely confused, and I press harder, hoping for a reaction.
“Dani’s shattered into a million fucking pieces right now because of you.” I want to kill him myself, right here, right now. “If she can’t recover from this …” I hold back tears, hoping he doesn’t notice.
She was so close. So fucking close to being sober. So close to finally being mine.
“This is about Dani? You’re still pining over her?” There’s a slight shift in his eye. It’s not enough for brash action.
“I will fucking kill you myself if I can prove Gideon is dead because of you.”
He leans back and chuckles. Is it that he thinks this is the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard, or is it something else? “You think I did something?”
I raise my brow and bite my thumbnail, assessing him.
“Timing is everything,” he says, leaning back into the chair. “We both knew they would end at some point. The how is shocking … but sometimes it pays to wait.”
Six fucking years. I’ve been waiting for six years.
“You’re done with Dani,” I say, voice low, fists clenched. “This is the last time we’re talking about this.”
Adam takes the hint, turning to leave, his expression shifting to smug as he looks over his shoulder before leaving.
“Dani is mine,” I definitively state. “She’s always been mine.”
To be continued in The Reporter, the next book in the SAGA series.