58. Ace
Ace
Idon’t like this plan.
Not one damn part of it.
“She’s not bait,” I say flatly.
“She’s the reason he comes,” Blaze replies.
Same thing.
“Not happening.”
Tessa steps into my space.
Close.
Steady.
“Look at me,” she says.
I do.
Reluctantly.
But I do.
“I’m not the same person I was seven years ago,” she says. “I’m not the girl who didn’t know what was happening. I’m not that scared young lady who didn’t know how to fight for herself. ”
My jaw tightens.
“I know.”
“Then trust me.”
That hits.
Hard.
Because this isn’t just about the plan.
It’s about her.
About us.
I study her.
Really look.
At the strength.
The fire.
The woman who didn’t break.
And yeah…
I trust her.
Doesn’t mean I like it.
“Fine,” I say.
“But we do this my way.”
“Your way,” she agrees.
Blaze lays it out fast.
“Tessa goes back to the shop. Normal routine. Lights on. Doors open.”
“She won’t be alone,” I cut in.
“No,” Blaze says. “We’ll be set up inside, outside, across the street.”
“Eyes everywhere,” Trigger adds.
“Exit routes covered,” Beast finishes.
“And me?” I ask.
Blaze meets my gaze.
“You’re with her. Not visible.”
Exactly where I want to be.
The shop feels different this time.
Not broken.
Not invaded.
Set.
Prepared.
Tessa moves through it, turning on lights, straightening things.
Reclaiming it.
Her space.
Her life.
I stay in the back room.
Out of sight.
Watching everything through the glass reflection.
Every angle.
Every shadow.
Trigger outside.
Beast above.
Blaze on feeds.
We’re locked in.
Now we wait.
Time stretches.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Then—
It hits.
That shift.
That instinct.
“Movement,” Blaze says through comms.
My grip tightens.
“Where?”
“Front. Approaching slow.”
Of course he is.
Careful.
Confident.
He thinks he’s in control.
Not tonight.
The bell rings.
Soft.
Deadly.
I don’t move.
Not yet.
I watch.
And there he is.
Sheriff Dalton.
Walking in like he owns the place.
Like nothing changed.
“Tessa,” he says.
Calm.
Familiar.
I keep my voice low.
“Target confirmed.”
“Copy,” Trigger says.
“All eyes on,” Blaze adds.
We’ve got him.
Now he just has to make his move.
“I heard you were out and moved to Eagle River,” he tells her.
“I’ve been out,” she replies.
A faint smile.
“Yeah. I know.”
Of course he does.
He steps closer.
Too close.
“You’ve caused some trouble.”
“Funny,” she says. “I was thinking the same thing.”
There.
The shift.
“Careful,” he murmurs.
The threat finally surfaces.
He circles her.
Testing.
“Anytime,” Trigger whispers.
“Hold,” I say.
Not yet.
I want him to show it.
“I know about the drive,” she says.
He stills.
Just for a second.
Enough.
“Do you?” he asks.
“I found it.”
Silence.
Then—
That smile.
Cold.
Dangerous.
“Well… that complicates things.”
His hand moves.
Toward his weapon.