Chapter 24 #2
“Someone might have a vendetta against you,” the deputy commissioner suggests.
“You have plenty of enemies in the business world. And if someone has been tailing you, they would know that Natalie and you are more than just colleagues. Or it could be someone aside from Lucas who has an issue with her. She works in HR for a multi-billion-dollar corporation. That alone makes enemies. She’s fired people.
Denied promotions. Rejected transfers. Someone could have held a grudge. ”
My jaw tightens. “This isn’t corporate sabotage. It was personal.”
“Maybe so. But if we’re talking about your enemy, if someone wanted to get under your skin, this would do it.”
I go still.
Because he’s not wrong.
Nothing could unravel me faster than Natalie being in danger. Whoever planned this didn’t just want her gone. They wanted me to suffer watching it happen.
“And we can’t rule out the mole angle either,” Jake says.
“We’re still not sure who leaked those files from Marketing.
Caleb was supposed to join from tomorrow.
He’s going to need time in nailing down the source.
This could all be part of something bigger.
” Jake rubs a hand across his jaw. “This is spiraling.”
“No,” I say. “This is war.”
They both look at me.
“I want every camera feed from a three-mile radius pulled,” I say. “I want every associate of Lucas or his mother vetted. I want full financials run on anyone Natalie’s had conflict with. Work, personal, academic. I don’t care if they argued with her in college over a parking spot. I want names.”
Derrick nods. “Already on it.”
“I also want someone with Natalie at all times if she’s alone. I’ll make arrangements.”
“One of us can do it,” Jake looks at me. I silently agree with him.
“I need you to stay close,” I murmur. “To Natalie. To Roland. To the rest of the family. We don’t know how wide this goes yet.”
Jake nods once, no hesitation. “I’ve got you.”
Derrick’s phone buzzes again, and he checks it, frowning. “Got a ping. The sedan turned down East Haven and vanished past third street. No cams after that point. Looks like someone knew where the blind spots were.”
“Which means it’s someone smart,” I mutter.
“Or experienced,” Jake adds.
Derrick tucks the phone away. “I’ll update you when I get more.”
We start walking back toward the hospital, our silence heavy with questions and too few answers.
Jake breaks it first. “You really think it wasn’t Lucas?”
“I think he’s a monster,” I say. “But this… this feels different.”
Jake watches me for a second, then says, “So we cast a wider net.”
“Wider. And deeper,” I say. “Because whoever did this made a mistake. ”
Jake’s expression sharpens. “What’s that?”
“They missed.”
The waiting outside post-op is its own kind of torture. Natalie refuses to leave, and I don’t plan on leaving her. Megan and Caleb leave the hospital to pick up some food while we wait. Roland is a family friend, so my parents are also sticking around.
I finally get a private room for Roland where we can wait, and Natalie leans into me as we sit on the couch, her head resting lightly on my shoulder.
I notice her shivering slightly—the hospital's air conditioning is relentless, and she's only wearing her sweater after I helped her out of her coat earlier.
I pull her closer, rubbing warmth into her arms. We haven't said much since Derrick left.
There's nothing else to say. Someone tried to kill her.
Roland nearly died saving her. And now he's lying in post-op, broken and bruised, while we wait to find out what damage was done.
I hear footsteps and then—“Natalie!”
Looking up, I see Sarah at the door. She’s followed closely by Alex.
She throws herself at Natalie. “Are you hurt? Let me look at you! Your hands!”
“They’re just grazes, Sarah,” Natalie assures her. “How did you find out…?”
“It was all over the news.” Alex looks between me and Natalie. “Ethan Wilder’s fiancée attacked.”
“Fiancée?”
“That was me,” Jake glances at me. “There were pictures of you and Natalie at the site of the accident, so I did some word twisting and fed them a narrative we can control. ”
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” Sarah rests her forehead against that of my fiancée’s. “You scared the shit out of me. The baby?”
“It’s fine. Roland was there. He shielded me.”
“Roland—?” Sarah blinks. “The guy who was hit? How is he?”
“He’ll make it.” Natalie hugs her tightly. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“It’s nearing five in the morning so we brought some breakfast.” Alex holds up a bag. “I hope it’s enough.”
Grateful sounds all around.
The food containers are passed around, and everybody digs in. Natalie seems tired, but seeing her friend seems to have revitalized her.
Alex nudges his head towards me. “Want to grab some coffee?”
I follow after him, knowing he wants to talk.
Once we’re out of the room, he asks, “Was it a hit? One of the news channels got ahold of the footage, and I saw it. It seemed deliberate. The car didn’t even sway.”
I fill him in as we get some badly brewed coffee from the hospital cafeteria.
“Do you want me to reach out to my brother?” His question is quiet. “If it’s a paid hit, he’ll know about it.”
I meet his gaze. “If you can. I want to rule it out.”
He nods. “I’ll get on it.”
We head back just as a nurse is walking towards the room. Seeing me, she hurries forward. “Mr. Blake is going to be moved out of post-op now. He’s awake, but still a bit groggy.”
“Thank you.”
I inform the others, and when Roland is brought in an hour later, I see Natalie rub her eyes. I wrap my hand around hers.
The room is quiet, too quiet, and Roland looks nothing like the man I know. Pale, eyes unfocused, machines beeping steadily beside him. There’s a bandage on his head and a nasal cannula delivering oxygen. His chest rises and falls with difficulty. He looks older. Fragile.
“Roland,” Natalie says gently, stepping closer to the bed.
His eyes open a little more. “Natalie,” he murmurs. His voice is hoarse.
I take in the wires and monitors, the bruises peeking out from under the hospital gown. The nurse told us he suffered a serious concussion. A broken rib punctured his lung, which was the main concern during surgery. They managed to stabilize him, but recovery will take time.
He blinks slowly, trying to focus on Natalie. “You’re okay?”
She nods quickly, her voice catching. “Thanks to you. You saved me.”
He offers a weak smile, but it quickly fades. “I... I don’t remember.”
I exchange glances with Natalie.
Her face falls, but she masks it quickly. “That’s okay. It’s probably the concussion. The doctors said you hit your head pretty hard.”
Roland shifts uncomfortably. His breath rattles faintly.
Natalie pulls the chair closer to his bed, her voice thick. “I’ll come visit you every day, okay? I’ll make sure you’re not alone.”
I don’t love the idea, but one look at her, and I know I can’t stop her.
“I’ll bring her,” I say quietly. “But only when you're strong enough.”
Roland gives a faint nod.
Natalie’s eyes brim with tears. “You were trying to tell me something, remember? Right before the car came. You said you needed to tell me something.”
Roland’s brow creases. “I did?”
“Yes. You said it was important.”
His eyes flicker with effort, searching for something in the fog of his memory, but he shakes his head slowly. “I... I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
Natalie covers his hand with hers. “That’s okay. It’ll come back. Rest now.”
The curtain draws back, and my father steps in. Stoic as ever, but his eyes soften when they land on Roland.
“You look like hell,” he mutters.
“Like you look any better,” Roland rasps with a faint smile.
Dad pulls up a chair and rests a hand on Roland’s shoulder.
“I’ll stay with him,” Dad says without looking at me. “Helen and I will stay with him.”
I nod. “Let us know if anything changes.”
“Or if you need anything,” Natalie murmurs. She gives Roland’s hand one last squeeze before we step out into the hallway.
Nick is leaning against the wall outside. Alone.
“Hey,” he says, shifting uncomfortably.
“Hey.”
Natalie excuses herself to join Sarah as the rest of the family check on Roland, leaving us alone.
Nick runs a hand through his hair. “I just... I wanted to say sorry. For Elisha. What she said earlier. That was out of line.”
I nod, crossing my arms. “You don’t have to apologize for her, Nick.”
His jaw tightens. “She’s just... overwhelmed. This pregnancy’s been rough.”
“So has this marriage. You don’t seem happy. You haven’t for a while.”
His shoulders stiffen. “It’s not that simple.”
“Isn’t it?”
Nick glares at me. “Don’t do this right now, Ethan. I know what I’m doing. I can handle my own family.”
“It doesn’t look like you can.”
“I’m not going to quit on my marriage just because we’re having a rough time. You don’t walk away the minute it gets hard.”
I sigh. “I’m not saying walk away. I’m saying be honest with yourself. Whatever this is, Nick, it’s not a marriage. She’s breaking you.”
He looks away, silent.
I let it go. Now isn’t the time. Not with Roland fighting to recover and Natalie barely holding it together.
“I’m not trying to come at you,” I say after a moment. “I just... I hate seeing you like this. That’s all.”
Nick nods once, but the tension doesn’t leave his face. “I’ll talk to her. When the timing’s better.”
Fair enough.
“I’ll go take a look at Roland. You should take Natalie home. She needs to rest.”
I nod at him and make my way over to Natalie, who is talking to Sarah. I note Alex’s protective stance as he hovers over the latter, and I hide my smile.
I wrap an arm around Natalie’s shoulder. “Let’s go home. It’s been a long night.”
The drive home is quiet. Natalie leans against the window, her eyes fluttering shut now and then, the adrenaline finally wearing off. I keep one hand on the wheel, the other resting over hers. Her fingers are cold. My grip tightens.
By the time we step into the apartment, she's half-asleep on her feet. I lead her to the bedroom without a word. She doesn't protest, just moves like she's floating underwater. Shock, exhaustion—both settling into her bones.
Sitting her on the edge of the bed, I kneel to take off her shoes. She watches me with heavy eyes as I help her out of her wool coat and sweater, leaving her in just her soft cotton camisole.
"You don't have to?—"
"I know," I say quietly. "Let me."
She doesn't argue.
Once she’s lying under the covers, I dim the lights, turning on the air conditioner. Her lashes flicker, and I brush the hair from her face.
“I’m right here,” I whisper.
She gives a faint nod and closes her eyes.
I wait until her breathing evens out before I move.
In the living room, the silence is oppressive.
I head to the bar and pick up a bottle of scotch.
Choosing a glass from the kitchen cabinet, I pour myself a drink, trying to compose myself.
That car… The way it veered… It wasn’t random.
It was precision. Intent. The kind of intent that wants to destroy.
That kind of malice doesn’t just go away.
I should’ve seen it. Should’ve noticed we were being followed. Should’ve had someone watching her from the moment I realized she was a target.
This is on me.
I grip the edge of the counter until my knuckles go white.
She could’ve died.
The thought slices through me like a knife, vicious and cruel.
Natalie—my brilliant, stubborn, messy, beautiful Natalie—nearly got torn from this world in a flash of twisted metal and screeching tires.
And I would’ve been left with nothing but her blood on my hands and the sound of her scream echoing in my skull.
I shut my eyes, breathing through the rising burn in my chest.
Whoever is behind this… they made a mistake. A big one.
They touched something that belongs to me .
And that darkness in me, the one I’ve buried beneath layers of control and reason, starts to stir.
I want to hunt them. Tear through every shadow, overturn every lie, and make them regret ever laying eyes on her. I want them to feel fear—cold and paralyzing—the same way I did when I saw that car heading straight for her.
I will not let anyone get that close again.
I’ll put security on her, move her if I have to, burn down anything that threatens her.
She’s mine.
And no one takes what’s mine and lives to try again.
I force myself to breathe.
I’ll be calm tomorrow. Strategic. Calculated.
But tonight, as the city begins to awaken and the woman I love lies bruised and broken just a few feet away…
Tonight, I let the monster inside me sharpen his teeth.