Page 33 of How Much For A Broken Heart?

“What about tying Amos to James Lerner’s death?” I asked, my heart heavy as stone. Ethan’s expression shifted enough for me to know he had intel. Grief was a tight knot in my chest, making it hard to breathe. My throat felt constricted, and my body tensed, as if bracing for an impact. “Tell me.”

“He ordered the hit, or at least, the hit was handed out by him as ordered from above.”

“And there was no above,” Ryder summarized.

I was numb, detached, staring at this as if I was an observer, as if that wasn’t my charge who Amos had killed.

“I will kill him,” I said, no emotion in my tone; it was a simple promise.

“If that is your intention, then you won’t play a part in his capture. The target will be handed to VCRS,” Ethan replied in the same tone.

“What? No, he doesn’t deserve any more time on this fucking earth,” I yelled. Pain knifed through my chest and belly, and I realized I’d moved too much, too fast. I knew the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section at the Justice Department was the official team of prosecutors who should be responsible for Amos and whatever dregs of Cooper River were out there.

But Amos was dying for what he’d done to people in my charge. To James and Max, and for taking Annie away.

Ryder came over and fussed around my pillow, as if he were trying to help, but when I met his level gaze, his brown eyes were filled with warning.

I opened my mouth to tell Ethan and his team that I didn’t give a shit about what they wanted, because when I had Amos, I’d kill him slowly for every hurt I’d seen.

For James.

For taking Annie.

For killing Max.

For the hundreds who’d died because of his trafficking, or weapons, or the drugs he distributed.

Ryder had seen me kill the crew members, and he hadn’t judged me for it, and hell, I assumed he understood the need to stop what I’d seen, but maybe he saw value in the law having their time with Amos?

Did I respect that?

I didn’t even know him. So, I said nothing.

“All intel we gather will end up on that screen for you, there’s financial records, photos, whatever we have, within reason. Our aim is to find Amos, and your insight is valuable. Consider yourself conscripted to Shadow Team as a resource.”

I could work with that—wanted to be kept in the loop.

“Daily briefings, hourly if you have more,” I insisted.

Ryder shot me a scowl, and I responded with my best nonchalant expression, making it clear I didn’t care what he thought about me being kept in the loop.

One by one, the team left, following Ethan out, until it was just Ryder, and it was clear he had something to say, given how he was hovering by the door. Even more obvious when he shut it and sat back down in the chair.

“What?” I snapped, belligerent, and so damn exhausted I couldn’t handle a lecture.

“We should talk?”

“No,” I said, then closed my eyes, then added, “fuck. “Fuck off, I’m tired.”

I couldn’t fight sleep, and the next time I woke, it was dark, and I assumed he’d left, but either he hadn’t left, or he’d come back.

Because he was in that damn chair, head tilted, his breathing deep and even as he slept.

Why wouldn’t the asshole leave me alone?

Chapter Thirteen

RYDER

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