Page 17 of The Last Shadow

They know.Olivia’s words echo in my mind, heavy with an undeniable certainty. Someone is onto something, and until I can untangle this mess, I have to keep my head down.

I take a deep breath and get my emotions under control as quickly as I can. “Do you have any idea what they talked about?”

“Olivia didn’t say anything that I’m aware of. She’s been silent since their visit, and I thought you’d want to know.”

Nurse Tara is the ideal little informant. She’s got a soft spot for her patients and doesn’t hesitate to throw anyone under the bus as long as she protects her patients. “I wanted to put a stop to it, but you know how the law is.”

“It’s fine,” I assure her. “Is this the first time? How is Olivia?”

“It’s the first time that I know of. And Olivia is Olivia. Totally unbothered.”

Good. “So, she’s fine?”

“Seems to be yes, but she’s spending more time staring at the ocean.”

I nod even though she can’t see me. “Okay. Keep her calm and relaxed, and if she needs anything else, please let me know. I’ll be out there tomorrow morning, early.”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.” I end the call and sit back in my chair, staring into space for much longer than I should. What the hell does Frankie think she’s doing, questioning my sister about anything?

Are the police thetheyOlivia meant when she said thatthey know? What do they know and does that mean Frankie and her partner have figured something out that she hasn’t shared with me? I don’t have any answers and that doesn’t sit right with me.

I’ve navigated these waters for years without a hitch, slipping through the cracks like a shadow. But now? There’s a gnawing unease creeping in, a little voice whispering about the possibility of being caught. It’s absurd, I know, but I’m stuck with this unsettling feeling. All I can do is shake it off.

I’ve been keeping my head down, a necessary tactic to slip past Francesca and her partner’s watchful eyes. But it’s not enough to quell the anger inside me. The itch is relentless, urging me to hit the streets and remind those idiots that I’m still here. I want to see the fear flicker in their eyes, to disrupt the insignificant lives they’ve created.

They don’t get peace.

Not now, not ever.

I head to the conference room to meet with the men from Volper Technologies, even though it’s the last fucking place on earth I want to be. I need their technology, and they need my money, soit’s a match made in heaven, but who are we kidding? I can do this—and more—on my own.

I just don’t want them to have the technology.

I head to the conference room to meet with the men from Volper Technologies, even though it’s the last place I want to be. I need their technology, and they need my money, so it’s a match made in heaven. But let’s be real—I could do this and more on my own. I just don’t want them to have the tech.

As I approach the conference room, I hear the faint chatter of excited voices coming from inside. I take a breath and push the door open, stepping in.

Inside, a trio of Gen Z tech nerds sit at the table, their sharp angles and even sharper smiles suggesting they’ve just come from a fashion shoot. They look like they’re about to audition for TikTok, brimming with energy and enthusiasm.

I take a seat, leaning back in my chair to exude an aura of calm confidence. This is my domain, and I intend to remind them of that.

“Gentlemen let’s dispense with the pleasantries,” I say, my voice steady and commanding.

“Mr. Wolfe, thank you for meeting with us,” the frontman, a slick-haired kid named Carson, chimes in. “We appreciate your time.”

“I want your company. Give me a number.”

They look at each other, stunned, as if I’ve just thrown a grenade into the room. Carson clears his throat, trying to regain his composure. “Uh, well, we were hoping to present our proposal first?—”

“I’m not interested in your pitch,” I interrupt, holding up a hand. “Just the numbers. What’s it going to take for me to own you?”

Another guy, slightly taller with a nervous twitch, stammers, “We have innovative technology that can change the game?—”

I cut him off again. “I’m sure you do. But let’s skip the sales pitch. What’s the price?”

The room goes still, a tense silence settling as they scramble to gather their thoughts. Carson opens his mouth, then closes it, clearly thrown by my bluntness. “Well, we?—”

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