Page 41 of Unmasked Legacy

The choice, ultimately, is mine.

IN A STARTLING DEVELOPMENT, authorities have uncovered evidence suggesting that the notorious Shadow Butcher, long believed to have acted alone, may have had an accomplice. This revelation comes after a decade of investigation, shedding new light on the infamous case that gripped the nation. The police are now pursuing fresh leads, hoping to bring all those involved to justice and provide closure to the victims' families. This breakthrough marks a significant turning point in the ongoing efforts to unravel the full extent of the crimes committed.

I stare at the television screen, my hand around the ice-cold beer bottle, and even though I’m hearing it with my own ears, I can’t believe it. How is that possible? How could they only be finding this out now? Is it because of the missing girl?

My heart feels as though it has come to a complete stand still, and I fear I’ve forgotten how to breathe.

“Fuck me,” Wolfe growls from beside me. “It never fuckin’ ends.”

I slowly turn, staring at him, my eyes wide. “An accomplice? I never saw my father with anybody, let alone someone willing to help him murder people. How is this possible? I need to call Harry and find out ...”

Wolfe snatches the phone from my hand when I pull it out, his eyes flashing with a warning. “Not right now.”

I stare at him, confused. “Why not?”

“Because you don’t know how involved those cops are.”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “No offense, but I think you’re paranoid.”

He stares into my very soul when he growls the next words. “If you’ve seen what I’ve seen, you would know you can’t trust anybody. Let me look into it, I’ll get your answers.”

I bite my lip. I have a choice: I can either trust Wolfe, or go to the police. I can’t have both, he’s making that very clear. Shoulders sagging, I exhale. “Fine.”

“I said I’d help you, Mera, and I will.”

“I hate it when you call me that,” I mumble, more to myself than him.

His mouth tips up, a half smile that makes him look so fucking delicious I am forced to focus on the beer before me so I don’t try and jump his bones. I’ve had that rejection once; I don’t need it again.

“Sorry, Kitten,” he murmurs, his voice low and husky.

He knows what he does to me.

He knows, and he loves it.

“Can I have another beer?” I call out to the bartender, ignoring Wolfe’s intense stare.

He obliges and brings me another beer, then he proceeds to make Wolfe another whiskey without him having to say a single word. Fucking bikers.

“Seriously?”

The familiar voice has me outwardly rolling my eyes as I spin in my chair to see Esme and Harriet walking across the floor toward us. How in the ever-loving hell did she know we were here? Is she following Wolfe? That’s not weird at all.

“Um hello, stalker,” I say, louder than I had anticipated.

I’m a little drunk.

And a little stunned.

So, I’ll say whatever I want.

Esme’s eyes swing to mine, and the hatred burning behind them is enough to bring any normal person to their knees. Not me. She does little to scare me, and I’m quite frankly tired of her crap. I’m in no mood for her today, and I’m more than ready to make sure she knows it.

“What the hell is going on here?” she demands, crossing her arms as she turns her entire body toward Wolfe.

I look over to him and see his eyes are flaring with a deep rage that actually does scare me.

My guess is that he doesn’t like being followed, and he sure as shit doesn’t like being told what to do.

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