Page 70 of (Un)Rivaled

“I wasted so much time in corporate law, defending the people he abhorred.” She looked back at the sign. “He told me the law was meant to help people, that we were responsible for keeping the world just and fair. And I failed that…” Her voice trailed off. “At least, I used to.”

I brushed the hair away from her eyes. “What are you saying, Devyn?”

“I think I want to make a change.” She inhaled slowly. “I want to be more like my dad, defending those without a voice.” A tension lifted from her shoulders with each word, and I could feel how much this meant to her, how much it would have meant to her dad to see her walking in his footsteps. But that didn’t matter to me, other than it mattered to my wife. All I ever wanted was for her to be happy, and if this was the way, I’d support her until my dying breath.

“Then we’ll make it happen,” I said, my word as my vow. “I’m with you, Ace.”

She smiled at me then reached up, kissing me. While I loved her fiery kisses, the ones that led to us tangled up together and her screaming my name, I might love these more. She only intended them as a simple touch, as if she needed to feel my lips on hers.

Tomas chuckled as he approached us. “I appreciate a touching moment as much as the next guy, but there’s something in here you’re going to want to see.”

Devyn and I followed him into an office off the side hallway, one with Peter’s name etched on the front door. As Devyn stepped into the room, I held Tomas back for a second. “Please tell me this is good news.”

He chuckled as he pat my shoulders. “Trust me, my friend, this isverygood news.”

I stepped inside and found Devyn in the middle of a sea of boxes, her hand covering her mouth. She turned toward me, a broad smile etched on her face. “They’re here, Gray. They’re all here.”

Hours later, we were still digging through boxes, trying to make sense of the information. While Peter had a specific system in life, in death, Diane had piled everything into random boxes without labels. Without a case name or client information to go on, all we had were his notes, different things he’d researched while he was alive.

By the time morning rolled around, we’d figured out we were in way over our heads, especially me. While Devyn and Tomas had the background to filter out the critical information from the rest of it, I had no clue. Sitting andstaring at papers was making my brain itch, and the effort it took to keep my attention on the page was exhausting.

“This is useless,” Devyn sighed. “None of it makes any sense. He’s writing in some type of code, and I can’t figure it out.”

“I’m going to find us some coffee,” Tomas said as he stood and stretched his limbs. “Please tell me somewhere in this town makes a decent cup.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Right on Main. Try a pastry too. You won’t regret it.”

Tomas nodded as he walked out the door, leaving Devyn and me alone with the ghosts of her father’s life. She thumbed through one of his journals, her brow furrowing as she looked over each page. I reached out, placing my hand on top of hers. “We’re going to figure this out, Ace.”

“How?” she said, her voice hushed. “How are we ever going to figure this out? David’s not just twenty steps ahead, but he’s twentyyearsahead. He’s got unlimited resources, and it’s just the three of us fumbling around in the dark.” She closed the journal at the same time as she closed her eyes. “I keep waiting for this moment when the dots all finally connect, but I’m starting to feel like it’s never going to happen. Like, I’m going to spend the rest of my life watching David continue to ruin people’s lives, and there is nothing I can do about it.”

I pulled her into my lap. “I know everything seems dark right now, Ace, but if anyone can solve this, it’s you.”

“You have too much faith in me,” she whispered as she dropped her head onto my chest.

“Never,” I answered, wrapping my arms around her. “You are the smartest person I’ve ever known, Devyn Winters. But you’re so much more than that. You’re clever and kind–” She snorted. “You are. Maybe you don’t let theworld see that side of you, but I do.” I tilted up her chin. “And if it takes us a lifetime to put together the pieces, we’ll do it. Together. Because I know you’re going to figure it out, Devyn, and I want to be at your side when you do.”

Her eyes searched mine, so full of emotion, it made my heart beat a little faster. The unspoken words hung between us, and I was desperate to give them life. Even though Devyn told Calla she loved me, I’d pushed it out of my mind. I wanted her to give them to me freely, to know if she fell, I’d be there to catch her.

“Gray,” Devyn started to say. “You know I?—”

My phone blared to life, breaking the moment between us. I wanted to chuck the fucking thing out of the window, but once I saw my mom’s picture on the screen, I started to panic. Even though I stopped by their house every day, I felt guilty I wasn’t able to be there for her as much as I used to.

I pressed the button, answering the call on speaker. “Hey, Mom.”

“Don’t you,hey, Mom, me,” she said. “Do you want to know what Belinda from the FreshMart just told me?”

I groaned, running my hand over my face and along my beard. “I don’t think I do.”

As she spoke, Devyn crawled out of my lap, returning to the journal she’d just abandoned. Even though she still looked stressed, there wasn’t as much defeat in her expression, as if our brief conversation had brought more fire into her veins. She traced each line with her finger, and I was content to watch her work—at least until my mother’s voice blared through the phone.

“Well, too bad. She told me the reason you’ve been at your house so much is becauseDevyn Wintersis staying there with you.”

Devyn’s eyes jumped up to meet mine, and then sherolled her lips together, failing to keep from laughing. As my mother continued to berate me, she mouthed, “You’re in trouble.”

I raised my brows. Two could play that game. “Yeah, Mom. Devyn is staying at the house with me. I was waiting until things calmed down a little before telling you.” I smirked over at Devyn. “Actually, Mom, she’s here with me right now if you want to say hi.”

Devyn narrowed her eyes at me but leaned in closer to the phone. “Hey, Mrs. Anders.”

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