Page 33 of Fierce Hope
“If we could focus on actual leads ...” Moving to stand beside Jade at the board. Close enough to catch her subtle scent—something floral and clean beneath the stress of the day.
His phone buzzed. A text from Izzy alongside a photo of Chantal beaming in sparkly mermaid pajamas:
DJ’s in a mood. Says he’s fine, just gaming. Letting him be for now.
His jaw tightened. That relationship needed repair, needed time. But right now, keeping Jade alive took priority. He typed back quickly:
Deke: Thanks. If he acts up, call me. Let him know I said goodnight.
Izzy: Will do, boss. Also, mermaid vs. unicorn décor for this weekend?
Time-sensitive question.
A half-smile tugged at his mouth despite everything.
Deke:Both. Don’t know much about little girls, but even I know they want ALL the glitter.
“I can’t believe we’re going from life-threatening conspiracies to glitter mania in half a second.” Kenji peered over his shoulder, breathing chip dust.
Jade’s soft laugh caught him off guard—tension bleeding from her shoulders for just a moment. Something in his chest unclenched at the sound. Wanted to hear it again.
“Alright, let’s see what we’ve got.” Gesturing at notes pinned to the board. Three main leads stared back: potential corporate espionage through offshore accounts, another messy divorce case, and a name from Jade’s father’s old circle.
“The business angle’s dead.” Kenji finally set his phone aside, straightening. “Did some deeper digging. They’re actually boringly legitimate.”
Zara nodded, swiping through her tablet. “And that divorce case? They reconciled. Posted happy family photos two weeks ago. No motive there.”
He watched Jade’s reaction as they zeroed in on the third lead—the name from her past. Her fingers twisted together. Shoulders hunched slightly inward. Protective posture.
“Brendan Bolton.” Zara named the man. “Looks like one of your father’s associates, as far as I can tell. From over fifteen years ago. He got swept up in a Federal RICO case, ended up doing eleven years in prison. The only recorded address we have after his release was Hollywood. Then he skipped out on parole and disappeared.”
The way Jade hugged herself, drawing inward like a turtle seeking its shell, spoke volumes. He wasn’t fooling himself. Her confession about her background had been minimal. Part of a larger story. At best.
“Something about the name Brendan Bolton ring a bell?” Deke asked.
“No.” She paced, clearly frustrated. “But it’s a common name, right? And Dad kept his … partners … away from the house. Mostly.”
Made sense. So while the name sparked a reaction, it didn’t set off any specific alarm bells.
Still, it was a place to start. Maybe the guy wanted revenge on Jade’s father. If not, the man might know who would.
“I say we set up a digital net.” Kenji stretched, joints popping. “Ping the guy’s last known location, track movement patterns.”
Zara shook her head. “Old school might work better here. Someone’s got to have eyes on this guy in person.”
The phone buzzed again.
Izzy: BTW – party prep is on track. Got the confetti bombs hidden where Chantal can’t find them.
Deke glanced at Jade. “Fair warning. You’re about to experience the full chaos of a six-year-old’s birthday party this weekend. No getting out of it while you’re under our protection.”
“You haven’t lived until you’ve seen the D-Man covered in glitter.” Kenji’s smirk widened. “Last year’s party, he looked like a disco ball had exploded on him.”
“Thanks for the heads up.” Jade managed a small grin, and for a brief moment, the tension lifted as chuckles rippled through the team.
Then her eyes drifted back to the board. Her expression shifted, light dying like a snuffed candle.
“I know someone who might help locate Bolton,” she said quietly, voice barely above a whisper.
