Page 32 of Fierce Hope
Jade stared at the folder, unable to meet anyone’s eyes. The collective weight of their attention pressed against her chest,making each breath a battle. She’d spent the night preparing for this moment, but nothing could have fortified her against the reality of exposure.
“We’re not accusing you of anything.” Deke’s voice softened. “We just need the truth.”
She closed her eyes. Drew in a shaky breath that rattled in her chest. A lifetime of carefully constructed lies crashed against the simple sincerity in his voice.
When she opened her eyes again, tears blurred her vision.
“My father ...” Her voice cracked. She swallowed hard and tried again. “My father was a con man. Is a con man.” The correction burned. “A good one.”
Each word felt like broken glass in her throat. “We never stayed in one place long. Different names. Different stories. He taught me ... everything. How to forge documents. How to read people. How to disappear.”
She wiped at her eyes, hating the betraying tremor in her hands. “I changed my name about twelve years ago. Started over. I wanted—needed—to be someone else. Someone better.”
The confession hung between them. Jade braced for judgment. For rejection. For the disgust she’d always feared would accompany truth.
Instead, Kenji’s low whistle broke the silence.
“Well, we’ve all got skeletons.” His lips quirked upward. “Yours just happen to be wearing fake IDs.”
Zara nodded, eyes softening. “Thanks for telling us. This changes nothing about protecting you.”
Jade finally dared to look at Deke. His eyes held a storm of emotions—surprise, relief, and something deeper that made her breath catch in her throat.
“I’m sorry you went through that,” he said quietly. The muscles in his jaw worked. “But we’ve got you now.”
The simple acceptance undid her completely. A tear escaped, tracking warm down her cheek. For the first time in her life, she might not face her demons alone.
At least for now.
“Alright, new plan.” Kenji’s fingers danced across his keyboard. “Zara will continue to work on our other leads. I’ll dig into your father’s old associates, cross-reference recent activity that matches our perp’s MO.”
“I’ll build a timeline,” Star added, already pulling up databases. “Map your old locations against similar threats or suspicious patterns.”
Jade watched them work. Amazed. Terrified. They moved with practiced efficiency, transforming her shameful past into tactical data points. But each search term, each location entered, sent fresh anxiety spiraling through her veins.
19
The rhythmic thudof fists against leather echoed down the corridor behind Deke. An hour with the heavy bag had eased his stress, but it was time to get back to work. Griff and Axel could spare another hour to work out, but he had to get back to it.
Sweat trickled between his shoulder blades as he headed back upstairs. Seven o’clock at night, and they were all still grinding.
His team wouldn’t quit until they had answers.
Muffled laughter filtered through the walls—a stark contrast to the tension that had gripped them all day. His shoulders ached from hours hunched over surveillance footage, mind ping-ponging between Jade’s haunted expression during her confession and DJ’s anger from their last argument.
He pushed the door open, hit by the scent of sports drinks and determination. Kenji sprawled across their worn leather couch, methodically demolishing a bag of chips while thumb-scrolling through his phone. Zara perched on a nearby chair in workout gear, massaging her temples with small circular motions. The headaches again.
And Jade. Standing before their evidence board like it held salvation itself. Even exhausted and stressed, she carried herself with quiet determination that twisted something in his chest.
“Finally, Dad’s here to keep us in line,” Kenji drawled without looking up.
He arched an eyebrow. “You realize I outrank you in more ways than just the chain of command, right?”
“Relax.” Kenji waved his phone. “I’m only losing money on sports bets tonight. Did you know competitive duck herding was a thing?”
“Please tell me you’re joking.” Zara’s lips twitched despite her groan.
“What? The Northeastern Duck Herding Championship is very prestigious.”
