Page 80 of Make Them Cry
Her eyes shine with unshed tears, and that makes my fists curl. “By Tasha?”
Whoever did this isn’t just attacking her anymore.
They’re attackingus.
“This is personal,” I mutter. “Jealous. Petty. Targeted.”
River wipes her cheek. “You think it was Tasha?”
I hesitate.
She reads my face.
“Sheisthe only one who’s said anything about us,” River says quietly. “Back at work. She gave me that weird look a few days ago. Like she knew. And at girl’s night. She knows.”
“Yeah.”
“She asked if we were dating,” River adds, voice hollow. “I said no. She didn’t believe me.”
“Jealousy’s a hell of a motive,” I mutter.
“And if she made that…” River shakes her head. “That’s a violation on another level.”
I sit back, trying to breathe through the rage rolling in waves down my spine. I want to go full blackout. Kick down doors. Ransack Cathedral from the inside out.
But I can’t do that. Not yet.
We need a plan.
“We’ll trace the source,” I tell her. “Arrow’s already on it. We’ll pin the IP and follow the proxy trail.”
“I can help,” River says, suddenly fierce. “I want to help.”
I nod. “Good. We’ll loop you in.”
Silence stretches for a beat.
Then River stands and walks to the kitchen. Opens the fridge. Pulls out a yogurt. Stares at it like she’s forgotten what food is for.
“You’re falling for her,” Arrow told me last night.
No shit.
I get up and walk to where she stands, reaching around her for two spoons.
“You’re gonna share that, right?” I ask.
She arches a brow, then sighs. “You’re impossible.”
I grin. “So are you.”
We eat silently, standing at the counter. A weird kind of domestic rhythm slipping into place. Her elbow nudges mine every few bites. She steals my spoon. I pretend to be outraged.
And even with everything going on—Cathedral, Regent, Tasha, Helena—I feel calm.
Because she’s here.
Because she trusts me.
