Page 92 of Make Them Cry
Her eyes meet mine. Brave. Steady. Scared but unyielding. “He might have answers.”
I nod, jaw tight. “Okay. But you’re not going alone.”
River headsto Riverside after work, and I head home to grab more clothes and meet up with everyone. Knight’s already pacing when I arrive. Juno tosses a protein bar at my chest and I catch it on reflex.
“River’s ex-boyfriend now wants to chat?” she says, arching an eyebrow. “Convenient timing.”
“He knows something,” I say. “Has to. He wouldn’t reach out now if he didn’t.”
Arrow leans back against the brick wall, arms crossed over his broad chest. “Could be Cathedral’s panicking. We’ve been making noise.”
“Or he’s one of them,” Knight says, too easily.
I whip my head toward him. “No way.”
Juno chimes in. “You sure? It wouldn’t be the first time an ex turned sour. Especially if he thinks she’s off the market.”
I grit my teeth. “He’s scum, but I don’t think he’s that deep. Still—” I rake a hand through my hair. “We’re going to treat it like he is.”
Arrow nods. “Good. What’s the play?”
“I want full surveillance on the meet. Audio, video. Taser in her purse. I’ll be nearby.”
“You mean breathing down his neck,” Knight mutters.
“Damn right.”
Arrow grins. “Okay, Daddy Gage, relax. You’ll be two blocks away max.”
I shoot him a look, but I can’t help the tiny smirk tugging my lips.
Juno’s already typing on her tablet. “We’ll use the Julia café off Fairfax. Outdoor seating, two exits, decent cover.”
I nod. “Perfect. Make it look casual. River’s got good instincts.”
Knight rolls his eyes. “You mean she’s a hacker who’s accidentally been hunting Cathedral without even knowing it? Yeah, instincts.”
“She's brilliant,” I snap. “And brave as hell.”
A beat passes.
Then Juno smiles. “You’re falling hard.”
I don’t deny it. “I fell a long time ago.”
Knight groans. “Kill me now.”
Arrow chuckles, grabbing his beer. “Don’t let him fool you. This is how he was with Lark’s college roommate.”
“That lasted a week,” I mutter.
“This isn’t that,” Arrow says. “This is real.”
It is. God help me, it is.
Later that night,I walk River through the plan. We’re sitting on the couch, laptop open, comms gear laid out like a spy movie. She’s biting her thumbnail, something she does when she’s overwhelmed and trying not to show it.
“Hey,” I say, brushing her hand from her mouth. “We’ve got you. You’re safe.”
