Page 93 of Make Them Cry
Her eyes search mine. “What if he doesn’t show?”
“Then we regroup. But if he does… we might finally get closer to the source.”
Her voice drops. “You really think Regent’s pulling the strings?”
“I know it,” I whisper. “They’re coordinating too well. The leaks, the videos, the timing.”
She shudders slightly and leans into me. I pull her close, heart twisting. I want to keep her here forever, wrapped in my arms, far from the bullshit of fake boyfriends, traitorous HR, and anonymous usernames poisoning her life.
Instead, I press a kiss to her hair and whisper, “We get him. Together.”
The next daywe’re in position. River’s wearing a navy blouse, her hair loose around her shoulders. She’s seated at the café, sipping coffee like it’s just another afternoon. But I can see the way her fingers twitch. She’s nervous. She’s strong.She’s mine.
My comm crackles. “Target approaching,” Knight says from his perch. “Gray hoodie. Baseball cap. It’s him.”
I freeze.
“Mason’s here,” I murmur. “Eyes sharp.”
River looks up.
Their gazes lock.
He looks older. More haggard than when he was fired. His mouth moves, and River nods. They start talking.
I can’t hear the words yet, but Arrow’s got a mic trained on them.
Mason leans in. River stiffens slightly.
“What is he saying?” I hiss.
Juno’s voice filters through. “Something about a ‘deal gone wrong.’ He’s scared, Gage. Real scared.”
“Turn up the gain.”
We listen.
“…I didn’t know who they were at first. Cathedral just… messaged me. They had photos of me, River. Stuff no one should have. They said if I didn’t help them get to you, they’d ruin me.”
River’s voice: “So you just let them?”
“I didn’t know what else to do!”
I slam my fist into the steering wheel.
“I’m going over there,” I growl.
“No,” Arrow snaps. “Not yet. Let it play.”
“I need to talk to Gage,” Mason’s saying now. “Please. I’ll tell you everything. Just—don’t let them find me again. It’s getting real now.”
I stare at the scene like it’s on fire.
And maybe it is.
My phone buzzes. A new alert.
I open it—and my breath stops.
