Page 98 of The Innovator

A shot rang out, and someone shouted, “Get them!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I returned fire, shifting my body to shield Natalie as we moved to the exit. As I neared the stairwell, Forrest and Royce came through the door wearing bulletproof vests.

“Go! We got this!” Forrest gestured to the stairs.

I didn’t know how they knew I was here, but I was grateful for their assistance.

More blasts boomed as I took Natalie toward my car on the other side of the street. Sirens wailed in the distance just as a massive explosion occurred, taking out portions of the building.

“Oh, my God! Royce and Forrest!” Natalie clamped a hand over her mouth, while her body shook.

“Don’t worry, they’re fine!” I pointed to my friends, who were rushing toward us. “Get out of here. I’ll deal with the cops.”

As they darted into the shadows, I brought Natalie farther away from the burning building. The devastation on her face crushed me. It was as though I could see her crumbling inside while the structure of her building collapsed. Like the angry fire, the turbulence in me wanted to destroy everything in sight for putting her through this, but I remained calm for her. She didn’t need another violent storm.

Somehow, my gaze darted to a silhouette leaning against a truck, watching the inferno unfold. He didn’t seemed distraught or shocked like us. His casual stance made him stand out against the raging flames and explosive noises. When the police cars and fire engines arrived, he disappeared into the shadows. Who was he?

“It’s gone,” Natalie cried as another explosion erupted.

I tightened my arms around her, letting her fall back into me. This property had been a gift from her father, and it had crumbled in front of her eyes. I’d recently received information about The Prism from the PI but hadn’t had time to review it yet.

As I held Natalie in my arms, I knew the danger surrounding me would get to her. No woman had mattered to me more than her.

When I saw the abduction video, my world fell apart like The Prism. All the pieces that kept me intact disassembled in slow motion. I felt hollow and scared.

What if I had lost her forever? I loved her so much. I could let her know right now, but I feared my confession would only make things worse later.

Derek’s warning came to the forefront. If I wanted to destroy this crime organization, limb by limb, piece by piece, I had to keep what mattered most to me far away.

After speaking to the police and taking a trip to the hospital where they examined and cleared her, I brought Natalie home. She’d mentioned that Neil Allen had showed her the escape route. Paul Brooks had died in the explosion. If he hadn’t, he would have died by my hands. Five other guards and two women perished in the fire. But the firefighters rescued three women.

I knew these passageways were used to conduct illegal business. For now, I pushed all these things aside to take care of Natalie, who still looked terrified and exhausted.

CHAPTERFIFTY-ONE

GRAYSON

Once I tucked Natalie into bed, I walked into my office and had an urgent conference call with my friends.

“Thanks for having my back.” I nodded at Forrest and Royce.

“You should’ve told us,” Remi said with furrowed eyebrows.

“I didn’t want you guys in danger.”

“You don’t trust us,” Arrow said flatly.

Arrow and Remi had been monitoring Royce and Forrest from inside a nearby car when they were in the tunnel.

It wasn’t like that, was it? Trust was something I’d been struggling with. It was still difficult at times. What they said was the truth, even if it wasn’t about them. It was about me and my issues in general. Would they understand?

“I’ve got shit going on, and I let it cloud my judgment,” I replied.

“We know, so we’re good. We got you . . .asshole.” Arrow shifted in his seat and stared at me.

“Next time, tell us, even if it’s in the middle of the night,” Forrest added.

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