Page 80 of Sweetheart: Part Two

Ebony didn’t say anything, but he stared at me with eyes narrowed. Finally, he made to leave again.

“You’re… doing things to make shit better for her,” I asked. “Right?”

He didn’t look back.

“Let me… let me help.”

“Not a chance in hell, Harrison.”

“Just… give me something to fucking do.”

“Go find your own shit to do,” he said before slamming the door.

EBONY

Trying to burn Rook’s pathetic sobbing face from my brain, I returned to the office where Leighton was working.

My contact, the one helping me orchestrate the fireworks I had planned for next week, had put me in touch with the man that could make it happen.

Unknown: We want the same thing. I can give you what you need, locations, names, places.

Me: If we want the same thing and you have that, why do you need me?

Unknown: I need what you have.

Me: What’s that?

Unknown: I know the Gritch, you know the topsiders.

Me: But you still want the favour.

Unknown: you get nothing without it.

“What is it?” Leighton asked. She looked about to pack up her stuff.

Most of her work she could do remotely, but it helped to reconvene occasionally. Soren was right, she was good.

“It’s a job.”

“What kind of job?”

“I’ve got to set up a…” I peered down at my phone. “A two-hour security blackout in the East Centennial Institute building,” I said. “And a guy to get in and out with something small.”

I had no idea why that’s what he needed, and frankly, I didn’t care. I’d get it organised, and never think on it again. Then he’d give me what I needed for Vex.

She considered me. “You’re aware of the kind of resources that will take? Even your leverage on Soren—”

“I have the blackout covered.” That was the sort of thing money could buy if you knew where to look. People on the ground, that wasn’t where I excelled, and where my dear father did—Leighton was a testament to that. “All I need is someone who can get in and out of an Institute building during the blackout without drawing attention.”

Leighton tilted her head, considering. “That, I can get you no problem at all.”

Good.

Another thing sorted.

Shutting the phone off, I headed back to my room. I was on edge, and it wasn’t hard to identify why. It wasgreatthat Drake and Love were having sex with my—our—omega. I winced.

Really,reallyfucking great.

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