“This is Officer Jason O'Brian. OrwasOfficer Jason O'Brian. He fell onto Cerberus’ radar when we found evidence of him being a contact for a known sex trafficking ring here in Axton Harbor.” Matteo walks behind O'Brian’s body and grips his hair so that the camera has an unobstructed view of his lifeless face. “Over the course of his honorable career,” he says, his sarcasm thick. “He buried well over a hundred missing person cases reported in our city. In addition, he covered up the trafficking during and after any illegal sales or meetings. O'Brian did all of this in exchange for millions, just to keep their operation under wraps.” He releases his hold on O'Brian’s head, and steps around him, the three of them coming back to center in front of the camera. “Sadly, that is not where his sins end. He was also involved in burying dozens of reported sexual assaults.”
Oh, no. My chest tightens, and it’s suddenly difficult to draw in a full breath. They wouldn’t dare…
“As you’ll soon find, evidence shows that O'Brian’s burner phone was in contact with an employee at Helix Enterprises corresponding precisely on the dates of nearly all of the reported assaults that he buried. Isn’t that interesting?”
I grip the remote in a death grip, my heartbeat a drum in my chest.
“What’s even more interesting is Officer O'Brian’s phone records show that three years ago, an incoming call came from that employee at three in the morning on June 15.”
I’m going to be sick.
“It just so happens that the very next day, someone in a high level position at Helix Enterprises reported an assault that happened while she was at the company’s annual gala the night before – a report our dead friend here confessed to burying. Is it possible that Sebastian Helix was using O'Brian to cover up an assault on his employee? It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, Axton Harbor? Who is truly behind the suit and tie that heads the business conglomerate that is Helix Enterprises?”
All three men hover closer to the camera, they’re masks dramatically coated in specks of blood. “We gladly took O'Brian’s life in honor of his victims, but now, we deliver a warning. To those in the Axton Harbor police department who find themselves in a similar position to the dead man behind me, turn yourselves in now or share the same fate. We are Cerberus, and we are watching.”
The clip cuts back to the news anchor, but there’s a roaring in my ears and I tune everything else out. My hands are shaking. How fucking dare they.
“We didn’t think they would play the video this soon.” Matteo’s quiet voice makes me jump.
I whip around, glaring at the three men who are leaning against the breakfast bar. They must have snuck in during the video without me noticing.
“Would you like to explain to me what the fuck that was?” I toss the remote across the room and march around the couch to stand in front of them. “Because it looks like you just blasted my fucking business to everyone in the city, letting millions of people know that I was assaulted, and then used that assault to call out my dad when, from what you’ve told me so far, you have zero evidence of his involvement in anything.”
Akio and Declan have the brains to at least appear chastised. Matteo… not so much.
“We can explain,” Akio starts, worry creasing his brow.
“I’m not finished.” I slice my hand through the air. “You didn’t even run it by me first to see how it would make me feel. You could have at least given me a heads up, a fucking smoke signal,anythingthat could have prepared me.” I take a breath, trying to calm down. “Just tell me why.”
Matteo folds his arms, staring me down with that blank fucking emotionless stare. “We didn’t name you. And we needed to send a message to both Clay and any other cops he has in his pocket that we’re onto them.”
“But you didn’t even call out Clay.”
“We wanted to light a fire under his ass to see if he or your dad will make a mistake that will lead us to the answers we need. If we call Clay out directly, we run the risk of him tucking tail and hiding, and then we would lose a major lead to figure out who is at the top of the sex trafficking ring in Axton Harbor.”
“And what aboutmystory?” My hand shoots to my chest. “What am I? Collateral damage?”
“No.” Akio’s hand twitches at his side like he’s itching to reach out and hold me, but my glare stops him. “That’s not what this is. You were so upset after finding out about Clay that we weren’t sure how to broach the topic. We were going to break it to you at dinner.”
“I’m not broken!” I yell without thinking, my outburst making all three men straighten.
Akio shakes his head. “I didn’t say you were.”
“But you act like it. All of you have been treating me with kid gloves this week, and I fucking hate it.” I take another calming breath andlift my chin. “I’m not broken,” I repeat calmly. “Was I surprised and thrown back to one of the worst nights of my life? Yes. Was I enraged and embarrassed that the man who hurt me worked less than ten feet from me on a daily basis? Absolutely. But did he break me? Fuck. No.” I take a step toward the guys. “So stop acting like he did.”
Akio balks, “We aren’t–”
“You are.” My tone softens. “This is why I asked Declan to bring you guys in here. I’ve been needing to tell you all to knock this shit off. The video was just the fucking cherry on top. Ever since the cop told us that Clay was my attacker, none of you have been treating me the same. But I’m still me.” I meet Akio’s dark eyes. “I still need our honest talks.” I look to Declan next. “I still need you to challenge me.” Then I glance at Matteo. “And I definitely don’t need you to hold back because you’re afraid of hurting my feelings. Never stopped you before.” His eyes hold mine before I pull my attention back to the TV where a reporter is speaking right outside of Helix Enterprises’ building. I look back at the guys, my stomach pitching with a sense of vulnerability. “I thought we were working together.”
“We are,” Akio assures me. “That was the deal we made.”
“Good. Then I expect to be brought in on what happens from now on. Especially if it involves me.” I pause before adding, “Is there anything else you’ve been hiding that I should know about?”
The three of them exchange a guilty look.
I sigh. “Spill it.”
“We met with your dad last week,” Matteo says gruffly. “Helix Enterprises is officially Lunar Security’s number one client.”
