Raymond.
And in that moment, staring at her bruised but beautiful face, I realize with a sickening jolt that I have absolutely no idea.
42
ELLIE
The agents are the ones who answer, sounding tired and bone-weary, exhaustion clinging to their faces.
It takes considerable effort to pull my gaze from the guys. I don’t want to look away. Not now. Not ever.
They’re here. They’re alive.
Fuck.
“Raymond’s the key to bringing this entire operation down,” Marsha says, her gaze on me. “He found a flash drive hidden behind a portrait of POP’s founder in Aria’s office. It’severything. Financial records, meeting minutes, video evidence, all of her damning blackmail. It’s the key to the whole kingdom.”
Raymond. My heart aches with a confusing mix of pride and fear. He was always smarter than anyone gave him credit for.
Jeffries nods, tucking his notebook into his jacket pocket. “We’re leaving now. We’ve got a mountain of evidence to process. Take care of yourselves.” He pauses at the door, his expression serious. “And understand this—this is only thebeginning. The legal process, the fallout…it’s going to be a long road.”
“Can you…?” I begin tentatively, my voice breaking. “Can you keep me updated on Raymond? Let me know if you hear from him?”
Agent Marsha’s face creases with sympathy, and she gives a single nod.
Then they’re gone, and the room feels even smaller, filled with a thousand things left unsaid.
We’re here.
We survived.
We’re together.
Fuck, we’refinallytogether.
“What happened?” I whisper, turning back toward my guys.
How did Landon and Ryker get there? How did they escape? Who contacted the FBI?
It’s Landon who fills me in, his voice soft as he regales me with everything that happened following his brief visit to Aria’s house.
When he tells me about Jane’s betrayal, I feel…numb. Maybe I’m supposed to be sad or furious, but none of those emotions manage to penetrate the flimsy barrier erected around me.
How could she? I thought she was my friend. Was that all a lie?
A prickling heat burns my eyes.
Before the silence can settle, the door bursts open again. Victoria and Piper rush in, their faces streaked with tears, their eyes wide with a relief so potent, it’s almost painful to witness.
“Oh my God, Ellie,” Piper whispers, her hand flying to her mouth.
They converge on my bed, their gentle touches a stark contrast to the rough hands of the men surrounding me, who are watching like stone sentries.
Victoria carefully takes my hand, her grip firm and steady, while Piper smooths the blanket over my legs.
“We were so scared,” Victoria says, her voice thick. “When we heard what happened…we thought we lost you.”
“We love you so much,” Piper adds, her voice cracking. “We’re so sorry. About Jane. About everything. We feel so stupid, so betrayed. How could we not have known Jane was involved?”
