I think of Flynn’s hands on Claren’s throat and for the first time, it doesn’t make sick. “What if he wasn’t around to come after you?”
Ana shakes her head. “You can’t stop him.”
“Maybe not. But I think I might know someone who can.”
23
SERIAL KILLER AT YOUR SERVICE
Flynn
I paceup and down the street in front of Ana’s house. This was a bad idea. I should be keeping Hazel far away from this side of my life, not using her to help gather evidence on a rapist.
What if Ana tells Claren that Hazel visited? She signed an NDA, hell he paid her off, she could be working for him. Or she could do a simple google search, find out Hazel’s not a reporter, and then call the police on her. Fuck.
You’re spiraling, Flynny.
I stop walking and tip my head back, looking up at the clear sky and trying to calm myself. I’m not used to dealing with panic like this because I don’t usually feel things so strongly. Except when it comes to Hazel.
Hazel who makes sunbursts when she smiles. Who pulls me closer even as she fights me. Who rewrites the very anatomy of my brain.
Fuck it.
I spin on my heels and climb the steps to Ana’s porch. I’ve just taken out my lock picks when the door opens.
Hazel peers up at me, pressing a smile between her lips when she sees my lock picks. “Would you like to come in, Flynn?” she asks sweetly.
“Yes.”
She rolls her eyes and steps aside. “I was just coming to get you. I think Ana could do with reassuring that you’re not going to let Claren hurt her again.”
Hazel leads me down the corridor to a gaming room at the back of the house. Ana looks up from where she’s leaning against the desk, her eyes locking on me.
“Ana, this is Flynn, he’s?—”
“I know who he is.” Her gaze sweeps over me but she doesn’t look scared. “You’re the one killing members of the Kings Society.”
I dip my head in acknowledgment because there’s no point denying it. I trust Hazel wouldn’t have brought me in here if she thought Ana was going to give me up.
Dry eyes glance at Hazel. “You’re not a reporter, are you?”
Hazel shifts on her feet, twisting her hands behind her back. “Not so much.”
Ana looks back at me. “Is Claren on your list?”
“He is.”
“But you want evidence.”
“I do.”
Ana breaks eye contact and puffs out a breath. She sinks down into the desk chair, and her façade of bravery drains away. “The Kings Society raped me, then they sent me a video of the whole thing, edited to make it look consensual.” She peers up at Hazel, a wry, pained smile on her lips. “Guess they didn’t expect some girl to be quite as good with tech as I am. I managed to hack into Claren’s system and find the original, unedited footage.”
“You blackmailed him,” I say.
Ana gives a sharp shake of her head. “No. I mean yes, but no. I didn’t want the money, I haven’t touched it. I just wanted to protect myself. I needed to know him and his sick societyweren’t ever going to come near me again.” Her throat bobs as she swallows and she plays with the wire from the headphones around her neck. “I thought that would be enough to make me feel safe.”
“Was it?”
