Page 81 of My Beautiful Sin

“Devlin subscribes to The Spall’s text alerts.”

I blink, not expecting that. “Why?”

For a second, Ronan looks taken aback. “Because you write for the magazine, and it’s important to you.”

“Oh.” I swallow, then take another bite of yogurt to hide my discomfiture. “Listen,” I finally say, “I didn’t realize Roger was going to run the blast, but so what? It’s no big deal. I am writing the article, and I do have the video. Not to mention high hopes that I’ll get a clear image soon. I get that Devlin thinks Myers was a worm who deserved to be taken out. And you know what? I don’t disagree. But people can’t just go around like this is the Wild West. And if I have a chance to use my job to reveal them, then I’m going to do that.”

“At the risk to your own safety?”

“What are you talking about?”

He runs his fingers through his hair. “That news blast makes pretty clear that the footage was sent to the author of the original piece—you. If it’s as damning as you think, wouldn’t you expect that whoever was scaling that building will try to get it from you?”

I swallow, because he and Devlin are right of course. I’ve always been willing to take risks with my reporting, drawing out potential bad guys in the interest of building a story. It’s never bothered me before because danger never bothered me before. Neither did death. All I was about was chasing the story. The rest of it could go to hell. In fact, the more dangerous the better.

But things have changed. I still don’t understand why I’m here and my family isn’t, but that deep need to take risks has faded. I want to stay. I don’t want to leave this earth yet. Not when there’s still time with Devlin.

“Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about that.” Now that I am thinking about it, I wonder if perhaps the Range Rover incident could be tied to the Myers story and not to the creepy texts.

“Well, then you’re a fool. Does the video reveal the suspect’s identity?”

I laugh, “No. I have a drone video that’s pixelated as hell. I’ve got software that might be able to pull an image or it might not.” I pause, thinking. “I’ll have Roger post an update saying that the video is corrupt and we can’t identify the shooter.”

“Is that true?”

I shrug. “Hopefully not. If we do get an image and a story, then we’ll update again. But maybe this way I throw off whoever’s intent on harassing me.”

He nods slowly. “How does the software work?”

I regurgitate what Corbin explained to me. “He said whether or not we can recreate a decent image depends on the quality of the original video.”

“And how decent is the video?”

“I’m not a graphics person, but it looks fuzzy as hell to me.” I don’t tell him that I’m relying in part on Corbin’s super-inflated ego. I don’t think he would have offered his software if he didn’t think we had a decent shot. The guy will want to be the hero, after all.

“Sounds like a long shot.”

“Probably. Then again, reporting’s all about following long shot leads. But I guess Devlin will be thrilled if I never get a clear image.” I grimace. “I think he wants to be the personal cheering section for whoever took out Myers.”

“I’m with him on that. Myers was scum. He deserved what he got.”

I just look at him. This hard man. This man that Devlin respects and I fear. Not because I think he’ll hurt Devlin—just the opposite.

Because I can’t help but think that no matter what, in the end, he will always choose Devlin. That’s a good thing. But to that end, I’m certain that he’d destroy anyone he thinks is in the way of Devlin’s safety. Including me.

“I’ll tell Devlin you’re going to run the addendum to the article. But be careful. You never know who’s read it and they might not see the update.” I nod. And I watch as his facial features soften. “We just want you to be safe.”

I stiffen with surprise. “We? I thought I was a distraction.”

The corner of his mouth quirks. “I was probably wrong to say that. I’ve never felt for anyone the way Devlin feels about you, so I don’t know exactly where he’s coming from, but I do know that he would risk the world for you. And I will always have his back, so I guess that means I’m looking out for you, too. Whether I want to or not,” he adds, but with a wink.

Which means that even as he’s leaving, I’m still not sure if he’s a turning into a solid friend or staying a dangerous foe.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

It’s dark when I wake abruptly, jolted out of sleep. I’m not sure what woke me, but after I glance at the clock and see that it’s not quite two, I groan, start to roll over, and then see the figure silhouetted in the darkened doorway.

A scream catches in my voice, stopped only by the sudden recognition. Devlin.