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His nostrils flare with anger, mirroring the fierce storm brewing within him.“Why didn’t they stop them?”
That’s a great question, and back then, I would’ve thought the same.After so many years of working for The Organization, I know.“Because we couldn’t just intervene.In some instances, you have to leave well enough alone, well, alone.They were the middleman.Their business was to distribute, not produce.The distributor isn’t as important as the root.That’s what you have to focus on,” I explain almost the same way Mason Bradley told me a few years back.“If you get rid of them, they find another person to distribute the product.If you eliminate the root, it’s over.”
Grey’s jaw clenches.“They were the little man until they weren’t.”
“See, that’s the part not even my boss could respond to.When and why did they become greedy?”
“You should ask Enya,” Greyson suggests, glancing at the biography.
I narrow my gaze, curiosity mingling with concern.“What does that mean?”
Before he can respond, the door swings open, and not just one but four of my closest friends—Beacon, Manelik, Fisher, and Lang—breeze into the house.
“Welcome?”I greet them, taken aback by their sudden arrival.
“There’s a doorbell outside.Did you guys miss it?”Greyson scolds them with a piercing glare.Should I remind him that this is how we behave?We just make ourselves at home at each other’s homes.
“Oh, little Grey is here,” Fish teases him.
“Fuck off,” I warn Fisher, then shift my attention to the four of them.“Why are you here?”
Beacon strides over to the table, snatching up a book.“We heard about this new bestseller and learned you had a visitor,” he explains nonchalantly, shrugging.He glances at Greyson.“Plus, Grace is worried about her cousin.”
“I’m fine,” Grey grumbles, his annoyance evident.
“Sure, but I’m also worried about my friend.He pretends to be all macho and shit, but he’s also a little broken,” Beacon responds.“You visiting him isn’t going to go well.I have to make sure he’s okay.”
I roll my eyes at his exaggerated concern, shifting my focus and changing the subject.“Lang, can you figure out who the fuck wrote this shit?”
He shakes his head.“So far, we haven’t been able to track much.”
“The publisher should know something,” Grey suggests.
“It’s the weekend, but Finn and Nate are searching,” Lang replies, a mischievous grin plays on his lips.“There’s an entire team trying to crack the code.Whoever did it was careful.”
I lean forward, my eyes locked on Lang.“Is there a timeline from when they pitch the idea to the publication date?”
“Piper, who co-owns a publishing house, said it could’ve been two to three years,” Lang answers.“We’ll have more information as soon as our favorite hackers do their job.”
Driven by a growing need for answers, I press on with another question.“Do you know how the entire family died?”
Lang shrugs.“The mother is still alive.The rest ...”He trails his voice and gaze.After a few moments, he clears his throat and continues.“There’s not much information.It just says deceased.Again, our resident hackers will get back to you within the next two to seventy-two hours.”
When I turn to look at Greyson, he’s leaving the house.As I’m about to follow, Beacon stops me.“He’s going on a walk with Zeke.”
My heart sinks, and a pang of distress courses through me.“He’s going to leave me.”There’s anguish in my voice.I hate feeling so vulnerable, but I can’t stop myself.
Beacon’s expression softens, his eyes filled with empathy.“If he does, it’s because this situation is too much for him.Have you reached the part about the torture yet?”he asks, his voice filled with genuine concern.
A chill runs down my spine, my thoughts consumed by a wave of dread.“What?Is that in the fucking book?”I don’t know anything about it, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to learn what happened.
Lang presses his lips together, his gaze heavy with sorrow as he nods.
My anxiety grows, the realization sinking in that there are even darker aspects to the story I have yet to uncover.
Lang offers a faint smile, his voice tinged with sympathy.“You’re about to hit the boring part where Ms.Enya is struggling through college.Her GPA was microscopic,” he remarks.“Let me earmark where you should read.We just wanted to let you know that we’re in town in case you need us.”
I nod, acknowledging that they practically came to babysit us.Then I refocus my thoughts, frustration tainting my words.“Can we just send a cease and desist?”
