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“Like hacking?” Ari stops, flushing. “Nevermind. It’s none of my business how you got it. I just… You won’t get in trouble, will you?”
Cole gives Ari a kind look. “No. Leo is very good at what he does. But maybe don’t mention it outside this room. It keeps things less complicated.”
Ari nods quickly. “Of course. I won’t say anything.”
I don’t care about howthey found out, I just want to knowwho. “And the identity of the shooter?”
Cole gives me a sharp nod. “His name is Nathan Edgewater. He used to be a cop in the city until he lost his job a year ago due to drug abuse. Since then, his wife left with the kids, and he’s gotten himself in a lotof debt. Drugs, gambling, high-interest loans, house in foreclosure…”
“And?” My voice is tight.
“He turned to the dark web, looking for jobs that would give him some quick money. Then he found the ad for this job. A quick hit, money up front and more after it was done.” Cole hesitates, his forehead creasing.
“Who was he supposed to shoot?” Ari’s voice is stretched tight, close to breaking.
Cole sighs, regret etching into his features. After a heavy pause, he says, “You, Ari. He was supposed to watch for a time when you were out in the open. He wouldn’t do it when you were going to school; he didn’t want to risk hitting a kid. So when he saw you in the yard…”
Fuck.
My worst fear. Cold. Icy. Suffocating.
And then the anger. A burning need to killthis man.
Anger ignites into an inferno of rage. “He wouldn’t shoot at the school, but he’d shoot an innocentwoman?”
Ari flinches, and I try to tamp down my anger, but it’s so fucking hard.
She’s breathing fast, stuttering out, “Was… was it… Kyle?”
“We don’t know yet, Ari.” Cole leans forward, his eyes not leaving hers. “But we’ll find out. It’s going to take some time to trace the person who posted the ad, since it’s all anonymous on the dark web. But there are ways to do it, and we will. I promise.”
I clench my jaw hard, trying to keep from exploding.
Ari is shaking hard, her hand jumping in mine. She whispers, “Since he didn’t finish the job…”
Fuck.
Cole meets her gaze, calm confidence in his dark eyes. “We’re going to protect you, Ari. No one will hurt you.”
Ari turns to me, stricken. Her chin is jutting out, trembling. Tears well up as she says, “I knewit was my fault.”
“Honey,no.” I wrap my arm around her, tugging her to my side.
Shit. She’s shaking so hard her teeth are chattering. “Sweetheart—”
“He could have hit Cash.” Her eyes go back to Cole, tears spilling free. “He could have killedhim. Cash pushed me down. But then—” her voice catches, cracks. “It was supposed to be me. But Cash…”
Cole starts, gently, “Ari—”
Ari turns back to me. “He could have killedyou. And it’s all my fault.” Her face crumples. “Cash, I’m so sorry.”
She starts sobbing, terrible, painful cries that tear at my heart. And her eyes—the fear and guilt and anguish—she looks broken.
“Honey, no.” I start to pull her into my arms, but she jerks away, her gaze skittering around the room. As her eyes pass by Cole and Finn, she shrinks into herself, gasping between sobs, “I’m so sorry… I’m sorry… I shouldn’t…”
Finn soothes, “Ari, it’s okay.”
“It’s not.” Ari looks at me desperately. “I can’t. I’m… sorry—”
