Chapter 8 - Nolan’s Confession
I hated Nolan.
I feared him.
I had dreamed of getting far enough away that I never heard his name again.
But I did not want him murdered because of me.
Dante understood that before I said it.
“We’re not trading you.”
“He’ll die.”
“That is Victor’s choice.”
“He’ll die because I opened that locker.”
Dante leaned toward me.
“No.”
His voice was firm.
“He will die because the people he chose to work for consider him disposable.”
I stared at the photograph.
“You think he worked for Victor.”
“I know he did.”
Marco had recovered Nolan’s deleted emails.
One contained monthly payments from a Hale subsidiary.
Another referenced me by initials.
E.C.
Nolan had been paid to get close to me.
The relationship.
The coffee shop where we “accidentally” met.
The flowers.
The charming smile.
The patience.
All of it had begun as an assignment.
I felt something inside me collapse.
“Was any of it real?”
Dante did not answer.
I hated him for not lying.
At eleven thirty, Dante’s men surrounded the address from the message.
An abandoned printing warehouse.
I remained inside a secured vehicle two blocks away.
At eleven fifty-six, Dante entered.
At midnight, gunfire began.
I gripped the seat.
Ten minutes later Marco’s voice came through the radio.
“Target recovered.”
Nolan was alive.
Victor was gone.
At a private medical clinic, Nolan woke handcuffed to his bed.
When he saw me, panic filled his face.
“Emily.”
I remained near the door.
“Tell me the truth.”
He started crying.
I had seen Nolan cry before.
Usually after hurting me.
This time I felt nothing.
“Victor paid me to watch you.”
“How long?”
“Before we met.”
“Why?”
“He thought your father left you access to something.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
I stepped closer.
“You hurt me because Victor told you to?”
Nolan closed his eyes.
“No.”
That answer somehow hurt more.
“No one told me to do that.”
He swallowed.
“That was me.”
For once, Nolan did not make an excuse.
Then he looked at Dante.
“But Victor has someone inside your organization.”
Dante became still.
“Name.”
“I don’t know.”
“Then you’re useless.”
Nolan shook his head.
“I know the code name.”
Dante waited.
Nolan whispered it.
“Saint.”
Marco dropped the glass he was holding.
May you like
And Dante’s face went completely white.
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