Hollow Veins: A Dark Reverse Harem Romance (Sabre Security Book 3), page 28
Heart squeezing, I kneel on the floor to reach his height again. “We have different dads, but yes, I am your half-sister.”
“I always wanted a sister to play with.” He frowns to himself. “Mum bought me a dog instead.”
“Ulrich!” Foster calls.
“You should go with your dad.”
But he stays rooted to the spot.
“Can I see you again? I miss my mum. It’s quiet at home without her. I… I’d like a friend.”
It takes all of my strength to hold the rush of tears at bay. Unleashing a smile instead, I rest a hand on his shoulder.
“We can be friends if you want. I’d like that too. I’ve never had a brother before.”
“If you want to come to the museum with us, you can. It has a Titanosaur that’s twelve metres long.”
“It’s a bit hard for me to go outside right now,” I let him down gently. “But next time we’ll go to the museum together.”
“You promise?” he challenges.
Drawing an invisible cross over my heart, I release his shoulder. “I promise, little man. Your dad has my number if you want to call and talk to me.”
“Okay.” Ulrich begins to backtrack. “Bye, then.”
Watching them leave, bundled away by security to slip outside discreetly, I feel the first blooms of hope in a very long time. The roots unfurl around the broken mess of my heart and begin to bud.
That’s exactly why I can’t hold on to my anger and hatred. No matter the pain. No matter the damaged voices in my head, screaming for their own taste of vengeance.
We still have hope, and I won’t ever let that be stolen away from me again. Even if Michael wins and this has all been for nothing.
“We have incoming,” Enzo warns.
Looking up, I spot them before Brooklyn shrieks my name at the top of her lungs. She’s flanked by Hudson and Kade.
“Brooke!”
The handful of staff in the canteen watches us rush across the room to throw ourselves at each other like a pair of lunatics. She cinches me into a lung-squeezing hug.
“Miss me?”
“You’re back.” I release her then gawp down at the swell of her belly. “And looking pregnant all of a sudden.”
“I’m almost nineteen weeks.”
Hudson and Kade bundle me into hugs next, the former messing up my hair with a playful snort. I shove him away then inspect their matching golden tans.
“How was Bali?”
“Hot,” Kade complains.
“It was beautiful.” Brooklyn swats his arm. “We got home last night.”
His meal discarded, Enzo sweeps her off her feet in a bear hug. “I missed your annoying backside around here, wildfire.”
“Same here.” Her smile fades. “We heard there has been some trouble while we were gone. What the hell is going on outside?”
“Michael’s new friends.” I wave off her frown. “I want to hear all about your honeymoon before we talk about this crap.”
“Kade has some great stories to share.” Hudson laughs. “You want to tell them about your drunken antics, or should I?”
“You promised,” he accuses. “What happened in Bali, stays in Bali. I was celebrating.”
“I’ll totally tell you everything later,” Brooklyn whispers to me. “He was in a state after a few too many strong cocktails.”
“Brooke,” he whines.
“Sorry, sorry!”
Unable to stop myself, I yank her back into another hug. “I missed you guys so much.”
CHAPTER 23
ENZO
EVERYTHING ONCE – HOTEL MIRA
Pacing up and down Hunter’s office, the countless printed photographs covering every inch of the walls around me are a constant taunt. The list of victims has only grown.
We’ve added the nine bodies from last month’s copycat killer to the melee of destruction. With no DNA evidence or witnesses, their fates still remain unknown.
“The news has broken about Harlow signing a publishing contract.” Lucas’s voice rattles through the speaker of my phone. “Surprisingly, the response hasn’t been awful.”
“Come again? Did you say not awful?”
“Sabre has its critics, but the public seems genuinely interested in hearing her story. They want to know what really happened to all those women.”
Propping an arm against the floor-length window, I rest on it. “Well, that’s an unexpected turn of events.”
“We’re working with the company’s marketing team to ensure that Sabre is represented in the best light. My team is handling it.”
“This is her story. It isn’t about us or the company. Harlow should be able to tell it however she wants.”
“I’m just doing my job, Enz. There’s not much else I can do to help these days. Let me keep what remains of your reputation intact.”
I resist the urge to pull the trigger and give him free rein to destroy the remnants of the company we’ve built from scratch. Since talking to Harlow, all I can think about is leaving.
Running.
Hiding.
Fucking anything.
I just want out. The years of trauma and emotional exhaustion are finally catching up to me after being buried in the irretrievable pits of my psyche. We’re all burnt out and at our wits’ end.
“I have to go, Lucas. Got a briefing with the superintendent in half an hour, and I need to practise my nice face.”
“You have one?” He snorts.
“Apparently not, hence the practising.”
“Well, good luck with that. Tell Harlow to check her emails later. I need a few quotes to go in our press release about the book.”
Ending the call, I toss my phone on Hunter’s cluttered desk. He’s at the hospital with Harlow, attending his monthly checkup.
The stack of paperwork that Sabre’s legal team had delivered sits discarded next to my phone. I took the liberty of getting the necessary forms together for Harlow.
I wish I could say that it doesn’t bother me whose surname she chooses. This isn’t about us. It’s her way of reclaiming her identity.
That doesn’t stop me from itching with a caveman-like need to fill out the paperwork myself and stamp my surname on there, regardless of what anyone else thinks.
My phone vibrates with a text, and I snatch it back up.
Harlow: Arrived at the hospital safe. Just waiting to go in.
Enzo: Good. How is he?
Harlow: Nervous, I think. I’ll keep you posted.
Enzo: Stay with Ethan, and be safe.
Harlow: Always x
The door to the office creaks open, emitting a bleary-eyed Theo back in his usual flannel shirt and tight grey jeans.
“You got a minute?”
I wave him in. “Sure.”
He lumbers over to the conference table then perches on the edge. “Two of Matthew’s friends have been released on bail.”
“What the fuck?”
“They’ve been told to steer clear of us or risk being thrown back in prison if they violate the rules.”
I bury my face in my hands. “Jesus fucking Christ. They burned down our goddamn house, and no one gives a shit?”
“They were charged, Enz. Matthew and the others couldn’t afford the bond and are still locked up. That’s something.”
“What did the fire department say?”
“It’s still a disaster zone,” he confirms. “Massive structural damage caused by the fire. The property has been condemned.”
“Awesome. That’s just what I wanted to hear. So we’re now homeless on top of being totally fucked, right?”
“I’d hardly call being forced to live in a multi-million-pound skyscraper homeless, but if you insist on being dramatic, sure.”
“I really don’t want to hear your optimism right now.” I sigh.
Hopping off the table, Theo trails closer to rest a palm on my shoulder. “We made it out safely.”
“This time. What about the next time our family is in danger? We never should’ve taken this case in the first place.”
“But then we wouldn’t have Harlow,” he reasons.
And the thought of living a single goddamn moment without Harlow makes me want to jump off a fucking cliff.
Theo moves to the desk, picking up the stack of legal papers. “Harlow’s going ahead with the name change, then?”
“She wants to get it sorted before things progress with the book. That bloody surname has haunted her for too long.”
“Not sure one of ours is much better. The entire world knows and hates us all by now.”
I look back out of the window at the early November mist clinging to London’s skyline. It’s a wet, dreary day as winter arrives, replacing golden leaves with rain and misery.
“Where would you go?”
“Hmm?” Theo hums distractedly.
“If you could leave the city. Hell, this whole country. Anywhere in the world to start a brand-new life, where no one knows our names.”
Dropping the paperwork, he moves to my side. “Honestly? I have no clue. This life is all I’ve ever known.”
“Maybe that’s the problem. We’ve spent so long running from one fight to the next, we forgot to stop and actually live for ourselves.”
“I’d be open to a change.”
“You would?” I repeat in surprise.
Theo shrugs, his eyes on the gloomy sky. “Hacking began as a way for me to survive. I’ve been lucky to make a career out of it. That doesn’t mean I want this forever.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without your laptop in hand.” I gesture towards the device left on the table. “Who’s this new Theodore Young?”
He fights off a laugh. “He grew up.”
“Speaking of… You still haven’t told Harlow that it was your birthday last week, have you?”
Ducking his head, he stares down at his Chucks, battered and mud-streaked from overuse.
“I don’t celebrate. You know that.”
“She’d kill us both if she knew.”
“Which is exactly why I’ve kept it a secret,” he retorts. “I’ve never celebrated my birthday, and I’m not starting now.”
I clip him around the back of his head. “You’re still a mystery to me, even after all these years.”
“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
“Yeah, it really wasn’t one.”
Theo pushes his glasses up to rest in his blonde curls so he can scrub his face. “You know I grew up without a family. Birthdays just weren’t a thing. It isn’t a big deal.”
“Do you ever think about finding your family?”
He spares me an uncertain look. “Where is all this coming from today? You’re starting to freak me out a bit.”
“Just thinking about stuff. That’s all.”
Replacing his glasses, he wipes a non-existent speck from the window. “I used to. Sometimes, I dream about them, but I can never see their faces.”
“Maybe they had a good reason for leaving you in foster care all those years ago. You don’t want to find out?”
“I don’t fucking know, Enz.” He sighs unhappily. “I have my family right here. That’s all that matters to me now.”
The blare of a screeching alarm emanating from his phone interrupts us. Cursing, Theo grabs it and peers down at the screen.
“No way.”
“What is it?” I ask urgently.
“We’ve had a hit on the facial recognition software we’ve been running on public CCTV feeds. Daphne’s emerged.”
“Fuck!”
Racing over to his laptop, Theo loads his complex, hand-coded surveillance program. It’s taken years of perfection and first helped us when Harlow went missing in Croyde.
Fingers flying across the keyboard in a frantic blur, Theo locates the hit then loads the feed for us to check. It appears to be a camera outside a tiny village shop and petrol station.
I scan the grainy feed, unable to suck in a breath. Theo’s frozen in place next to me, waiting for our target to come into sight.
“Please,” he begs.
When a short, rounded woman walks into shot as she heads for the cash machine, I feel my heart explode. Her head tilts up, clocking the camera before quickly hiding her face and leaving with her cash.
I search through the stacks of files scattered across the table and locate the sparse profile we’ve gathered on Daphne. We managed to find an old driver’s licence photo in government records.
“Is it her?” I hold the piece of paper next to his laptop screen. “She left as soon as she spotted that camera.”
Theo rewinds the footage. “Maybe.”
Setting it to slow motion, we both glance between the two images. It’s all there. The sharpened hook of her nose, round chin and wide-set features beneath floss-like, silvery hair.
“Fuck,” I repeat in awe. “Fuck! That’s her.”
He double-checks the location. “Holcombe. Christ, that’s close to where those bodies were found on the beach.”
“When was this?”
“Couple of hours ago. It takes time for the software to process through millions of CCTV feeds across the country.”
I grip the edges of the table, taking a moment to focus myself. We’ve been waiting for this news ever since Giana spilled her guts about her secret half-sister. It’s been agonising.
“Call Rayna. We need to speak to the owner of that petrol station and get a trace on the bank card she used to withdraw the cash.”
Theo’s already on the secure channel we use to communicate. His fingers quake with each movement across his keyboard.
“This is it,” he says excitedly. “If she’s helping Abaddon, she will lead us straight back to where he’s been laying low.”
I clap his shoulder. “Nice work, Theo. You just broke this case wide open.”
“We still need to find the damn woman.”
“Just take the compliment for once in your life.”
He snorts. “Thanks.”
“Alright, enough of that. Get an ID on that bank card, and see if she owns any property in Holcombe. I’ll call the others.”
“Leighton’s at lunch with his parents,” Theo replies. “He’s going to pick Hunter, Harlow and Ethan up from the hospital.”
Stepping out of the office, I try Leighton’s phone first and get no answer. The same for Hunter and Harlow. Ethan picks up on the first ring with a barked greeting.
“Enzo.”
“We’ve got something here. I need you to bring them straight back from the hospital when Hunter’s done with his checkup.”
“Got a bit of a situation here too. Hunter had a meltdown after his appointment. I think Harlow’s with him now.”
“What?” I snap. “You’re there to keep them both safe, goddammit. You need to find them right now.”
“Copy that.”
“Call me when it’s done.”
With the call disconnected, I look around the office again. The faces staring back at me suddenly feel alive—their eyes lit with defiance and demanding my attention.
I can’t let this be my legacy. If we’re going to leave Sabre to serve the next generation, we have to finish this. Our chance to bring Abaddon down has finally arrived.
“Fox is speaking to the owner now.” Theo sits at the table, facing his laptop. “We’ll hack into her banking records to get an address.”
“Good. Ethan’s tracking down Hunter and Harlow to bring them both back here. Sounds like the appointment didn’t go well.”
“Are they okay?”
“I don’t know yet. He’s going to check back in.”
Firing off a text message to Hudson, I take a seat and wait. It doesn’t take long for him, Brooklyn and Kade to bound into the room, leaving their late breakfast in the canteen behind.
“You found Daphne?” Kade exclaims.
“Almost.” Theo pulls out the chair next to him. “I could use your help overriding these security protocols.”
Kade takes a seat as Brooklyn nears to circle an arm around my neck. She’s on light-duty after insisting on still working despite her pregnancy. None of the guys were happy about it.
“You okay?” she murmurs.
“I just need this to be it.”
“I know, big guy.” She moves a hand to her belly. “We’re going to finish this together.”
“There’s no we in it. You’re grounded. No exceptions this time.”
“Hey!” she protests. “This is my case too. I want to see it through just as much as you do.”
“That’s final, Brooke. I’m not risking anyone else. We’ve lost too much already, and I won’t fucking lose you too.”
With a sour look, she reluctantly backs down. I don’t give a shit if it hurts her precious feelings. Becket already paid the price for my decisions, and that won’t happen ever again.
“Fox?” Theo picks up his ringing phone. “Tell me you have something.”
He listens and curses under his breath. Kade hands him a piece of paper so he can write the information down that Fox is relaying.
“Good work.” Hanging up, Theo looks around at us all. “We’ve got a name. She’s been living under a false identity.”
Springing into action, Kade takes the information and begins to input it into the laptop he brought with him.
“Do we really think she’s spent the last decade helping this asshole without anyone knowing?” Hudson wonders.
“Why else would she leave her entire life behind and adopt a new identity?” Brooklyn replies. “She has to be with him.”
“You said that Harlow has no memories of her,” he reasons. “She can’t have been there.”
I crack my knuckles impatiently. “Harlow would also be the first to admit that her memory isn’t the most reliable thing.”
When Kade yells at his laptop, hazel eyes blown wide and darting between us, my anticipation peaks. I’ve never felt so nervous before.
Taking a look, Theo breaks out in a smile. “We’ve fucking got her.”
CHAPTER 24
