Page 149 of No Longer Mine

He nodded. Hard.

“Good,” I said, flicking my knife closed. “Now move.”

Seven days later, surrounded by my family and Scarlett, I clicked on the TV. The captain of the NYPD stood at a podium, uniform pressed, face grim.

My brothers sat on edge—none of them knew what was coming.

I hadn’t told them everything. Not yet. I wasn’t sure how they’d feel about what I’d done behind the scenes—but this was my call. My burden.

Scarlett sat beside me, quiet but alert. Her fingers curled around mine.

On the TV, the captain cleared his throat, and cameras flashed around the crowded room.

“After an investigation, the NYPD and assisting agencies have successfully dismantled one of the most expansive and violent human trafficking rings operating on the East Coast. Dozens of arrests have been made. Several prominent figures - politicians, businessmen, and law enforcement officers- have been implicated, and this investigation remains active and ongoing at this time. We are committed to ensuring that every victim receives justice and the community remains safe.”

I didn’t blink. I knew exactly whose names were on those warrants.

“We will not disclose our source that led the the opening of this investigation, but with their cooperation in this investigation, it will lead to a safer community and justice for all of the victims. ”

Ace stared at the screen like it might crack open. “Why aren’t you giving this press conference?”

I leaned back slowly. “I don’t need to be known as a hero.”

Gavin had delivered everything, exactly like I told him to. Under my supervision, he uploaded it directly to the captain’s encrypted drop point. I made it clear he had two options—cooperate or vanish. He chose wisely.

Scarlett squeezed my hand.

Letting the NYPD take credit had been intentional. The city needed heroes. The women needed protection. I didn’t need my name attached to any of it. I just needed the people who hurt her—who hurt all of them—gone.

I stood and turned the TV off. “Let’s eat.”

No more applause. No more discussion.

Let the world think the police brought them down. We’d all sleep better that way.

Scarlett rose onto her toes and kissed my cheek. “I can’t believe they’re actually going down. Do you think they’ll stay in prison?”

I didn’t answer right away. Most of them wouldn’t. Not forever. But they’d be watched now. My father had vanished, and without him to pull the strings, his allies were exposed and bleeding out. He wouldn’t find sanctuary. He’d only find targets on his back.

And if he ever came home?

He’d come back to fire.

Epilogue

Scarlett

Six months felt like an eternity—andnot long enough.

I thought I would have healed from what Sinclair Cristof had done to me by now, but the scars still lingered like ghosts. Dimitri encouraged therapy. But I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t sit across from a stranger and recount those nightmares and past ones—not yet.

Not when I was still planning on hunting him down.

Of course, I hadn’t told Dimitri that.

Not after that night, when he kissed every part of me with reverence, looked up at me like I was his entire world, and whispered, “If you need to keep stealing to feel like you have control, then do it. Do what you need to heal. I’ll be here—when you’re done.”

I didn’t have it in me to steal anymore. But revenge? That was another matter.