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She reaches over, finding my side and tickling me. I scoot away from her.
“I do not snore.”
“Oh, she definitely did,” I whisper dramatically. “But luckily, there was a brave knight who didn’t mind. He was too busy making sure no trolls disturbed her royal naps.”
Her smile fades into a gentle sigh. Her breathing deepens, her body relaxing into the mattress, completely at ease.
My voice lowers even further, barely above a whisper. “And that knight promised himself he’d always protect her, no matter what. So, he rescued her from an evil motherfucker’s castle. He thought she’d kick and scream the entire way, but she didn’t.”
When I’m certain she’s fully asleep, I lean over and press a soft kiss on her forehead. “Night, Harp.”
I slip from the bed, careful not to disturb her peaceful rest. The tenderness in my chest sharpens into urgency as I move to the living room and reach for my laptop.
Harper might not be ready to unpack everything, but I have to act because time is running out. I will uncover and expose the truth about him.
The cabin is silent now, and the only sound is the soft hum of my laptop. I settle on the couch and rub my eyes before pulling up a secure internet connection. The browser opens, and my fingers move swiftly over the keys. The message from the cashier in Newport replays on an endless loop in my mind.
That warning feels darker, less like a single incident and more like a sinister pattern.
I type quickly, scanning sketchy databases and encrypted forums, probing into anonymous threads where people discuss things too dangerous to say openly. Within moments, results flood my screen, threads titled vaguely, cryptically. I focus on one in particular:Missing Women—Newport, Rhode Island.
I pause, recalling the newspaper headline I glimpsed in the coffee shop, the one I brushed off at the time. I search the internet for missing women in Newport and see what comes up.
Another Newport Woman Reported Missing
Authorities Still Searching for Answers for the Four Missing Women
Newport Jane Doe #2 Identified
I find a few forum posts about it from the locals, and I scan anonymous messages, filled with vague hints and fearful warnings.
One comment immediately stops me:
She was spotted with someone from a powerful family. Vanished overnight. There was no real investigation, and the police brushed it under the rug. Everyone went quiet after that. They’ll never find her.
Another user responds hesitantly, as if afraid to type the words:
I’ve heard whispers about someone prominent in Newport targeting pretty women, thirty-five and under. He’s connected enough to erase evidence and cover his tracks. Girls just disappear, and nobody dares question it. I wonder if his fiancée knows.
My pulse quickens, dread filling my chest.
A third post, short and fearful, cements the darkness seeping into my bones:
People who dig into him vanish too. He’s untouchable and powerful enough that even mentioning his name is dangerous. No one messes with him due to his profession. Local police and judges are in his pocket. He’ll never pay for what he’s done.
I sit back slowly, exhaling.
The dots connect—Harper’s note, the missing women, the eerie headline from the newspaper at the restaurant. It all points to something disturbing, buried under Newport’s pristine surface.
Micah Rhodes is a murderer.
My gaze flicks toward the bedroom, where Harper sleeps, unaware of what she narrowly escaped. This is far deeper than any of us imagined. Her confusion, panic, and fear were her internal alarm bells screaming for her to get out, but she was already too far in.
Determined to not let this happen to anyone else, I grab my phone and quickly type a message to Asher and Nick. After I rescued Harper, Asher and Nick agreed to help me take Micah down. The three of us have the skills and contacts to settle this once and for all. I could text my cousin’s, but that’s last resort. I want them to enjoy being married and not get involved in potentially dangerous situations. It’s personal for Asher and for Nick too.
Brody
We need to meet ASAP. In person. Contact Weston for info.