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“He didn’t know about us until today when I came clean.

My feelings for you are real, Alex. I’ll do anything to prove that to you.” She looked down at her chewed nails as she took a breath. “I was thinking. About Eric. He has his second appointment in two weeks. I could erase—”

“No. Don't do anything.” Alex raised her hand to stop the onslaught of words tearing apart her brain.

“What do you mean don’t do anything? I need to help. I can’t let you get in trouble,” Charlotte said, her tone rushed and frantic.

“If you want to help, keep doing your job like you always do. The less you know the better.” Alex stung herself with the harsh words.

“I know what I did was wrong. So wrong.” Charlotte lowered her eyes. “But I can get you information. I can help you stay a step ahead. Jayson says that his chief is dead set on making this case against you. Do you know him?”

Alex reached for her phone, her vision blurry from the migraine. A quick google search brought her to the man she wanted. “I’ve never seen him before in my life.”

“I wonder what his deal is,” Charlotte muttered to herself.

“It’s late and I have a lot to do,” Alex announced as she stood.

“Where does this leave us, Alex?” Charlotte looked up at her. “Can you ever forgive me?”

Alex’s heart softened. She wanted more than anything to take her in her arms. To lead her to the soft comfort of her bed and sleep away this nightmare together, but she had too much to process. Eric wasn’t her fault, and the advanced warning might prove a lifesaver, but Alex felt too betrayed to think about anything beyond that.

“I don’t know, Charlotte.” The truth was a stone tied to her ankles as she leapt into the ocean. “There’s a lot for me to figure out. I need time to think.”

Charlotte nodded as she stood. “I guess I better go.”

Alex agreed and walked her to the do

or. From the shadows, she watched the small sedan’s taillights bounce toward the gate before disappearing down the road.

As Alex returned to the house, she turned o every light on her way to the kitchen where she found her migraine medication. After she downed it, she crawled into bed and covered her head with the duvet. She needed her full faculties if she was going to get out of this.

CHAPTER 41

SITTING AT HER KITCHEN COUNTER, Alex actively ignored the halo of pain wrapped around her head. It was a dull, uncomfortable thing, but preferable to the agony of the night before. To be safe, Alex closed every shade on the first floor.

The dawn light was pale, but she didn’t want to trigger another migraine. She wouldn’t have time to rest again for a while.

Alex: The Appaloosa broke free from her stable.

Stephanie: When?

Alex: Last night. I’m still home. Can you come give me a hand?

Stephanie: Already on my way.

Alex set the phone back on the counter. When they came up with the code phrase years ago, she still had horses.

They’d never revisited it.

It usually took Stephanie half an hour to get all the way west from her condo overlooking Biscayne Bay, but Alex expected she’d make it in twenty. With nothing left to do but wait, the pain from her head spread to her chest.

She replayed Charlotte’s job interview in her mind. She had to admit she’d been drawn to her from the start. Was

that by design? The idea of a bunch of strangers formulating a way to infiltrate her operation wasn’t new, but she’d never expected them to sneak in through her bedroom.

Tears stung the back of Alex’s sore eyes. If only it had just been the sex , she thought. She wouldn’t care so much about that. It wouldn’t have felt great, but after the initial shock she’d be able to move on. But she’d started making real plans with Charlotte.

The prospect of a future with her wasn’t so easy to forget.