Page 102 of Beautiful Revenge

“Are you saying my tap isn’t fool proof?” I ask, knowing damn well it is.

“That’s not the point,” Ozzy bites. “What I’m getting at is this is a lot, and you should’ve told me.”

“Consider this me telling you. Turner is a fuckwad who’s responsible for killing my best mate. Now he’s connected to the murder plot of Harlow Madison, and the shooting that took place on my property. I’m done sitting back and letting that arsehole continue to wreak havoc in my life. It’s time he’s taken down for good.”

“There’s no way British Intelligence would have approved this. Hell, I’m not sure the CIA would touch him right now.”

I hit the button to call the lift. “Then it’s good neither of us work for them.”

Ozzy sighs.

I keep talking. “Tell me you’re not impressed with my handiwork. I dare you.”

“I mean...” If eye rolling made a sound, it would come crystal clear through my cell. “It’s solid.”

“Like the core of the earth,” I add. “I only pressed go on it earlier today. I may not have been trained by the National Intelligence Agency, but I’m no idiot when it comes to systems. It helped that you built something as secure as RESKILL. I’m just riding your coattails, Oz.”

“You might be good at a lot of things, but kissing ass isn’t one of them,” he growls. “From now on, if you want to be a fly on the wall to a moderate tech guru in Europe, run it by me first.”

“Fair enough,” I relent.

“Bella filled me in. I’m back, so consider me your fulltime partner until this shit is done. The more eyes we have on them, the better.”

“Brilliant.” I exit the lift but pause before I head back to Harlow and her father. “There’s a missing link I can’t identify. Someone is the go between for Turner and everything shady he dabbles in. I want a name and mug. We figure out who that is, my gut tells me it will open so many doors, Turner himself might go down too.”

“I’ll dig deeper. Or continue to dig since you’ve done enough.”

“You mean I’ve done everything. It’s okay to say you’re impressed. I won’t come for your job.”

“Fuck off. You’re as irritating as your sister,” he scoffs.

“We are Donnellys. I take that as a compliment.” I start down the empty hall. “As fun as this is, I’ve got to go. We’ll talk soon.”

“I’m ready to get this wrapped up. The sooner we can break any tech ties to Turner, the better.”

“We have the same goals, though I want Turner put away for life in the process.”

“I aim to please,” Ozzy mutters. “Later.”

I disconnect right before I crack the door to Patrick Madison’s hospital room. It’s late. The sun had already set by the time we touched down on the east coast. I try not to make a sound so I don’t wake anyone.

Until I come around the corner.

Patrick Madison and his only child, reunited.

Patrick is propped on a pile of pillows and looks like he’s been dragged to hell and back. He doesn’t even glance my way when the door shuts with a heavy click. He’s too focused on the woman who’s captured not only my attention since the first moment I laid eyes on her, but created a possessive monster within me that I can’t seem to tamp down.

Harlow is perched on the side of the hospital bed holding her father’s hand in both of hers. Tears stain her perfect face even though there’s joy in her eyes.

“I didn’t think this day would ever come. Every day that passed felt more like mom all over again. A slow death.”

His voice is raspy and weak, but his words are laced with conviction. “You can’t get rid of me that easily. No one can, including that bitch. She’ll be served with divorce papers as soon as I talk to my attorneys first thing tomorrow.”

Harlow swipes at her tears. “We have plenty of time to worry about that. I need to get you healthy again.”

At this point I can’t back out the door without looking like an eavesdropping arsehole, so I clear my throat. When they both turn to me, I lift the bag of food. “Greek. It was the only thing open.”

Patrick frowns. “Who are you?”