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Everything. He’d finally let Gray know about the drive, which was part of a plan he and Kage had cooked up. They’d purposely kept me from learning every detail. While irritating, that’s the kind of controlling man Maddox was. He wanted to keep me protected at all times.

“I know. The three of you have done your best.”

I cupped his face, longing to say the words that had been on my mind for days, but the timing wasn’t right. Plus, I wasn’t entirely certain he wanted to hear them.

“You need to have a little faith, Charmaine. I got you out of a jungle. I can get you out of this.”

He was doing his best to act like what we might face wasn’t any big deal. We both knew otherwise.

The sound was one I’d programmed for when certain news popped up. I jerked into a sitting position, locking eyes with Maddox.

“What?” he asked.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, navigating to the article itself. There it was in black and white on the first page.

We were playing a dangerous game, but one that was necessary.

Copies of everything on the drive with proof of involvement had been sent to the FBI and CIA directors, another to the head of the justice department with still another to the Chicago Sun ’s attorneys.

The timing had been layered so the article would hit the streets first. The others would receive their copies later. Could we be arrested for our actions?

Maybe.

But it was my guess the various law enforcement agencies had bigger fish to fry.

I handed him the phone. “It begins.”

“No,” he said after a few seconds. “Soon this will end and you can return to your life.”

As I looked into his eyes, I read between the lines.

This had been nothing but an escape, my hero protecting me against the worst odds, but that’s all it could ever be.

Somehow, I knew I’d never find anyone who could fill his shoes.

Or invade my heart the way he’d done.

Another day had passed.

The television was on and had been for hours, reports coming in from every news source in the world.

People were being arrested from several prominent Fortune 100 companies, politicians being questioned as to their involvement in what was being called the greatest corruption scheme to occur in decades.

It was the moment my name had been driven into the stratosphere.

Suddenly alongside the breaking news bulletins were snippets of my past interviews and reports, including the in-depth piece I’d written on Fernando Alfaro.

I’d always considered the limelight icing on the cake.

Now it almost felt sleazy and I wasn’t certain why.

My intention hadn’t been to destroy so many lives, only to bring a bad man to his knees.

So many women had been tortured, so many children exploited. Yet Alfaro and the men and woman who’d formed an alliance with him were attempting to control the world. It was mind boggling what they’d managed to accomplish and how many people they’d hurt along the way.

Maddox had been on the phone with Gray several times. There was blood in the water coming from every direction.

The FBI and CIA were scrambling, but they weren’t saying much. There was so much confusion, people asking questions while attorneys attempted to protect their clients.

With so many arrests made based on my article, my poor editor was being hounded, but he was weathering the storm like a pro, refusing to provide any details about my whereabouts.

Yet there were those demanding I come out of hiding.

While my accusations had been backed by details, there were still those who insisted I’d made everything up.

They’d soon have all the evidence they needed in their hands.

Did that provide me with any sense of protection?

I honestly wasn’t certain, but I couldn’t think about that. I’d done the right thing.

Even if a ghost nagged at my mind.

I’d be forced to testify again, but this time I was prepared for the questions.

At least I hoped.

“You okay?” Maddox asked from behind me.

“I’m fine. Just hearing the reports is mind boggling.”

“Good news at least. Yuri Provincal was arrested an hour ago. There are plans in the works to capture Alfaro. It’s coming together.”

“But no sign of this Raptor.”

“Not yet.” He took a deep breath. “Why don’t you get some rest. It’s been a long day.”

The hours had flown by in a blur. It was already after dark. “Maybe I’ll lie down for an hour. Come get me if anything happens.”

“I will.” He rubbed my arm.

I headed to the stairs when I heard a sound. Was that my phone? I snagged it from my back pocket, realizing a message had been left hours before. Why hadn’t I noticed? When I pulled it up, my heart surged. Hurriedly, I hit play.

A strangled moan erupted from my throat, the words barely registering, my entire body shaking. “No. No!”

Maddox immediately tensed, taking long strides in my direction. “Whoa. I’ve got you. What the hell is wrong?”

“It’s… It’s Brian, my ex-husband. I knew something was off with him. I’d been right. Why hadn’t I figured it out earlier? He was the man who warned me I was in danger. He left me a message. I don’t understand. What is going on? Who did this? I just…”

“Slow down. You’re not making any sense. What are you talking about?”

I took a deep breath, going over what the mystery informant had told me at the coffee shop. And the fact he’d disguised his voice and had worn a hoodie.

“I told you that I met someone in a coffee shop. It was Brian. He knew I could get into El Salvador and could be trusted to bring the jump drive back with me.”

“Your ex-husband, the one who cheated on you.”

“He’s been a lead prosecutor for Chicago for years fighting organized crime. He’s been responsible for several convictions of several mafia leaders and enforcers, some who did business in New York.”

Maddox was taken aback. “So you’re saying he was investigating Alfaro as well.”

“Maybe. I guess. That’s the only thing that makes sense. He used rather unscrupulous methods before.”

“But to use his own ex-wife?” He gritted his teeth.

“The one thing Brian said he admired about me was my tenacity, including when I wrote the article on Alfaro months ago.”

“O-kay. So what else?”

“Listen. Just listen.” I closed my eyes, praying what I’d heard wasn’t true.

But I knew in my heart it was.

He took the phone from my hand, hitting replay.

“Char. You need to go somewhere. They know where you are. I’m so sorry I got you involved with this, but I knew you were the right person to help bring these people down. Now, I regret it. They’re coming. They know everything. You’re not safe.”

Maddox shot a look into my eyes.

“What the hell?”

With my finger pointed to try to keep him listening, I cringed as I heard the noise. Maybe his door had been kicked in. There were pounding footsteps and… And…

“Charmaine!”

Pop! Pop! Pop!

As soon as the hard thump was replayed, I slumped against him. “He was trying to save me. He was the one I met in the coffee shop. Brian. The man who betrayed me.” The words were jumbled, repetitive, and I could barely breathe.

“This doesn’t make any sense. Why would he place you in harm’s way?”

“I don’t think he realized how dangerous Alfaro was. I didn’t either, but it might have been his single chance to have enough evidence for an indictment.”

“I can’t call him a hero for what he put you through.”

“He’s dead, Maddox. He knew my work was important to me.”

He exhaled, tipping his head as Kage walked closer. “Breathe for me, honey. Just breathe. How long ago did this come in?”

“Hours,” I told him as I tried to hold back the sobs. For all the hatred I’d felt for the man, my heart was breaking. Brian didn’t deserve to die. “I didn’t hear it. Maybe I could have saved his life.”

“Okay. I don’t know what this means, but I’ll see if I can find out. Do you know where he’s living? His address.”

I nodded. “I’ll get it for you. But he might have been at the office.”

Maddox shook his head. “Give me as much information as you have and I’ll see if Gray can find out. Maybe he’s alive.”

I nodded. “Okay. I need to know what happened to him. Please.” Why had I jumped into the middle of something I had no business doing? How many lives had I endangered?

The loud knock on the door immediately drew Maddox’s attention. He grabbed his weapon, Kage as well and both headed for the door. As soon as he swung it open, the man on the other side jerked back.

“Whoa. Mr. Grant. I’m sorry to interrupt, but you weren’t answering your phone. The barn is on fire. I’ve called the fire department, but they’re on another call.”

“Fuck,” Maddox snarled. “Fuck.”

“The assholes who set the fires before were seen running away,” Randy added. “At least I think it was them.”

“Oh, no. The animals,” I said as I rushed closer. “You need to save them.”

Randy nodded. “They’re in danger. I’m headed toward the barns now. We need more help.”

“I’ll be right there, Randy.” He turned toward me as Randy ran off. “Stay right here. Lock the doors. Kage, Chuck, I think I’ll need you. We need to get the animals to safety. Do not leave this house.”

“Okay. I have the weapon.”

He pressed his hand against my face and grabbed his coat.

As soon as they rushed out, I took a deep breath. My God. What else was going to happen to our little world?