Page 46 of Nemesis

Something changed that night in the pool house when I caught her prying through my things, crossing a line I never should’ve.

I hadn't let myself want anyone besidesher. Sofia was still all I could think about even after all these years. Looking at anyone else,wantinganyone else felt like a betrayal.

None of it made sense, but I couldn't help it.

She was etched in my skin,quite literally even, and I still had this stupid longing of one day finding her again. Of her coming back to me.For me.

What was happening between me and Olivia was different, yet so similar. She made me feelsomethingI couldn't explain yet. Curiosity? Temptation?Familiarity?

Luckily, the benefit gala’s planning kept her busy most days, which meant I barely saw her unless it was to take her to scout for venues, run errands, or through the screen of my computer when I spent my nights replaying the camera footage to study for any abnormalities during our outings.

At least, I convinced myself that’s why I was doing it and not for the chance to stare at her for hours on end. Now, I was stuck with her for God knows how long in this tiny cabin,mytiny cabin. The same one I hadn’t stayed at in years.

I walked the premises, making sure once again that nobody had followed us before I grabbed the spare phone from my back pocket and dialed Noah’s number.

“Why haven’t you been answering my calls?” he asked over the sound of a door clicking shut in the background.

“Was a little busy avoiding bullets.”

“I heard. Anyone hurt?”

“The bullet grazed my shoulder, but Olivia’s fine.”

He cursed under his breath. “Where are you now? I haven’t been able to track your location ever since you left the restaurant. Also, why are you calling me from your burner phone?”

“Can we stop with the drilling questions? We’re somewhere safe. That’s all you need to know for now.”

I walked back to the car and opened the trunk, flicking the hatch open. I sandwiched the phone between my ear and shoulder as I retrieved the files.

“Listen, whoever’s sending the notes knows how to cover their tracks,” I said, examining the note. “Everything about the notes is generic. There are no identifying markers. I wasn’t able to trace anything back to its source. The only thing I have is that they are from the same sender since the paper they’re using and the calligraphy are all identical.”

I paused, mulling over the information. “Whoever’s after her isn’t careless enough to leave fingerprints on it.”

He stayed quiet for a minute before calling me by my name, something he rarely did. “Theo—”

Before he continued, I blurted, “I need you to do me a favor.”

“A favor?” he asked, perplexed.

“I need you to find everything you can on Olivia Morales.”

He mulled over my statement for a moment. “And why would I do that?”

“It’s personal.”

“I’m going to need more than ‘it’s personal’ if I’m about to intrude on a civilian's privacy,” he muttered, annoyance dripping in his tone.

“I have a feeling.”

“A feeling?” His frustration was palpable even through the phone. “What’s this really about?” He pushed, despite knowing he may or may not get an answer from me. Noah was intuitive and knew me better than most.

“You used to trust myfeelings. Now, can you do this for me or not?”

“Please don’t tell me this is about your ridiculous theory that she’s Sofia. It’s been seven years, Alvarez. Let it go.”

Never.I would never be able to let her go.

Anger coursed through my veins. “Just get me what you have,” I said through clenched teeth, hanging up. I threw the phone on the felted platform, mulling over the contents scattered out of the manila folder.