Page 25 of Sly Like a Fox (Romance Expected Dating Service #3)
Anklor nods with apparent enthusiasm. “I host a small gathering every quarter for my closest business associates. Very exclusive and very private. We can deeply discuss opportunities that require...discretion.”
The invitation represents everything I’ve been working toward, offering access to his most sensitive business dealings, contact with the inner circle of his criminal network, and the opportunity to gather evidence that would destroy not just Anklor but everyone connected to his operations.
It’s also potentially a death trap that could get both Jenna and me killed if he suspects our true identities.
“That sounds wonderful,” Jenna says with exactly the right note of pleased surprise, though her words are slightly slurred. “We’d be honored to attend.”
“Excellent. Caroline will provide you with the details.” His smile grows wider, but something about his expression makes my paranoia spike. “I think you’ll find it...educational.”
The choice of words feels loaded with meaning I don’t like. Is he planning to test us further, or has he already decided we’re threats that need to be eliminated in a more private setting?
We spend another thirty minutes making polite conversation before extracting ourselves from the party with appropriate expressions of gratitude and promises to follow up on various social and business opportunities. The performance continues until we’re safely in the elevator.
“Did you get what we needed?” Jenna asks after the elevator puts a few floors between us and the penthouse, her composure finally slipping to reveal the anxiety beneath.
“Most of it. I got financial records, communication logs, and enough other evidence to destroy his entire network.” I pat the folder tucked inside my jacket. “Plus recorded confessions of his money laundering operations.”
“That’s amazing. We actually did it.”
Her excitement is infectious, but our success has also escalated the danger we’re facing.
The way Anklor looked at us before we left suggests he's decided something about our future, and I’m not confident that decision bodes well for our survival.
I also think he has designs on Jenna, but he’ll die before touching her.
The elevator reaches the parking garage, and we walk to our car in comfortable silence.
As I start the engine and begin driving home, the evening’s revelations settle in my chest like stones.
“The weekend invitation… That’s not a social gathering.
It’s where he conducts his most sensitive criminal business. ”
Jenna nods thoughtfully. “I figured as much. Caroline mentioned the event when we were chatting, intimating the guest list is very exclusive, and her excitement seemed forced.”
“It’s also incredibly dangerous. If he suspects anything about our true identities, that weekend could be our last.”
She frowns. “It’s also our best opportunity to gather evidence about his entire network. Not just Anklor but everyone connected to his operations.”
I nod. The weekend retreat would provide access to information that could destroy corruption throughout the city’s power structure.
We could bring down all the corrupt judges, politicians, and business leaders with all of them gathered in one location where they feel safe enough to discuss their criminal activities openly.
It would also require maintaining our cover for an extended period under intense scrutiny with no backup and limited escape options if things went wrong.
“There’s something else,” I say, voicing the concern that’s been growing since we left the penthouse. “I think Anklor is testing us. The timing of this invitation, and the way he watched us tonight… Something feels calculated about his behavior.”
“You think he suspects something?”
“I think he’s suspicious enough to test new associates before bringing them into his inner circle, which means this weekend could be an elaborate trap designed to expose us.
” I shudder at the thought of being lured into a trap when there are many shifters among his comrades, and the numbers won’t be in our favor.
We drive through the empty streets while I process the impossible choice ahead of us.
Accepting the invitation could provide the evidence needed to destroy Anklor’s entire network and ensure justice for every family he’s hurt over the years, but it could also get the woman I love killed in service of my quest for revenge.
“What are you thinking?” she asks, noting my prolonged silence.
“I’m thinking I’ve already gotten everything I really need.
The evidence we gathered tonight is sufficient to ensure Anklor’s conviction and the exposure of his major criminal operations.
” I reach over to squeeze her hand. “Maybe it’s time to prioritize our future over my past and let someone else bring down the rest of the network. ”
She blinks for a moment. “You’re talking about declining the invitation?”
I quickly shake my head. “It’s more than that. I’m talking about choosing what matters most. Three years ago, destroying Anklor completely was the only thing that mattered. Now...”
She sighs softly, smiling at me. “Now you have something to lose.”
“Now I have everything to lose, and I’m not willing to risk your life for the sake of perfect justice. I’m content with what we have and what will happen to Anklor.”
Jenna is quiet for several blocks, apparently processing what I’m suggesting.
Finally, she turns to face me with an expression that combines understanding with something that might be disappointment.
“This weekend represents the culmination of everything you’ve worked for.
The chance to destroy not just Anklor but the entire system of corruption that killed your parents. ”
“And it also represents the highest probability of getting you killed that we’ve faced since this began.”
“That’s my risk to take.”
I shake my head forcefully. “No, it’s our risk because if something happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself for putting revenge ahead of love.”
She gets silent and contemplative. For three years, my identity has been built around the mission to destroy Garret Anklor. Now, I’d rather abandon that mission than risk her.
“What if we compromise?” she says. “Accept the invitation but establish more extensive safety protocols. Backup communication methods, extraction plans, and ways to signal for help if things go wrong.”
“No.” I speak firmly, having decided what’s most important to me. “The problem with backup plans is that they assume you’ll have time to implement them. If Anklor has decided we’re threats, he’s not going to give us opportunities to call for help.”
She hesitates before asking, “What do you want to do?”
I consider the question while navigating the final blocks to my apartment building.
What do I want? For three years, the answer has been justice for my family, regardless of personal cost. Now, the answer is more complicated.
“I want Anklor to pay for what he did to my parents and everyone else he’s destroyed over the years, but I also want a future with you that doesn’t involve constantly looking over our shoulders or wondering if today is the day his associates decide we know too much. ”
She looks doubtful. “Those two things might not be mutually exclusive.”
“They might not be compatible, either.”
We reach my building and take the elevator to my apartment in contemplative silence.
The evidence folder feels heavy in my jacket pocket, weighted with years of planning and the promise of justice finally within reach, but walking beside Jenna, I’m aware tonight’s success has brought us to a crossroads I never anticipated.
Inside my apartment, I spread the contents of Anklor’s folder across my coffee table while Jenna examines the financial records I downloaded.
The scope of his criminal empire is even more extensive than I suspected with connections to corruption cases across multiple states and evidence of criminal activity going back fifteen years.
She studies a document that details kickbacks paid to federal judges. “This is incredible. With this evidence, and what we could glean from the lake house, we could bring down half the criminal network in the southeastern United States.”
“The question is whether we need to risk everything for that complete victory, or if we have enough to ensure justice for the people who matter most.” I try to sound neutral.
I don’t want to impose my will or force her to align with my way of thinking, but it’s not a risk worth taking in my opinion.
She looks up from the documents with a thoughtful expression. “You really don’t think we should accept the weekend invitation?”
I shrug. “We’ve already achieved more than I dared to hope for three years ago. We have documented proof of Anklor’s crimes, recorded confessions, and enough evidence to ensure his conviction.”
“But not enough to destroy his entire network…” She trails off, biting her lip.
I lean back and close my eyes, taking a moment to compose my thoughts. I look at her again before saying, “Maybe that’s not our responsibility. Maybe our responsibility is to ensure he pays for what he did to my family and gets removed from power before he can hurt anyone else.”
She’s quiet for several moments, studying my face with intensity. Finally, she reaches for my hand. “This is a conversation we need to have properly. Not while we’re both exhausted and running on adrenaline from tonight’s operation.”
I nod. “Tomorrow would be better, when we can think clearly about all the consequences.”
As I hold her close and stare at the evidence that could finally bring down my family’s killer, I wonder whether the choice ahead of us will strengthen our partnership or destroy everything we’ve built together.