Page 21 of Victorious: Part 3

“We need to understand something,” Haven says quietly. “This level of planning, this kind of long-term strategy, we now know Javier’s been building this for years. Maybe decades.”

“Using his Uncle Rico as cover while he built therealoperation,” Phoenix adds.

“And now Rico’s dead, Javier haseverythinghe needs, and we’re left holding the damn bag,” I finish.

“Jesus, fuck!” Alpha growls. “We were the weapon Javier used to carry out a motherfucking coup. And we walked right into it without even blinking. Carried out Javier’s plan for him effortlessly.”

“And now he’s building something bigger,” Loki confirms. “Using the foundation his uncle built, but with government backing. We fucking helped Javier build his goddamn empire by taking out Rico, who, let’s face it, was probably theonlyone who could stop Javier from building this shitshow.”

Everyone sits back, letting the realization sink over them.

That’s when I notice Nighthawk. She’s been quiet throughout the entire conversation, but her posture has grown increasingly tense. She keeps glancing toward the door like she wants to bolt.

“Nighthawk,” I say, drawing everyone’s attention to her. “You’ve been fidgeting since Chase and Lyric arrived. What’s going on?”

She looks up, startled to be called out. “I’m fine.”

“Bullshit!” I reply bluntly. “You move the same as my sister. Birds of a feather and all, and I know Haven well enough by now to know when something is wrong with her. And something is eating at you, Nighthawk. Haven, you see it too, right?”

Haven studies Nighthawk carefully. “You do seem unsettled.More than usual, given everything we’ve been discussing.”

Nighthawk’s eyes dart around the room, and I watch her internal struggle playing out on her face. Whatever she’s holding back, it’s consuming her.

“Fuck… all right. There’s something else,” she finally says, her voice barely audible.

Alpha leans forward. “What kind ofsomething else?”

“I’ve been holding back some information, but seeing how everything is so interconnected, and how Javier has been planning this for so long, I think I need to tell you.”

“Tell. Us. What?” Haven states, with clear agitation in her tone, as she steps closer to Nighthawk.

She exhales, her eyes shooting to Loki, who furrows his brows at her in confusion. “Okay, Loki, don’t hate me, but it’s about theHealth and Wellness Appthat you and Bea run.”

Loki folds his arms over his chest, a scowl crossing his face. “What about it?”

Nighthawk grimaces. “Well… about Bea’s hack and Governor Marshall.” She takes a shaky breath. “I need to tell you how it all connects.”

Loki exhales, his shoulders slumping as Haven stalks across the room, placing her hand on Nighthawk’s shoulder. “Just tell us.”

“Javier sent me to manipulate Governor Marshall into bribing Bea,” she says in a rush. “After Rhonda told me about Bea’s visits to the prison to promote her app, Javier gave me a mission.”

“What kind of mission?” I ask, though I’m not sure I want to hear the answer.

“I was supposed to approach the governor, threaten him with information the Cartel had on him unless he hacked Bea’s app and paid us for the client data.”

The pieces are clicking together.

And they are forming a picture none of us want to see.

“But you didn’t know Marshall was your father then?” Haven asks gently.

Nighthawk shakes her head, her jaw tight with self-control. “I can only assume that was the test. Javier was assessing my loyalty. To see if I would recognize him, and if I did, where my loyalties would lie.”

“But you didn’t remember,” Loki offers.

“I carried out the mission without hesitation,” she whispers. “I threatened my own father, set in motion the events that led to Bea being blackmailed, all because I was so thoroughly programmed by The Nest that I couldn’t even recognize my own blood.”

The weight of her confession settles over the room like a suffocating blanket.