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THE BEGINNING
EZRA
The quiet of the night is interrupted by the sound of a car pulling up outside my house. I glance at the clock—3:00 a.m. I am instantly alert, moving silently to the window to see who has arrived. When I recognize the blacked out Sedan, a mix of annoyance and relief surges through me.
Slipping on a jacket, I step outside, closing the door quietly behind me. My former best friend is waiting by the car, his face illuminated by the dim streetlight.
He looks tired.
Fuck him.
He takes a deep breath, his expression grim. “I’ve taken care of everything. I’ve anonymously submitted a shit ton of evidence to the police. Stu is well on his way to being the scapegoat for everything; stalking, manipulation, Marshall’s murder, and various other crimes tied to The Assembly. You’re in the clear, and I’m still as good as dead.”
I study his face for any sign of deceit. “You’re sure?”
Stu shakes his head. “I made sure everything was airtight. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t set things straight. It’s all there—documents, recordings, every bit of evidence that links me to our crimes, and nothing that implicates anyone else. The Assembly remains a ghost.”
I stare at him, violent anger simmering beneath my calm exterior.
Stu was my best friend, but that didn’t stop him from being a complete psycho. The way he went after Jack’s girl was beyond anything I can forgive, and I don’t feel guilty for shooting him, or for the fact that I’ll likely never see him again after tonight.
He was supposed to retrieve the chip her father implanted in her, the one holding all the information Marshall had over the Assembly’s head keeping him immune from the consequences of attempting to step down from his position.
As Stu talks, I slip a hand into my pocket, fingers brushing against the small metal chip now in my possession. I feel the ridges of it beneath my fingertips, its weight surprisingly significant for something so small. The chip that holds the secrets her father thought would save him—secrets that could destroy the Assembly if they ever saw the light of day.
But they won’t. Not if I have anything to say about it.
I don’t give a fuck about the rest of The Assembly, but I do give a fuck about the things on there that could implicate me .
And there’s plenty.
There were simpler solutions, and ways to get the job done without causing her harm. But Stu? He couldn’t resist taking it too far, hurting her in the process, all because he got off on pushing boundaries and playing god.
I should have known better than to trust him with something so important, but it is what it is.
I’ve always done everything I can to make sure Jack and his family stay out of this. I’ve kept him in the dark for years, and I’ll keep doing it. Just because I’m stuck with The Assembly doesn’t mean he has to be involved.
Sure, the things I’ve kept from him became overly complicated when he got involved with Quinn, but we’re past that being an issue.
“Don’t think this absolves you for being so fucking messy.” Stu is fucking stupid, unhinged, and the way he has always idolized all The Assembly stands for has clouded his judgment more than once. “You need to disappear, and not just from Hallow Ridge. I don’t care if I ever fucking hear from you again. You’ll be a lot better off if I don’t .”
Without another word, he nods and turns and gets back into his car, driving off into the night. I watch him go.
I return inside, closing the door quietly behind me. As I make my way back to the bedroom, I pause and pull out my phone to respond to the text Jack sent inviting me to go golfing this weekend.
Sliding back into bed beside Kruz, I feel her stir slightly, her hand reaching for me.
She mumbles something in her sleep, leaning into me. I lay awake for a long time, knowing that when I fall asleep, she’ll be gone by the time I wake again.
But that’s fine.
She won’t get far.
Because of all the plans I’ve had in my life, the ones I have to keep her coming back are by far the best.