20. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

IZEL

I’m in the living room, still basking in the afterglow of what Richard just said. He called me his girlfriend. It might sound stupid, even cringe-worthy to some, but no one had ever addressed me as his girlfriend before. At first, I was so shocked that I couldn’t even properly thank the owner at the restaurant. But as the night went on, I adjusted to the title, and I couldn’t be happier.

I can’t help the stupid grin that spreads across my face. It feels like a teenage crush all over again, and it’s sickeningly sweet. But it’s also a rare glimmer of warmth in my otherwise messed-up life. For the first time in a long time, I feel a little less alone, a little less like a goddamn outcast.

I was thinking about prolonging the identity of the Striker for as long as I could. But now, things have changed. I need to steer Richard in the direction I want, guide him through the maze with just enough clues to keep him chasing. I have to play this right because I want that holiday at Costa del Sol with him. I can almost feel the sun on my skin, the waves crashing nearby, and for once, a life that doesn’t feel like a never-ending torture. It’s time to set the pieces on the board and lead him exactly where I want.

My phone rings, shattering my reverie, and I let out a low curse. Who the hell is calling now, ruining my moment of happiness? With an annoyed sigh, I snatch up the phone and answer.

“What?” I practically snap into the phone.

The voice on the other end is familiar, but not in a comforting way. It’s the last person I want to hear from right now. “We need to talk.”

Talk? Seriously? I’m on cloud nine after what happened tonight, and this guy wants to talk? I roll my eyes, frustrated.

“Can it wait, Martin? I’m kinda busy. Besides I almost got caught talking to you earlier,” I mutter, hoping he’ll take the hint and back off.

“After having me do all the dirty work, you’re the one that’s busy, Izel? Are you kidding me?”

“Martin, you’re ruining my day,” I retort. I was on the verge of celebrating, and now he’s crashing the party.

“What were you thinking, Izzie? That girl you are messing with is not just any officer; she’s an FBI agent working with the lead agent on Ghostface Striker’s case.”

“I know,” I hiss.

“And she knows everything about you. Like, literally everything.”

I snap at him once more, my patience dwindling to nothing. “I know, Martin! Don’t rub it in.”

He tries to reason with me, his tone more somber. “Do you seriously want her to go through everything you went through? You’re better than that, Izzie.”

I take a deep breath. “I can’t let Richard find out. If the truth comes out, I’ll be locked up for good. And what I’m putting her through is like half of nothing compared to what I’ve been through.”

Martin goes quiet for a moment. “Speaking of Richard, Agent Reynolds came by my office the other day,” he says finally. “Asked me questions about the SteelSinner.”

“But that news was out ages ago. The FBI didn’t even dig deep enough to find his side business.”

“Yeah, but apparently Reynolds did, and he was alone when he came. No backup, no team. Just him, asking questions.”

“So, he was the only one with that information,” I mutter, more to myself than to Martin. “No one else knows.”

A few years ago, Martin set up that tech business to link himself with Charles, a move that would’ve been a red flag if anyone in the police department had bothered to pay attention. They didn’t, though. Typical. I tried telling them once—gave them the whole story on a silver platter—but they treated me like a fucking freak. So, I stopped talking. Let them figure it out themselves. I wasn’t going to keep begging to be heard.

“Why is he protecting you, Izzie?” Martin’s voice snaps me back to the present.

I know why. Fuck, I know exactly why. But I can’t let Martin in on that. He doesn’t need to freak out like I am right now.

“He doesn’t have to protect you. If he starts playing the hero, this whole case is going to go cold again. And then what? We’re back to square fucking one,” Martin presses.

“I know,” I admit, biting my lip as I think through the implications. Richard’s protection might mean he’s trying to shield me from something bigger, but it also means we’re risking everything. If this case goes cold, everything I’ve fought for, all the shit I’ve been through, will be for nothing. But just as I’m about to explain my plan—or lack thereof—I hear a sickening screech of tires in the background. Panic seizes me as I clutch the phone.

“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath, glancing towards the door. “I’ll have to call you later. Someone’s here.”

I disconnect the call and start moving towards the door. Whatever’s about to happen, it better not be more bad news. I can’t handle any more surprises today.

A uniformed officer strolls through the front door. Richard had assured me that I’d be alone. This makes absolutely no sense.

“Agent Reynolds has demanded that you come with me to the bureau,” he states with a solemn expression etched on his face.

I nod reluctantly and follow him to his car. The whole way there, my mind races with fear and uncertainty. If Richard knows, what does he know?

We arrive at the bureau, and the pit in my stomach grows deeper. My instincts scream at me to run, to get the hell out of here, but I know that if Richard doesn’t know the truth yet, my sudden disappearance will only raise more questions. So, with a heavy heart, I follow the uniformed officer inside. As I step further into the room, I spot a man sitting with his back to me. Even though I can’t see his face, I know who it is. My grandfather .

All the color drains from my face as I look at him. My grandfather and I have a complicated history, to say the least. He’s not the loving grandparent that most people have. He’s a sinister, manipulative asshole.

He slowly turns in his chair to face me. His face is devoid of emotion, and it’s like he’s about to pass a death sentence. I’ve seen that look before, and it never ends well.

The uniformed officer gestures for me to move forward, and I do so with shaky steps. This meeting feels like a sickening family reunion, and I’d do anything to escape it.

I try to clear my throat. “What’s this all about?”

I’ve fought too hard to break free from his grasp to let him destroy me now.

He leans forward, fingers steepled. “Izel, my dear, it’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?”

I glance at Richard, hoping for reassurance, but his expression is blank. That terrifies me even more. I can’t let it show, though. I’ve always been good at masking my fear.

Surprisingly, he walks in my direction. My heart pounds, half expecting him to slap cuffs on me and toss me in a prison cell. After all, I’ve spent a lifetime lying to him.

“Ms. Montclair,” he says in a way that makes it seem like his cock hadn’t been inside my mouth just an hour ago. “We have your grandfather here. He’s worried about you.”

I nod and move toward Victor. He rises from his chair, and for a moment, I want to run. I can’t stand the thought of being in this man’s clutches again. But I can’t. Making a scene will only make things worse.

I take a deep breath and meet Richard’s eyes. All I see is worry for me. At least Victor hasn’t said anything yet. That’s a relief.

Victor however is not alone, there is a lawyer with him. The lawyer starts spouting legal jargon, and I’m caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. I’ve got secrets, a twisted family, and a boyfriend who’s both my savior and potential executioner.

The lawyer gestures toward me, his eyes locked onto Richard. “Let’s cut the crap, Agent. You put her into witness protection under the guise of her being a suspect. That’s illegal.”

Illegal? Well, color me surprised. Not that I’m a legal eagle, but being tossed into witness protection because they thought I was some shady character doesn’t sound like a lawful walk in the park.

Although, to be fair, I am a shady character—more than shady, actually. I’m everything Richard is looking for but knowing that he lied to me still stings. I shoot a glance at him, and his guilty expression says it all.

“We had reasons,” he says.

The lawyer raises an eyebrow, a silent ‘go on’ hanging in the air. “Reasons? Like what? A gut feeling? Because, Agent, last time I checked, gut feelings don’t hold up in court.”

Victor leans back in his chair, that smug grin of his widening. “Agent Reynolds, it seems you’ve made quite the mess here. My granddaughter doesn’t deserve to be treated like a criminal.”

“Look, I did what I thought was necessary at the time. She was involved in a serious case, and her safety was at risk,” Richard sighs.

The lawyer leans in. “At risk? Or were you just too damn lazy to follow proper protocol? Putting her into witness protection without proper grounds is a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

Richard, sensing he’s treading on thin ice, tries to salvage the situation. “I just wanted to protect her. We can work within the system now. Make it legal.”

The lawyer snorts. “Work within the system? You’ve already proven you’re willing to bend the rules. I don’t know if we can trust you to play by them now.”

I glance at Victor, who’s enjoying this shitshow a bit too much.

The lawyer turns to me, his expression softening. “Ms. Montclair, we can make sure you’re legally taken out of this so-called witness protection. No strings attached. You don’t have to play by their rules anymore.”

I don’t want to be taken out of this so-called witness protection. For the first time in my life, I’ve found a sliver of happiness. I could have had it all—freedom, love, a future. But I know Victor, the lawyer, isn’t here just to check in. He’s a shark in a suit, and he has the power to ruin Richard’s career. If he gets even the slightest hint that I have feelings for Richard, Victor will use him against me in a heartbeat. I can’t let that happen. I have to let Richard go. It’s the only way to keep him safe from the mess I have dragged him into.

Tears already prick at my eyes as I glance over at Richard. A part of me wants to ask my faux grandfather to get the hell out with his lawyer and run back to Richard, just to have one perfect night. But I can’t. That would be selfish.

After some serious soul-searching, I make a decision. Staying with Richard? Not an option. I can’t let Victor hurt him.

I shoot a glance at Richard. “Please, let me explain.”

“I’m going with my grandfather,” I declare.

Victor looks at me with that smug grin, like he’s just won the lottery. “You made the right choice.”

Did I, though? I guess it doesn’t matter now, does it?

The lawyer guides me toward Victor. “Let’s get you to a safer place. We’ll sort this out, legally and sensibly.”

I nod, forcing myself to move away from Richard. Over my shoulder, I see the hurt, disappointment, and anger in his eyes. It tears me apart, knowing it’s taking everything in him to stop himself from grabbing me and locking me back in his house. And if he did, I’d willingly let him.

That’s why I have to let him go.

Because I’m in love with him.