Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

February 14 th

6:42 P.M.

Why had she ever thought she could do this?

Was she crazy?

Ella certainly felt like she must be as she sat backstage waiting to go on and play like nothing was wrong. Like she was just putting on a regular concert and not trying to set herself out there as a nice, juicy piece of bait and hope that Dora Hibbert was stupid enough to try to reach out and take it.

There was every chance the woman was long gone. There had been no signs of her the last few days. Her house was empty. Her car was gone. It was like she had just vanished. But they all hoped that she was still hanging around, still crazy enough to think that she could come out on top and get whatever revenge it was she thought she was entitled to.

The woman was crazy. No doubt about it. There was nothing anyone on Athena Team had ever done to her that would warrant this assault she had launched against them. They knew from the original emails that had been discovered that the Reactivator had been sold to Raul Castillo for five million dollars. Compared to the insurance policy she’d had on her husband, and the payouts she’d gotten when he was hit by a truck, she had way more money than that, so this was not about getting rich.

It seemed personal.

Which made no sense and likely wouldn't unless Dora chose to share her motivations.

If they ever caught her.

If she was there tonight.

If she decided to make a move.

There was just as much chance that she wouldn't as that she would.

What if she was out there though?

What if she was sitting in the audience of this sold-out, last-minute Valentine’s Day concert they’d thrown together in a matter of days? While Ella couldn’t deny it was a little boost to her ego to know that she was still popular enough to be able to sell out a concert in just days, it wasn't like that was helpful right now.

Her ego wouldn't protect her if Dora came for her.

When you were dealing with someone unstable like Dora, someone evil, someone who wouldn't think twice about hurting others to get what she wanted, you had to also accept the unpredictable. Cold and calculating people you could predict, you could look at past behavior and use it to make informed decisions about how they would likely behave in the future.

The only thing they could predict about Dora was that she would do whatever it took to achieve her goals.

Which made her so much more dangerous.

It had been a hard decision for everyone to make but no one from Prey was in the audience tonight. If it was to be believable that she’d decided to quit, they couldn’t have all the people Dora would immediately recognize sitting out there. Crazy possibly, but Dora wasn't stupid. If she saw Prey people out there, she would know this was a setup.

So instead of her Prey people it was Miguel’s team sitting in the audience tonight, along with Rocco’s team. She trusted these men. Knew they would do everything within their power to keep her safe. They were all wired up, in communication with one another, their eyes peeled looking for any signs of Dora.

But as much as she trusted them it didn't soothe the knot of fear in her stomach.

It sat there heavily, had for the last few days, ever since Miguel had suggested this idea and everyone had jumped all over it. It boosted her confidence to know that he hadn't shied away from putting her in the spotlight. He believed in her, he knew she could do this, could handle the pressure, it never entered his mind to wrap her in cotton wool and hide her away.

Not that he wasn't every bit as nervous about this as she was.

She knew he was and felt his fear every time they were together, but he was pushing through, knowing she had what it took to play her role in this.

Honestly, that was probably the only thing giving her the strength to be there.

If Miguel believed in her then she wasn't going to let him down.

So there she was, dressed in a black halter-neck dress and heels. Her hair was twisted up in a fancy bun with a few locks hanging free, curled to perfection. Shaking hands had made putting on her makeup almost impossible, and she was glad that Scarlett, Lucy, and Cassie had insisted on being there to help.

This was for them as much as her. They had all been targeted, had all been hurt by Dora and her games. They all needed this to be over.

A knock on the door had her about jumping out of her skin. She was so on edge, wound so tightly, that it wouldn't take much to make her snap.

Before she could say anything, the door opened, and Miguel strolled in. For a moment, her brain short-circuited and all she could see was him and how deliciously handsome he looked in his tux. Good enough to eat. Maybe if everything went off tonight the way they all hoped it would he’d let her have a taste of him when he took her home.

He’d been by her side every second of the last few days. Listening to her practice with the kind of rapt attention that made her feel like maybe people really would pay to come and listen to her play even with the short notice. Talking through everything with her so she was confident in the plan and assured that she wasn't alone, that everyone had her back. Holding her at night when her jittery fears got the best of her, coming out in nightmares.

That steady strength had helped her hold it together, and it soothed her now.

Whenever he was around, he filled her with calm. With confidence. She was falling for him a little more each day and she still had no idea what he planned to do when this was all over. For now, he seemed to just be focusing on this, on tonight, on catching the mole, but questions about what happened next kept assaulting her mind.

Stay or go?

Trust himself or not?

The ball was in his court.

“Hey, how're you doing?” he asked as he walked right to her and didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms.

Pressing her face into his neck, Ella wrapped her arms around his waist and just held onto him. Allowing herself to soak up the steady confidence she needed so desperately. “I'm all right.”

“Really?”

“Really? No. But I can do this. I will do this,” she corrected. While she knew nobody would hold it against her if she pulled out, she’d hold it against herself. This had to be done and she was the perfect person for the job.

“That’s my girl. You got this, honey. I believe in you.”

Grasping the lapels of his jacket, Ella pulled back and met his gaze. “And I believe in you, Miguel. Always,” she whispered. Just like he wasn't leaving her alone to deal with this on her own, she would be there for him if he let her. She’d stand by his side as he worked to keep his addictions in check, fighting along with him. He didn't have to be alone. Neither of them did.

There was so much tenderness in his expression, along with a heavy dose of fear he knew was directed at himself. When he leaned down and touched his lips to her forehead she almost cried. This man had the power to ruin her and what he didn't realize was that he could wreck her just as easily by walking away as he could by staying and risking the future.

“Thank you,” he whispered, then feathered his lips across hers.

The future she wanted wasn't completely out of her grasp, but it would be if the mole wasn't dealt with. So Ella shoved everything else out of her head. “Has anyone seen her?”

“Not yet. That doesn’t mean she isn’t out there, though.”

“I hope she is. I hope she’s sitting out there thinking she won. Thinking she can come after me and no one will be there to stop it from happening. I hope that when we show her how wrong she is she breaks down and realizes that she’s never going to be as strong as we are. I hope it tears her apart when she realizes that she lost.”

“Bloodthirsty little thing aren't you,” Miguel teased as he reached for her cello and held it out to her.

“Only when the other person deserves it,” she said as she curled her hands around her instrument.

“I’ll be right out there the whole time,” Miguel assured her.

“I know you will be.” Actually, in her heart and mind, he’d be standing on stage with her, right where he belonged.

“You ready to go and catch a mole?”

“I can't wait.”

February 14 th

7:09 P.M.

“Whoa.”

The whispered word came through his comms and enraptured as Miguel was by the music flowing from the stage it took him a moment to process it. Once he did a proud smile lit his lips. That was his girl up there, making music like she was born to do.

Ella wasn't just good she was out of this world phenomenal.

Every single person in the room appeared to be almost breathless as they stared at the stage, unable to tear their eyes away from the woman weaving her bow across the strings and making magic happen.

It was like with each note that tumbled from her cello she was casting a spell, locking everyone in a sort of stasis where the only thing that existed was her music.

The expression on her face was beautiful, too. There was a peace that had been lacking when he went to her in the dressing room. Then she’d been a ball of anxiety, so close to falling apart he’d been worried that she might not be able to go through with this even though he knew she wanted to.

He shouldn’t have underestimated his girl.

Of course she had what it took to get up there on stage, knowing she was playing bait and yet making music like she didn't have a care in the world.

Miguel knew she’d been uncertain she could draw a big enough crowd when they threw this concert together in just a handful of days, but she shouldn’t have worried. As soon as it was splashed across social media the concert sold out in a matter of hours.

Listening to her now it was obvious why. This was different than when he’d listened to her practice the last few days. Then she’d been playing just for him and for herself. There was no way he’d thought that she could be any better. But the moment she walked out onto that stage to a round of applause it was like something took over her. Somehow, she was even better tonight in the packed-out concert hall, like she was feeding off the atmosphere, taking it and drawing it into her playing.

“Whoa,” Beckett “Ace” Morgan murmured again. “She’s something else.”

“Never heard anything like it,” Mark “Bubba” Wright whispered, the awe clear in his tone even though they were spread out around the hall.

“Next time she does a concert I'm bringing Avery,” Cole “Rex” Kingston said.

“Ditto,” Forest “Phantom” Dalton agreed. “Kalee would love listening to this. Anyone would. Classical music isn’t usually my thing, but the way she plays, it’s like she’s pouring her entire heart and soul into it.”

“She’s amazing,” Miguel said, his pride for his girl growing. He liked knowing how deeply Ella affected those around her. Still as much as she touched others, it was nothing compared to what she did to him. When she played she spoke to his soul, she soothed his fears, she filled him with confidence that he could keep himself in check and reach out and grab hold of the future he’d never allowed himself to wish for.

Unfortunately, tonight wasn't just about listening to Ella make magic.

Tonight was about putting an end to a nightmare so his girl could have the future she deserved. What he deserved was still up in the air as far as he was concerned, but Ella should have the whole world and he couldn’t deny that he wanted to be the one to give it to her.

So as hard as it was, Miguel shoved the music out of his head and focused instead on the people sitting in the audience. They were all staring enraptured at the stage, their focus on the woman filling the room with musical notes. There was no indication that any of them were there for any reason other than to listen to Ella.

Was he wrong about this whole thing?

There had always been a chance that Dora Hibbert wouldn't take the bait and show up there tonight. For all they knew, maybe she really had fled town and was hiding out somewhere else, she certainly had the funds to do so.

Even though that was possible Miguel didn't believe it was likely.

Every bit of profiling they had on people like Dora said that they wouldn't give up. Just because they didn't know why she’d decided to target Athena Team there had to be a reason. People were rarely illogical, there was almost always a reason for the things they did and said. Whatever this reason was, it was important enough to Dora Hibbert for her to go to extreme lengths to target all four team members relentlessly.

There was no way she would give up.

She’d be there, he felt it in his bones.

All that was in question was when would she strike?

Surely, she wouldn't do anything while Ella was up on stage playing, that was a sure-fire way for her to get herself caught. Chances were, Dora would wait until after the concert then try to slip backstage. If she’d bought the whole thing about Ella deciding to leave Prey then she might believe that Ella was no longer under their protection, that she was fair game tonight.

It had killed every single Prey person not to be there tonight, and to keep their distance the last couple of days. They all wanted to prove themselves to Ella and there was no better way than to be watching over her. But if Dora saw one of them then she’d know she was being played, and she might decide going after Ella wasn't worth the risk.

Between his team and Rocco’s there were a dozen men there tonight to have Ella’s back, keep her safe. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to protect Ella. Nothing. It was why he would walk away from her if it was the only way to keep her safe. She had to come first.

Hours ticked by.

Ella played piece after piece, keeping everyone enthralled. The energy in the room only grew with each new piece she played, and even though he was sure she must be getting exhausted, she didn't show it. The smile never left her face, and when she allowed her gaze to roam the audience, she seemed to beam that smile down to each person she saw like her music was for them personally.

It was something else, and by the time the end of the concert finally arrived Miguel was torn between being thrilled Ella had this opportunity to do something she obviously loved and disappointed that there had been no signs of Dora.

Spread as they were throughout the audience, Miguel was confident that if Dora was there then one of the men on his team or Rocco’s would have seen her by now.

Maybe he had been wrong.

Maybe self-preservation had turned out to be more important to Dora than her scheme for revenge.

They’d go back to the drawing board and make sure they figured something else out. Dora didn't get to cause the kind of pain and suffering to Ella that she had and get away with it. Whatever it took they’d get her, this was not the end.

“Still no sign of her,” Gumby said as the applause started to die down, people dropped back into their seats or began to gather their things.

“Doesn’t mean she isn’t here,” Rocco’s voice came down the comms. “She’s proven herself to be sneaky, she could have come here in disguise.”

“Prey are running facial recognition software on everyone here,” Rex reminded them. “If she’s here in disguise unless she was able to actually physically change her facial features, which I don’t see how she would have in just a couple of days, then that will pick her up.”

“If she wants to get to Ella she’ll hang around for the drinks,” Ace added.

That was true, this wasn't over yet, there was still time for Dora Hibbert to make her move. To give her that opportunity he was going to have to keep his distance from Ella. If he was hanging around right by her side like an angry guard dog, there was no way Dora would risk approaching.

Not that he had any intention of staying too far away.

Miguel needed to have her in his line of sight. Simple as that. The longer he was away from her the edgier he became. There was no use pretending he could keep a level head when it came to this woman, that he could stop himself from becoming obsessed with her.

It was already too late.

He was falling hard and fast.

And when he was around her he didn't even care.

“I'm going to get eyes on her,” he told the others, standing and working his way through the throng of people.

“Don’t get too close,” Rocco reminded him.

“I know,” he assured the other man. As badly as he wanted to glue himself to Ella’s side, he wasn't going to mess this up. Not when the stakes were so high.

“You need one of us to stick close?” Rocco asked, understanding in his tone.

“No. I can keep it together. I’ll stay close enough to keep her in my sight, but I won't get so close that it’ll scare off our target,” he promised.

Making quick work of heading for the backstage area, he was almost there when he saw a figure in black heading right toward Ella’s dressing room. The figure was small and slim, definitely a woman, and it was dressed like one of the staff. Was that how Dora thought she could get to Ella? By pretending she was there working.

Not going to happen.

Only just as he picked up his speed, a huge group of people spilled out into the aisles blocking his way and leaving Dora Hibbert a clean shot at getting to Ella.