Chapter 17

It takes us two more days to get into Matthew’s apartment to retrieve the documents. Even though we are under strict orders not to view them I’m not passing up the opportunity to potentially have information we can use against the sadistic asshole that holds our reins.

We already killed all the security cameras in the apartment, so I spread the documents out across Matthew’s desk. Killian simply raises an eyebrow at me and I return his blank stare with one of my own.

Rayth is already looking at the documents, not caring about the potential consequences. “What exactly are we looking at here?” he asks as he picks one of the sheets of paper up.

I shrug and pick up another piece of paper to look at it. It’s the death certificate of a woman named Abigail Anderson. The certificate looks like a normal death certificate, listing ‘accident’ under the cause of death, signed and dated a little over a year ago. “How exactly is the death of Abigail Anderson a risk to The Order?” I question as I scowl down at the piece of paper.

“Because it’s not about the death of Abigail Anderson,” Rayth says as he holds the piece of paper he is holding in front of the one in my hand. It’s another death certificate, almost identical to the one I was just looking at. “And It’s not about The Order either, it”s personal.”

I see straight away exactly what Rayth saw. “Abigail Black, spouse listed as Owen Black. Cause of death, homicide.”

Killian stops pacing the apartment to come and look at the two death certificates. I glance down at the other documents spread out on the desk, finding autopsy reports and other research that paint a clear picture that Owen killed his own wife.

”I didn”t even know he had a wife,” I murmur as I look through them, the revelation sending a chill down my spine.

Killian”s eyes narrow as he studies the documents, his expression unreadable. ”This changes things,” he says finally, his voice low.

We all feel very strongly about not abusing women, unless deserved. Women, especially those we feel strongly enough to claim, are meant to be protected and defended at all costs. A woman like Everly, I would burn the world down for her and destroy anyone who harmed her.

Rayth”s gaze flickers between the documents, his jaw tensing with the realization of the implications. ”If he”s capable of murdering his own wife and covering it up,” he begins, voice tight with anger, ”what else is he capable of? How many other innocent lives has he destroyed?”

Killian”s mind seems to be churning with possibilities as he absorbs the significance of the documents. His usually composed demeanor is tinged with a simmering intensity. ”We need to tread carefully,” he advises, his tone grave. ”This gives us leverage, but it also makes him more dangerous if he finds out we know about it. We can”t underestimate him.”

Nodding, I take out my phone and call Tavish. “I”m sorry, really, I don”t have anything yet, I”m really, really trying but–” Tavish”s nervous voice starts rambling softly to me the moment he answers the call.

“As much as I want results with that, it”s not why I”m calling, is this line secure?” I ask and he scoffs before coughing.

“Of course it is, who do you think I am, Damon, of course–”

“Is there a way to get documents to you that we want you to look into, but not let anyone else know about them or that they have even been seen?” I ask, interrupting him again. He is silent for a moment and I can hear him munching on something. That damn kid and his snack habit.

“I could drop a program on your phone. You would just need to click on it and use it like a normal camera but it would send the information to my private server,” he says in a rush before muttering to himself, “Not like I don”t have anything else to do right? No missing girl to desperately find, no asshole giving me stupid orders to follow.”

“Good, get it done,” I say before hanging up on him. I”m probably being rude but I have no tolerance at this point.

Moments later, my phone chimes, disrupting the heavy silence in the room. Instead of a message, there”s a new icon sitting innocently on the main screen labeled ”Snap.” With a shake of my head, I open it, finding something that almost resembles the real Snapchat app, but with the camera automatically facing away.

Using it, I quickly capture images of all the documents spread out on the desk before sending a message via the app to Tavish, informing him that I”ve sent them all. He responds with a simple thumbs up emoji before I close the app and lock my phone.

With the task completed, we collect all the paperwork and carefully place it back into the case it was in, sealing it up securely. Then, we leave Matthew”s apartment and head back toward headquarters, the weight of our discovery heavy on our minds.

It takes us a good hour to navigate back to headquarters. As soon as we arrive, I head towards Owen”s office while Killian and Rayth make their way to the kitchen for some much-needed sustenance. Owen seems content with the security of the case and dismisses me quickly. Internally, I seethe with anger, knowing his satisfaction stems from the belief that all evidence of his involvement in his wife”s death is about to disappear.

Walking through the corridors towards the kitchen, my thoughts are consumed by the documents and the implications they hold. However, my thoughts are abruptly interrupted when a nervous-looking Tavish grabs my attention from one of the empty rooms. Concern fills me as I approach him, noticing the way his eyes dart anxiously up and down the corridor.

He cautiously shuts the door behind me, plunging the room into semi-darkness. Before I can even speak, he shushes me, his voice trembling with urgency. ”I need to get this out before I”m sick, Damon. I can”t unknow what I now know. I need—”

”Tavish,” I interrupt, my tone urgent. ”What”s going on?”

He takes a deep breath, his words tumbling out in a rush. ”Abigail Anderson, the wife of that sick fuck, had a daughter, Everly Anderson. Who has been missing since she withdrew from Pre-med.”

My blood runs cold, the implications of his words hitting me like a sledgehammer. Whether it”s the darkness of the room or my vision simply goes black, seconds later, I find myself gripping Tavish”s throat. I force myself to release him and step back, his wide eyes meeting mine.

”So what you”re telling me is that Owen, our boss Owen, is the stepfather of the woman we are looking for, the one who was taken from us while we were conveniently on a job for him,” I say slowly, the rage simmering beneath the surface.

Tavish takes a step back, his expression pained. ”That”s not all,” he continues, his voice barely above a whisper. ”He chipped her. I found out as soon as I started digging. I tracked the chip. He has her in the cells.”

I force myself to breathe through the overwhelming darkness threatening to consume me. I can”t act recklessly; Owen would see me coming from a mile away with the cameras in the cells. But the urge to tear through everything between me and Everly is nearly unbearable.

Pacing the room for a moment I shove my hands through my hair, Tavish looks even sicker and more nervous than he was, if that’s even possible. “I can’t tell Kill or Ray this while we are here. It would be a toss up if they tried to kill Owen or tried to get to Everly first, either option he would see with his sensors and cameras. We need to plan this and do it one step at a time,” I finally say to him as I come to a stop again.

Tavish nods rapidly. “I could probably get something in place by tonight to loop the cameras in the cells and release the doors there temporarily. I can even hack in and disable the tracker in her and make it useless. The security in his office isn’t as easy and will take longer. But you would still have the issue of Grim and any other teams that are potentially working down there at the time.”

I grimace at the mention of the guard Owen keeps in the cells, a guard that is extremely loyal to his boss and knows everything that is happening down there. Any other teams we probably wouldn’t have an issue with, but Grim was a different story, especially since he would know exactly who Everly is and why Owen has her there.

My mind races as I consider Tavish”s words. It”s a risky plan, but it might be our best shot at getting Everly out of there without tipping off Owen.

”Alright,” I say, my voice low. ”Do what you can to loop the cameras and release the doors in the cells at midnight. We”ll handle Grim and any other potential obstacles as they come.”

Tavish nods, his expression nervous but now determined. ”I”ll get to work on it right away. But Damon, be careful. If this goes wrong we are all dead.”

Tavish slips out of the room, practically running away as I contemplate our next move. Instead of heading to the kitchen to meet the others, I decide to take action. I send them a message instructing them to meet me at the car. It only takes a few minutes before they join me, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern as they slide into the car.

Ignoring Rayth”s look of concern, I start the car and drive us away from headquarters. Putting distance between us is my only option for now. Killian watches me intently, trying to discern my intentions. Once I feel like we”ve created enough distance, I pull over on an empty street and get out of the car. The others follow suit, joining me as I stand in front of the vehicle.

Taking a deep breath, I recount what Tavish revealed to me in that dimly lit room. The truth about Everly”s identity and her connection to Owen.