Chapter 37

THIRTY-SEVEN

M y girl is healing day by day, both inside and out. It's been quiet after her interview, which is good because she needs rest. She deserves it, and I'm right here at her side. Elijah is stressed since I have canceled so much, but I don't care. She's more important, and he's starting to realize that.

He knows if he pushed me, I would choose her and walk away from everything else.

I'm trying to protect her from as much as I can, but I will never keep her in the dark, so when I get the news, I turn on the TV as we lounge in bed. Her eyes open, and I drop my phone. "You're going to want to see this."

Her expression morphs from peaceful to worried. I hate that, but I will never lie to her or keep her from any of this. It's her life and her battles. I am simply her general.

She sits up at the headline, pain radiating from her body as I turn up the volume, wrapping my arms around her. "Evelyn Mitchel, Renwood model, philanthropist, activist, and nation's sweetheart, was found dead this morning in her mansion. Police said it was a home invasion, and they are conducting the investigation?—"

She turns to me. "It's my fault. She's dead, and it' s my fault."

"No." I cup her face. "It's not."

"It is!" She tears herself away from me, looking back at the TV. "She stayed quiet all this time and they left her alone. The moment I approached her and she agreed to speak out, I signed her death certificate." She looks back at me. "They killed her, Kage. They killed her to stop her from speaking, like she was nothing on their road to silence."

"I know," I murmur as I turn off the TV. She's hurting enough as it is. She doesn't need to see anymore. Evelyn was clearly someone special to Fallon. I saw it the other day when they met up. Fallon cared about the model, and now she's blaming herself like Fallon always does. "It isn't your fault. She made her choice, she told you that, and they made theirs. You are not responsible for others' actions. They are the monsters, Fallon. Don't let them make you feel like one or, worse, scare you. That's what they want—to scare you into silence."

She nods, looking back at the blank TV. "I can't believe she's dead. She seemed bigger than life. Untouchable."

"Nobody is untouchable, Fallon. Don't forget that. They have only added fuel to the fire. They've officially crossed into murder now. This isn't a game anymore, which makes what you're doing even more important. They are willing to kill to silence it. You should keep going, Fallon, but only if you want. If not, that's fine. I'll run with you. I'll keep you safe for the rest of your life. Tell me what you want, Fallon, and I'll make it happen," I say, reaching for her. She melts into my arms, holding me close as she processes her muddled emotions and thoughts.

"I want . . . I want her death to mean something—all of their deaths. I want to be the person she thought I was and be strong enough to face the truth no matter the cost. I want them to pay for everything. More than anything, I want her to finally be free, even in death," she admits, her eyes hardening. "I want them to have nowhere to hide. I need to, Kage. This all has to mean something. I can't let their deaths go like this. The world has to know, and they have to pay."

"Then let's do that," I reply. "Let's make them pay. I will never ask you to stop, but I will keep you safe. You won't go anywhere alone, and you'll sleep with me. I won't lose you. Do you understand me? I care about your wants, but if it means losing you, then I would steal you away in a moment and hide you from the world."

"I know." She smiles, even though I expected her to be angry. "We need another witness. Evelyn . . ." She swallows, pain in her eyes. "She was going to talk. We need someone to replace her."

"You have someone in mind?" I ask curiously, knowing she probably needs to keep moving forward or she'll break again.

"I remember her manager. He was a bit of an ass back then, but maybe he knows someone else, someone who was sent with her," she muses. "It's as good a shot as any, right?"

"Then that's where we'll start. I'll tell your guards."

"You mean my army," she scoffs.

Grinning, I kiss her softly. "I told you, I'm your general, now let's go to war."