?Chapter 408:


    “Smart thinking, huh? That’s exactly what the boss has nned. We’re here cleaning up evidence. The other team? Off to pay the family a visit. Quietly. No mess.”


    “Boss covers all angles. Gotta hand it to him.”


    Thest thing she heard was a car door mming, then silence.


    She sat frozen on the floor. She knew Nixon was scum, but this? He was ready to wipe out a whole family to protect himself?


    In a society with courts and police, he still acted like thew didn’t apply to him? Her chest was pounding now, adrenaline surging. She shot to her feet, grabbing her phone and her keys, ready to run out the door and warn Finley’s family herself.


    But the second she touched the doorknob, she stopped.


    It would take her hours to get there. By the time she arrived, it could be toote. Instead, she yanked her phone back out and dialed the number Finley’s daughter had given her.


    Each ring that went unanswered sent another wave of panic crashing over her. Her hand was shaking now. She had never felt this desperate for someone—anyone—to answer a phone call.


    Ste paced the floor like her nerves were on fire until—


    Ste let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “Listen to me carefully—Nixon’s men areing for you. I can’t get there fast enough. You and your grandmother need to leave the house. Now. Hide somewhere safe!” she said in a rushed tone.


    There was a short pause on the other end before the woman replied, her voice firm, “I’ll take Grandma and go right now.”


    “Good. Move fast. I’ll find you by dawn.”


    The call ended, short and urgent—just like it needed to be. Ste could only hope they were already packing and slipping out into the dark.


    She grabbed her keys and flew toward the door—but the second she stepped outside, she froze.


    gα?ησν????s offers tales worth telling


    A familiar figure stood a few paces away, almost like a ghost in the streetlight. Her brows pinched. “Mr. Briggs? What are you doing here?” She didn’t recall ever giving him her new address.


    Unbothered, he simply said, “My people tracked movement to the factory. I figured Nixon was trying to erase evidence.”


    Ste didn’t stop walking. “Yeah, and now he’s sending people after the victim’s family to shut them up for good.” She couldn’t afford to waste a second. Her hand was already on the car door when he moved toward the passenger side and opened it without asking.


    She nced over, puzzled. “What are you doing?”


    “I’ming with you,” he said tly.


    Ste was taken aback. “This doesn’t concern you. I’m going to meet the victim’s family.”


    He leaned back in the seat, expression unreadable. “Who said it doesn’t concern me? I’m investigating Nixon too.”


    Ste suddenly remembered—he was doing all this for Willow.


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