Chapter 248
+25 Bonus
A figure in a hoodie crossed into view.
Connor froze the frame and zoomed.
The hood slipped back just enough as the figure turned.
Red hair.
Green eyes.
Andrea.
The room went very still.
“That could be coincidence,” Connor said cautiously. “Wrong day, wrong
“It isn’t,” I said.
The word came out flat. Certain.
Because suddenly everything else snapped into place.
time p>
The day Richard brought Venus home after she went to the correctional centre to confront Gerald. She mentioned Andrea.
We’d all thought she was grasping at straws. That Gerald hadn’t been getting visitors since he was locked up.
I’d thought I’d dealt with the Marlowes in such a way they wouldn’t dare come close to my family. I was wrong.
“I’m such a fucking idiot,” I said.
Connor’s head snapped up. “Aaron p>
“I should’ve listened,” I continued. “I should’ve looked into it the moment she said the name p>
Connor swore under his breath. “Calm down, dude. This isn’t on you p>
I laughed once, humorless. “It always is p>
“We still don’t have anything concrete,” Connor said. “Not yet. This is pattern, not proof p>
“Pattern is how people die,” I replied. “Or get taken p>
Connor didn’t argue.
“I’ll look into Gerald,” he said after a beat. “His communications, visitors, anything he could’ve passed out from inside. Prison walls don’t mean silence anymore p>
“And Durrane?” I asked.
“Still in custody,” Connor replied. “Both of them. They’re not going anywhere until we know what the hell is going on p>
Venus hadn’t been spiraling.
3/7
She’d been contained. Cornered. Threatened.
And instead of coming to me, she moved quietly, alone, believing the burden was hers to carry.
Why didn’t you come to me?
The question burned.
But even as it formed, the answer did too.
Because I hadn’t taken her seriously the first time.
Bonus
Outside Bay Seven smelled like rust, salt, and old oil-the kind of place that kept secrets simply by being forgotten. The water slapped lazily against the pylons, dark and unreadable, reflecting fractured light from a single floodlamp that flickered like it couldn’t quite commit to staying on.
Connor and I waited.
I didn’t pace. I didn’t check my watch. Stillness had always unnerved people more than motion, and right now, I needed my head clear enough to catch the smallest inconsistency.
Headlights cut through the dark.
A familiar engine note. Low. Controlled. The car rolled in slow, deliberate, like whoever was driving knew exactly where the blind spots were-and didn’t need to rush.
Colton stepped out.
At first glance, he looked the same. Same posture. Same careful awareness of space. But the closer he came, the more the differences surfaced. His jaw was tight. His eyes shadowed-not fatigue, but vigilance.
“You’re late,” Connor said flatly.
Colton didn’t bristle. Didn’t deflect. He stopped a few feet from us and held my gaze.
“I got sidetracked,” he said.
“That’s not an answer,” I replied.
A muscle jumped in his jaw. “It’s the safest one p>
I folded my arms. “Where have you been, Colton p>
He exhaled through his nose, slow and measured, then glanced briefly over his shoulder at the empty dock before looking back at us.
“The night I was supposed to come to Rosemary’s,” he said, “I followed a lead. One I didn’t want logged. One I didn’t want overheard p>
Connor’s eyes narrowed. “Overheard by who p>
Colton didn’t answer immediately.
4/7
Instead, he said, “I know who took Iris p>
And?” I pressed.
“And I’ve been trying to pin down the location,” he continued. “Movements. Transfers. Safe houses. But whoever’s running this knows how to disappear between cameras p>
“Say her name,” I said.
Colton didn’t hesitate. “Andrea p>
Connor swore softly.
I said nothing.
Colton’s gaze flicked to me. “You already knew p>
“I suspected,” I replied. “Now I’m certain p>
He nodded once. “She’s not working alone p>
“No,” Connor said quietly. “She wouldn’t dare p>
Colton’s mouth tightened. “She has backing. Money. Infrastructure. And leverage p>
Cold settled in my chest.
“Venus,” I said.
Colton’s expression shifted-just slightly. “I saw her car that night p>
“The night she drugged Aaron?” Connor asked.
Colton nodded. “I was heading to you that night, since we couldn’t reach you, when I saw a car and plate number that looked like Venus’s. I intercepted her in a remote area p>
I closed my eyes for half a second.
“She was scared and wouldn’t talk, but she signaled me with her hand and I gestured for her to get into my car, Colton went on. “She told me Andrea had contacted her p>
He recounted everything she said, how he’d been trailing Andrea since that evening, but found nothing.
Connor looked between us. “She didn’t tell Aaron p>
“She told me not to,” Colton said. “Andrea threatened Iris. Explicitly. Said if Aaron knew, the consequences would be… immediate p>
My hands curled into fists at my sides.
“It was luck,” Colton continued. “Pure luck that I was there. Andrea has eyes and ears closer than we thought p>
Connor went still. “Inside p>
Colton nodded.
5/7
+25 Bonus
“A mole,” Connor said.
Silence stretched between us, thick and dangerous.
I stared out at the water, my reflection fractured and unrecognizable. I knew my Venus too well, and my suspicions were correct. She’d been protecting Iris.
Colton didn’t blink. “Andrea truly does have eyes and ears inside. She knows when moves are being planned. She knows when conversations happen off-record. She even knew about the argument you had yesterday morning. Venus said she texted her p>
Connor let out a low breath. “Listening devices. Who planted them p>
They both turned to me then.
I realized I’d gone very still.
“What are you thinking?” Connor asked.
The anger-the kind that scorched and blinded-had already burned itself out. Rage would get Iris killed faster than patience ever could. What remained was colder. Sharper.
“We’re going to play along,” I said finally.
Colton’s brow furrowed. “Play along how p>
“With her game,” I replied. “Her rules. Her expectations p>
Connor studied me. “You want to let her think she’s winning p>
“I want her comfortable,” I said. “Careless p>
Colton’s eyes lit with understanding. “You want her to move p>
“I want her to believe Venus is isolated,” I said. “That I’m reacting emotionally. That I’m being hurt by Venus’ actions p>
Connor exhaled slowly. “And the mole p>
“We starve them,” I said. “No real information. Only what we want Andrea to hear p>
I paused, then added firmly, “No one else gets involved in this. Just the three of us. Not even Rick. If Andrea has a mole inside, we can’t afford loose ends p>
Connor’s eyes narrowed. “You suspect Rick p>
I shook my head. “No. But Iris’s life is at stake. I can’t afford to trust freely-not now p>
Colton nodded grimly. “Controlled leaks p>
“Exactly,” I said. “We feed her just enough truth to keep her confident-and enough lies to corner her p>
Connor was quiet for a moment, then smiled grimly. “You’re going to beat her at her own game.
“Yes,” I said.
6/7
I looked out at the dark water again and thought of Venus-alone, carrying this alone, believing she had to destroy us to save Iris.
“I let her walk into the fire by herself,” I said quietly. “I won’t make that mistake again p>
Colton’s voice softened. “She’s stronger than you think p>
“I know,” I replied. “That’s why this ends p>
The floodlamp flickered again, then steadied.
Somewhere in the distance, a boat engine cut through the night.
Andrea had made her move.
Now it was our turn.
Comments
ப
Support
Share
7/7
Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.