Page 66 of Unmasked
Delaney addresses me first. “You shouldn’t feel bad for what happened. He’s not going to punish you because Tim grabbed me.”
I drop my gaze to my boots, feeling like a failure. “I had a job to do, and I failed. I was distracted by a woman.”
Fuck. Why did I let that slip?
“Ahhh. I get it.” Delaney’s eyes sparkle as they stare into mine.
Zayne stares at Delaney like she sprouted another head. “Get what? That’s not a fucking excuse.”
“He likes a girl and was distracted by her. So what? He got to me before I was hurt. He won’t let it happen again, right?”
I nod, amazed at Delaney’s boldness.She’s a badass.
Delaney looks over her shoulder at Tim, and something changes in her expression. She’s shaken, and from the distant look in her eyes, memories of something in the past assault her.
Zayne immediately recognizes it, leading her to the passenger seat of her car. “Get her home,” he says to me over his shoulder.
I hurry to the driver’s seat and slide inside. Zayne grabs the keys from Delaney’s purse and tosses them to me. I start the car as Zayne buckles her in, murmuring reassuring words.
Zayne gives me a warning look before he steps back and shuts the door. I wait until he moves to Tim’s body before backing out of the parking lot. “If you haven’t figured it out, that man loves you. He’s only looking out for you.”
Delaney turns her head and stares at me, not saying anything.
I ensure no one follows us before I look over at her. I know she can’t see my facial expression because of the mask. “Sorry I fucked up. I won’t fail you again.”
She stares at me for a few beats before she whispers, “Thanks for protecting me.”
I nod, being extra cautious to get her home safely.
As I drive, a thought rolls through my head.If one of my friends was supposed to be watching over Mallory, and they were distracted, putting her in danger, I would’ve beat the hell out of them and probably killed them.
I’m damn lucky Zayne didn’t do the same to me.
CHAPTER 45
Stryker
Despite my exhaustion, I focus on hacking Tim’s cell phone, which is too easy to access. For someone involved in the criminal world the way he is, you’d like he would’ve focused on securing his phone better.
I whistle. It’s a gold mine of information. He used it for everything, and there’s some damning evidence on it that implicates him, Delaney’s brother and father.
Their criminal network is vast. With this information, King Morine can take them down.
Zayne walks into my hotel room, freshly showered and still very much carrying a chip on his shoulder from my fuck up. Jaxson said he’d be here in about fifteen minutes to review the information I found.
He sits down beside me, his dark eyes boring into my profile. I pull my attention away from the screen, trying to keep my face stoic, even though I’m inwardly freaking out. I’ll take my beating like a man, knowing I deserve it.
“You look like shit. You’re working too hard.”
I blink, staring at Zayne like he’s lost his mind.
He crosses his arms over his chest. “I lost my head last night. When it comes to Delaney, I tend to do that. Especially if her safety is compromised in any way.”
“Understandable.”
“I didn’t let you explain. You mentioned being distracted by a woman… I was so angry I didn’t acknowledge it. But you were freaked out. Is she okay?”
Running a hand through my hair, I shrug. “Hopefully. She texted, asking if I was watching her, but I wasn’t. She asked me that once before.” I explain what happened with Steve and Jacob, including working with Ryker to burn and dispose of the bodies.