Page 68 of DFF: Delicate Freakin' Flower

“Goddamn it, Gabby,” Jesse breathed, his hands clenched at his sides.

Wes leaned away from the screen like it had burned him. He scrubbed both hands over his face, shaking his head. “This is bad.” His voice was rough. “This is so, so bad.”

I didn’t answer. I just turned on my heel and headed for the door, every step fueled by the roar of blood in my ears.

“Where are you going?” Elijah finally asked, his tone unreadable.

“To find her,” I said without looking back. “To end this.”

Because whatever Gabby thought she was shielding me from—whatever bargain she believed she could strike to keep us safe—she was wrong. She didn’t have to do it alone.

Chapter Twenty-One

Gabby

Iheard the knock at precisely 9a.m.

There were three soft knocks at the door—calm and deliberate, delivered with the kind of precision that suggested the person behind them had nothing but time.

Despite the chill in my hands and the dryness in my mouth, I forced myself to stand, walked across the room, and opened the door without hesitation.

Colin Maddox entered with the quiet confidence of someone who never needed permission. Tall and impeccably dressed in a suit that looked custom-built to kill, he moved with the ease of a man used to being in control. There was a slick, calculated charm to him—refined and dangerous—that clung to every movement he made. As his gaze drifted across the room, it wasn’t with curiosity but with a cool detachment, like he was mentally appraising its contents and already figuring out how easily and efficiently he could tear everything apart.

“Gabriella,” he greeted, his voice smooth. “You’ve been... distracting.”

I closed the door behind him. “I get that a lot.”

He gave a dry chuckle and walked toward the window. “You’ve become a problem. A messy one.” He turned back to face me. “Let’s save time. What do you know?”

I didn’t sit, didn’t even blink. I looked him straight in the eye and said calmly, “I know everything.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I know about Darren Redell, I saw the body being buried. I know he was about to go public with something, and I know he wasn’t your first or the last. I know you’ve got shell companies laundering money for government contracts and that you’re paying off officials to cover your trail.” I took a breath, steadying my voice. “And I know exactly who you are when no one’s looking.”

He smiled slowly, looking amused and unbothered. “Cute.”

I continued, “I’ve already sent what I know to the authorities.”

That made him laugh—really laugh, with his head tipped back and eyes glittering with disdain.

“Oh, Gabby,” he said, smiling like he was speaking to a seriously dumb dog—which, it had to be said, I didn’t appreciate. “I own the authorities. You think they’re going to do anything?”

I shrugged. “Maybe not. But are you sure? Because I also sent it to every major news outlet. If anything happens to me, it all goes live. They’ve got instructions.”

His smile faltered just slightly. “This isn’t a movie.” His voice was suddenly sharper. “This is real life, and in real life, everyone has a price. You think they’ll run it? They’ll bury it in a heartbeat for the right number.”

“Maybe,” I agreed. “But social media doesn’t take bribes. It takes clicks, and the people love outrage. I think that might be a problem for you.”

His expression darkened.

“People are going to know,” I told him softly. “One way or another.”

The slap came out of nowhere—quick and sharp, landing with enough force to snap my head to the side. A hot sting bloomed across my cheek, and the skin instantly burned as if it had been struck with open flame. My ears also rang from the impact, a high-pitched buzz that drowned out everything else for a moment. The metallic taste of blood touched my tongue, sharp and unmistakable, and I realized I must have bitten the inside of my cheek when the blow landed. What a dickhead!

“This is real life,” he hissed. “And in real life, there are consequences. Do you think you can threaten me and walk away? I can explain your disappearance any way I want. You’ll be just another unstable woman who was obsessed with me and bitter because I wouldn’t pay your little blackmail scheme.”

I slowly turned my face back toward him, deliberately keeping my expression blank. There were no tears and no fear for him to take perverse enjoyment out of, just quiet defiance.

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