Page 88 of The Heiress

Every single one was heavily redacted. Maybe it was because they were part of a larger investigation, but I didn’t think that’s what it was. I didn’t have as much experience with this part of Excel, but I had enough to know this kind of cover up had to do with Jace. “Did you get this from Bash?” He was our usual inside source for police reports that were otherwise hard to get our hands on.

“Yeah.”

Bash had access to very high-level reports. If he was handing us redacted versions, it was becausehedidn’t have access to the originals either.

And that wasreallyinteresting. Far more interesting than seeing Jace’s life in a police report. I shuffled the pages back together, closed the file, and handed it back to Hazel. I didn’t want it in my room or anywhere near Jace. “He chose this life and so did all the other outlaws they run with. If he murdered them, it was business.” The me from six months ago would be just as shocked and horrified at my words as Hazel.

But I wasn’t the woman I was six months ago.

She stared at me for a while. It was a lot like being under a hot, bright spotlight. Was I willing to stand by my statement? Yes. Yes, I was. Even if Hazel didn't like it.

“What are they doing to you?” She shook her head and backed away.

“No one’s doing anything to me. I’m navigating rough waters here.” I spread my arms wide at the penthouse suite that was currently guarded by two security teams. “Simple, easy, basic...it’s all gone now. Everything is complicated.”

“Actually no, everything is still pretty simple.Murderis wrong.” She kept shaking her head and shrinking away.

“Should I just stand back, be passive, let someone murder me or take my company by force? Or should I get my hands messy and stand up for what I believe in. Well fuck that, I’m standing up for myself.”

She backed away another step. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“You’ve investigated this company. You are the one who’s been keeping a secret file on them. What do you think I’m talking about?” I stepped closer, lowered my voice to something I hoped was calming. “I know the private jets and houses make all of this seem glamorous, but it’s still the same company, the same family, you were suspicious of. Think about it Hazel. I’m one of them now, and as the outsider, I have a big fat target on my back. Someone had me kidnapped to get me out of the way. And now I’m back. How long do you think it will be before the bad guys come calling?”

Her face fell. “And Jace understands. He understands and I don’t.”

I grabbed her hands in a panic, worried she might run away. “Youdounderstand. Too much. But your hands aren’t dirty like ours are. That’s a good thing.” It’s why she could march up to me all mad and horrified when she discovered disturbing news, while I was barely fazed. I needed her. “You’re my tether to the real world. To the person I used to be.”

“Come back with me,” she pleaded. “Leave all this behind.”

“And live where? My life is a public fascination.” I couldn’t turn on a television without seeing a news update about my life. I was on tabloids and every internet gossip site that existed. There were giant billboards advertising my upcoming interview with Julia Aston.

“It will die down eventually.”

Now I was the one shaking my head. “No it won’t. And I can’t live alone on a mountain hoping no one comes after me. I’m not willing to spend my life hiding.”

“But what if staying turns you into one of them.”

A deep calm filled me. I was ready to make grey choices, to walk across lines that otherwise would have been impossible. But I still knew the difference between right and wrong. “If you think that’s a possibility then you really don’t know me at all, Hazel.”

Her mouth gaped open in surprise, then she snapped it shut when she realized she really had implied that I was going to become a heartless corporation. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”

“Thank you.” We stood across from each other and it felt like the entirety of the Grand Canyon had opened up between us. I could see her, but she was suddenly out of my reach.

“Where’s Jace?”

I shrugged. “He had to meet someone.”Again.

“Who?”

I shrugged again. “I don’t know.” As close as we’d become, there were still so many secrets. He disappeared more than necessary to go to meetings he couldn’t tell me about.

Except maybe I understood now, thanks to Hazel.

“I don’t feel safe here,” she whispered. “I hate saying that. All I wanted was to spend some time with you because I miss you,” she whispered. “But I don’t want to be here.”

“We’re safe here.”

I stood frozen as she hugged herself. “Maybe physically. But I can’t stay. Not now. Maybe after I have some time to process all of this.”

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