Page 35 of Hunter's Game
“Because I’m more valuable alive.” Eden’s laugh held no humor. “Think about it—a rogue federal agent with a personal vendetta, using a motorcycle club to wage war against legitimate businesses? When this goes bad, and it will, I’ll be the perfect scapegoat. The FBI will blame the DEA, the DEA will disavow me, and Romano’s operation gets painted as the victim of corrupt law enforcement.”
“Smart play.” Hunter had to admire the elegance of it. “He discredits any evidence you’ve gathered while strengthening his legitimate cover.”
“Exactly.” She pulled up another file—security blueprints for the museum. “Which is why we need to move fast. The new wing opens in four days. Once those artifacts are officially logged into the collection, they become untouchable. Romano’s entire operation gets legitimized overnight.”
King absorbed this in his quiet way, his expression thoughtful. “You said you know how to stop him.”
“Better.” Her smile was sharp as broken glass. “I know how to destroy him. But I’ll need resources. And trust.”
“Trust goes both ways, darlin’.” Darkness’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve been holding back. What aren’t you telling us?”
Eden hesitated, then pulled up one final file. Hunter felt his breath catch as he recognized the name on the document.
“The museum curator?” He moved closer to read over her shoulder. “The one you’ve been working as a source?”
“Dr. Katherine Chen.” Eden’s voice was carefully neutral as she brought up the image of the curator whose documentation she’d been studying for months. “Harvard-educated expert in Near Eastern antiquities. The woman whose detailed reports on artifacts always seemed to highlight exactly what we needed to find. The curator who was at every dig site with my mother before she disappeared.” She paused, letting the implications sink in. “And Romano’s wife.”
Silence filled the office. Hunter caught Darkness and King’s eyes, seeing his own shock reflected back at him.
“Well,” King said finally, “that complicates things.”
“It gets better.” Eden brought up security footage showing the curator meeting with familiar faces. “She’s been working with some of my father’s old crew. The ones who aren’t happy about new management at the Devil’s Mark.”
“The ones who tried to kill us yesterday.” Hunter remembered the professional gear, the military precision of the attack. “They’re not just hired guns. They’re part of Romano’s private army.”
“And they’re all going to be at the museum opening.” Eden pulled up the guest list. “Along with half the city’s elite, federal officials, and enough private security to start a small war.”
“Which is exactly what Romano wants.” Understanding dawned in Hunter’s voice. “If anything goes wrong, if anyone tries to expose the operation...”
“Bloodbath,” King finished grimly. “And guess who gets blamed for it?”
“The grieving daughter of a notorious criminal,” Eden confirmed. “Gone rogue with her outlaw lover to avenge her family’s honor. It writes itself.”
Hunter felt something twist in his chest at the word ‘lover.’ They still hadn’t talked about what was building between them—hadn’t had time between shootouts and revelations and the constant dance of trust and suspicion.
“So what’s your play?” Darkness’s question pulled him back to the present.
Eden’s smile was pure predator. “We give Romano exactly what he wants. The grieving daughter, the outlaw lover, the desperate revenge plot—all of it. We play our parts so perfectly he never sees the real threat coming.”
“Which is?”
“His wife.” Eden highlighted Dr. Chen’s image. “Katherine’s been keeping records of everything—every artifact, every transaction, every player in Romano’s organization. She’s hisperfect alibi, his respectable front. But she’s also his biggest weakness.”
“Because she knows where all the bodies are buried,” Hunter realized.
“Literally and figuratively.” Eden nodded. “And she’s ready to talk. All we have to do is get her safely away from Romano before the opening.”
“And you know this how?” Darkness’s suspicion was back, echoing King’s and Hunter’s quiet concerns.
“Because I’m the one who’s been helping her gather evidence for the past year.” Eden met their shocked stares steadily. “You think I spent all that time cultivating her as a source just for the museum job? Katherine was my mother’s best friend. She’s been playing the devoted wife for fifteen years, documenting everything while she waited for a chance to bring Romano down.”
Hunter felt the ground shifting under him again. Every time he thought he understood Eden’s game, she revealed another layer of deception.
“That’s one hell of a risk,” he said carefully. “Trusting Romano’s wife.”
“Trust’s got nothing to do with it anymore.” Eden threw his words from yesterday back at him, but there was something raw in her voice. “This was never about trust. It’s about justice. Revenge. Making Romano pay for every life he’s destroyed.”
“And after?” The question slipped out before Hunter could stop it. “When this is all over, what then?”
