Page 136 of Lost to Thievery
“Has no one told her yet?” he bellowed.
“I was getting to it. I was trying not to overwhelm her. You’re early,” Grayson said from beside me.
I was frozen, shock tingling through my limbs as realisation set in.
I understood now why Director Devereux’s eyes had looked so familiar. They were Hunter’s eyes.
“No way,” I breathed.No fucking way.
Mary chuckled, moving out from behind the director towards me. “Well, you fit right in, don’t you? Just as trigger happy as the rest of ‘em.” She took my hand, beaming lovingly at me.
Gods, this was unreal. “The pity date washim?” I pointed to Grayson, finally finding my voice.Fucking hell.
Grayson groaned. “She should never have done that.”
Mary lifted her chin. “Well, if you weren’t going to go get your girl, then I would have done it for you. One way or the other.”
Grayson chuckled, kissing her on the cheek. “She’s here now.”
Mary placed a hand on Grayson’s cheek, her eyes going misty as she smiled up at him. “And look at you now. Grinning like a lovesick fool. That’s all a mother could want.” She pinched his cheek playfully and I just about fell over the sofa. Never in a million years did I expect to see someone pinch the devil’s cheek while he just stood there, taking it, not ripping the person to shreds with his teeth.
I peered over at Director Devereux. Was I dreaming? Was it wrong for me to feel a twinge of betrayal in my gut? He was theman who raised Grayson. All that work we’d put in to catch the Apparitions he had undermined from the very beginning. If he hadn’t been there, we surely would have stood a better chance, right?
But that wasn’t right anymore. I was glad the Apparitions were free.
Gods, this was fucked up!
I had so many questions, so many emotions. I felt like a volcano about to erupt. But as I came to a stop in front of the director, only one question came flying out my mouth. “How is he?”
Director Devereux gave me a sympathetic smile. “He knows you’re alive, but he pretends to believe you’re dead. I’m not sure why.” He frowned. “I had given him time off, but he still comes to work every day. He and Syntax are trying to recover the lost data from our servers, but it’s not looking good.”
“What do you mean? What data?” I interrupted.
Grayson placed a hand on my back. “When I came for Liam, I planted a bug to wipe the servers of us. I had to be seen to keep suspicion off Jo.”
I snorted. “Don’t think that was ever an issue.”
Director Devereux pursed his lips. “All the physical files are taken care of too,” he grumbled, righting his suit jacket. “You are all ghosts, once again. You too, Ava.” He lifted his gaze to Grayson, giving him a stern glare that had my insides squirming. “I willnevertamper with evidence like that again. Do you understand, son?”
Grayson gave a solemn nod. “Yes, sir. I will never put you in that position again.”
I cringed inwardly, shrinking a few centimetres. It seemed I had caused a lot of problems for them. More than I knew.
The room fell silent around me as I processed everything.
“So Owen has nothing?” I whispered, my heart bleeding. We never stored anything on personal devices. Everything was kept securely on the FBI database.
No one answered.
I couldn’t get over how messed up everything was. I didn’t know what to feel.
Owen must becrushed.
Tears slipped over my cheeks. He would never let this go.
The director placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll take care of him, Ava. You have my word. I’ll make sure he gets through this.”
Grayson wiped at my tears. “Jo is good at helping the lost find their way. The pup is in good hands.”
