Chapter Five
Sutton – Present Day
The hum of the station never stopped-not even late at night.
I stood at the whiteboard in the conference room, arms crossed, eyes scanning the notes we'd pulled from the latest financial case. Fraud, laundering, and shell corporations stacked like dominos across state lines. And somehow... it all led back to a name I hadn't heard in over a decade.
Mercer.
I hadn't said it out loud yet. I wasn't ready. My gut told me to keep things tight until I had something solid.
My phone buzzed in my back pocket.
Kingston:
What's for dinner?
I smiled despite myself.
Me:
I'm working late. There's money for pizza on the counter. Keep it reasonable.
Kingston:
Define "reasonable."
Me:
Not four pizzas.
Kingston:
So three?
I shook my head, smirking. That boy.
I closed the message and slid the phone into my pocket, grounding myself again in the case. We were getting close-too close. My captain already warned me to tread carefully. Big names were involved. Powerful ones. Names that could erase people like me.
But I wasn't afraid of them.
Not anymore.
Because fifteen years ago, I was told I wasn't strong enough. I was told I didn't belong in this world. And now, I was standing in the middle of a case that had teeth-and I wasn't blinking.
A knock came on the doorframe. Ruby leaned in, still in her school scrubs.
"You coming home tonight or should I set Kingston up with a second pizza?"
"I'll be home in twenty," I said. "You heading out?"
"Yeah. He's been good. A little distracted tonight. Quiet. But I think it's just the assignment he's been working on."
I nodded and grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. "Thanks for staying."
"I like being the cool aunt. Besides, he practically begged me to bake a cake with him, then abandoned me halfway through to play online with his friends."
I chuckled and flicked off the lights. "That sounds like him."
By the time I pulled into the driveway, the lights in the kitchen were still on. The front door was unlocked-because he was fourteen and still forgot to check it half the time.
Inside, the smell of chocolate and something burnt clung to the air.
I stepped into the kitchen and paused.
There was flour on the floor. A mixing bowl in the sink. A half-eaten, lopsided cake on the counter. The boys had clearly been here.
Voices drifted from the living room. Kingston and his friends, Wes and Jace, were gathered around the TV, controllers in hand, arguing about something in the game.
Wes was half-asleep on the couch, Jace raiding the fridge like it was his own.
I leaned against the doorframe, taking them in.
This was our life. Messy. Loud. Real.
And peaceful.
For now.
"Hey, Mum," Kingston called out without looking up. "We saved you a piece. It's ugly, but it tastes good."
"Great. That's exactly what I look for in dessert," I teased.
They laughed, and Jace held up the cake like it was a masterpiece.
I walked into the kitchen, rinsed off a fork, and grabbed a bite. It was a little dry, definitely overmixed, but it was sweet-and full of effort.
"You boys staying the night?" I asked.
"If it's okay," Kingston said, glancing at me.
I nodded. "Just clean up your mess."
He grinned, looking so much like Jaxon in that second that my breath caught. That same crooked smirk. That spark in his eye.
I turned away before the ache could catch up.
Because tomorrow was another day.
And I had no idea how fast the past was racing toward us.
Once A Rogue, Now The Female Alpha
Esther Bilson took her sister's place to marry a punk and led a poor life. However, to Esther's shock, her husband suddenly became a mysterious rich man with great power. Esther didn't believe that and ran back to the small house her husband rented and dashed into his arms. "It's said you are Mr. Denard. Is it true?" Esther asked. "That person just has the same face as me," Patrick Denard said as he stroked Esther's hair. Esther said in an aggrieved tone, "That man is a bad guy. He insisted that I was his wife. Honey, go beat him up!" The next day, Patrick appeared in front of everyone with bruises on his swollen face, but he smiled calmly. "Mr. Denard, what's wrong?" someone asked. Patrick curled his lips. "At my wife's request, I have to be ruthless!"
Rejected Rogue _ She's A Billionairess Alpha
In the two years of marriage, Jordin had been devastated by Daniel. When her life was at risk because of preterm labor, Daniel was having fun with his dream woman. After playing dead, Jordin decided to live for herself, raise her children, focus on her career, and have a good time. It was not until Daniel discovered Jordin and forcefully brought her back that she realized that one of her babies was with Daniel. Jordin thought, wait and see, Daniel! I won't let go of you this time! Ryan said, "There are plenty of men chasing Mommy. Daddy, please line up first." Then Chloe said, "I want to stay with Mommy." Terry said, "I like Mommy better." The three cute babies only wanted their mommy rather than their daddy. Daniel certainly couldn't accept that. Daniel smiled lightly, "Since that's the case, I will carry your mommy home too."
My Jerk Alpha Mate
Seven years ago, in a betrayal, she stole his information, destroyed half of his wealth, and took away his seeds. Filled with anger, he vowed to find this woman and seek revenge. When he met her again seven years later, she had no memory and only had a gifted baby around her. An adorable child cutely smiled and asked, "Mr. Dominic, do you think you look like me?" Looking at those eyes and facial feature that was similar to his, Dominic's eyes narrowed in question, "Who are you?" "Maybe you are my long-lost father and I am your son,"
My Alpha Mate Is Her
On the day of the divorce, Serena Quinton lay in a pool of blood, gave birth in the ice and snow, and remembered who she really was. Corbin Quinton got his daughter back, and half of the big shots in New York were eager to celebrate Serena's return. With so many family members doting on her, what would she need a man for? However, a certain man was waiting for her to come around... "Boss, your wife has replied to you!" "Does she know she's wrong?" "No. She put your chat history out to the public. Now all the people consider that you're a ... flatterer!"
Love's Surprising Twist A Hasty Wedding Decision
It was the first time she saw him when she was eighteen years old. She was penniless and frustrated while he was incomparably noble, like a deity from heaven. She thought that she had found redemption, but only later did she find out that she had fallen into hell. Reuben Terrell felt that Melanie Fischer was a pushover, and he could always control her. He never thought that one day, Melanie would dare to turn around and leave him without hesitation.
Destined Mate
It was rumored that Tristan Miller's hidden wife was ugly and even not educated. "Behave well and we will divorce after ten years." The drunk man threw down the agreement, held her in his arms, but murmured another woman's name. Shirley Colins sneered. It was best that he loved someone else. Otherwise, she wouldn't agree. Everyone looked forward to their divorce. "How could this woman be worthy of Tristan?" After the divorce... The medical talent, the famous pianist, the mysterious hacker, the royal princess, the bigwig in the financial field, and the top athlete were all Tristan's ex-wife's identities. The more the outsiders investigated, the more shocked they became. Was Tristan blind? He divorced such a good wife. Tristan knelt at Shirley's door every night and begged, "Honey, I want to have a second baby with you."