Page 32 of Power of Shadow

I won’t correct him, but what I’m feeling right now is much deeper. “She kicked me in the face, so if that’s not proof of her devotion, I don’t know what is.”

“And you call that being in love?” Theo becomes a little more serious. “It looks to me like the chick has an aversion to you. But what do I know?”

“It’s just that... David took advantage of the fact that we were busy with foreplay and ran away. And then she vanished.”

Suddenly, I hear my father’s words in my head, saying that he’ll take away everything and everyone who means anything to me in this life. I hear it as if it were happening right here and now...

I’ll never give him that satisfaction. I have to get her out of my head.

I shake my head, trying to get rid of the thought. “I’m joking about being in love. What do we even know about her?”

“Besides the fact that she’s better than you? She’s a silent killer and is respected in the underground. I haven’t heard of anyone meeting with her to give her contracts. Besides, I’ve never needed to find her because our paths haven’t crossed. I’d have to do some digging online before I say anything.”

I agree to this. “Do it, Eli. Find out everything you can, but don’t reveal her gender. There’s a reason why this information is being hushed up.”

“I’ll ask around,” Theo adds.

I nod again. “I want to find her.”

“But Ryker...” Eli becomes serious. “You know your interest will draw attention to her, which she’s trying to avoid? You won’t be able to keep this to yourself for long. Your father and the Pact will turn their eyes to her. It could burn her.”

I take a few deep breaths. Of course this could happen.

That’s not my problem, I add in my mind.

“I know what I’m doing, Eli,” I say instead.

Finding David Baker’s mistress isn’t especially difficult. He didn’t hide her very well. Only his wife, as is often the case, was the last person to know about her.

What’s fucked up is that none of her so-called friends brought her this piece of information. It wasn’t my business.

Eve Doughuerty lives in an apartment that David pays for. Apparently, that’s one benefit of giving him ass, and nothing else. If he loved her as he has been assuring her for years, she wouldn’t still be living in that apartment. She would be warming his bed in the house right now.

Two days after my meeting with the guys, I show up at Eve’s place.

My people are watching the building, but there’s no sign of David. Unless he showed up here right after running away from his own home and hasn’t left her apartment since. Considering what a cockroach he is, it’s quite possible.

Therefore, without waiting for a convenient opportunity, I decide to find out for myself.

I love how adrenaline pumps through my veins at times like this. It travels through my entire body, bringing me to life, driving me forward. The nights when I execute my plan to reach my goal give me just that. And it’s damn addictive.

I have no problem getting to the house where Eve lives. The building is unguarded and poorly secured. Also, the door opens right in front of me when some drunk guy comes out of the gate. It’s the middle of the night, but it’s not my place to judge if it saves me trouble.

So I go inside. Eve’s apartment is on the third floor. I won’t use the elevator, even though I don’t see any cameras.

Using the staircase, I run up to the third floor. Before entering the hallway, I put a mask on my face.

Apartment number nine is at the very end of the hallway.

The hallway is dimly lit. A moment later, I’m standing in front of Eve’s door. Using a small flashlight held between my teeth, I get to work.

With a few movements of my hand, I pick the lock. It’s as easy as taking candy from a baby.

I turn the knob and slowly open the door, then walk in like I belonged there. For a long moment I just stand there, listening.

Nothing but the familiar sounds of the street. There’s no sign the owner is still awake. The apartment’s completely dark. Fresh air flows in through the slightly open window in the small living room, and the curtain ripples.

And then a quiet chuckle reach me.