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He wanted him dead, and he paid upfront."
Detective Renner leaned in. "You have proof of payment? Communications? Anything that directly ties him?"
Salazar smiled slightly. "There's a paper trail. He was careful, but not careful enough. I have a copy of the cash drop details and an encrypted email string. But I ain't handing that over without a deal in writing."
Karla and Renner exchanged glances. They had him. They had Chris Westward.
**********************************
As soon as she left the station, Karla pulled out her phone and called Jalen. He picked up immediately.
"Hey, Karla. What's up?"
"It's him, Jalen." Her voice was firm, but there was an undertone of satisfaction. "Chris. He ordered the hit on you."
There was a heavy pause. Then Jalen exhaled sharply. He wasn't surprised, but that didn't stop his blood from boiling. "That son of a bitch."
"We have a witness. The assassin confirmed it and said there's a paper trail. We're about to blow this case wide open." Karla explained further.
Jalen let out a bitter chuckle. "Well, it's about damn time. So, what happens now?"
"I need to get the DA involved. Once we lock in the deal, we'll get access to the evidence and then we're going after Chris with everything we have." Karla's voice was fierce and determined. "This is the beginning of the end for him."
Jalen was silent for a moment, then said, "Be careful, Karla. If Chris knows we're onto him, he won't go down quietly."
Karla tightened her grip on the phone. "Neither will I."
"God, she's so sexy when she talks like that." Jalen thought to himself, smiling.
**********************************
Karla wasted no time. After hanging up with Jalen, she immediately contacted Assistant District Attorney Mark Caldwell, a no-nonsense prosecutor who specialized in high-profile cases. This wasn't just about Megan's divorce anymore. This was a full-fledged criminal case against Chris Westward.
"ADA Caldwell, it's Karla Silva. I need to meet with you immediately. I have information on a murder-for-hire case that directly implicates Chris Westward."
There was a brief silence on the other end. Then Caldwell responded. "Chris Westward? The same Chris Westward that runs one of the biggest law firms in Atlanta?"
"That's the one." Karla said, already walking toward her car. "And I have a witness ready to testify."
"Come to my office in an hour. Bring everything you have."
*****************************
Karla sat across from Caldwell in his sleek downtown office, presenting the details of the case. The assistant DA flipped through the documentation, taking in the assassin's confession, the hints of a paper trail, and the implications of what it all meant.
"If Salazar can produce these documents linking Chris to the hit, we'll have enough for an indictment," Caldwell muttered, rubbing his chin. "But we need to move carefully. If Chris Westward catches wind of this before we lock him down, he'll try to bury it."
Karla nodded. "We have to keep it airtight. If he even suspects we're coming for him, he'll use every connection he has to make this disappear."
Caldwell exhaled sharply. "Alright. I'll take this to my superior and get the green light to move forward. Once we get the documentation from Salazar, we can push for an arrest warrant."
Karla leaned forward. "How long will that take?"
"Could be a few days. Could be a week. But we'll make it happen."
Karla clenched her jaw. She wanted Chris behind bars now, but she also knew rushing things could jeopardize everything.
*****************************
Jalen sat on his couch, still recovering but feeling restless. The weight of everything, his near-death experience, the danger surrounding his loved ones, and the growing fury inside him made it impossible to relax.
He was trying to unwind by playing NBA 2K, when a text from Sydney popped up.
Sydney: "How are you feeling? Want some company?"
Jalen smiled. Sydney always knew when he needed her.
Jalen: "Aren't we supposed to be staying apart for safety?"
Sydney: "Jalen, fuck that, now do you want me to come over or not?"
Jalen smiled even more at that. "Lol Yeah, come over."
Thirty minutes later, Sydney arrived, carrying a bag of takeout from their favorite burger joint. She sat beside him on the couch, resting a hand on his thigh.
"You've been quiet," she observed.
Jalen exhaled. "Karla met with the ADA today. They're getting ready to take Chris down."
Sydney raised an eyebrow. "That's good news, right?"
Jalen nodded slowly. "Yeah. But I still can't shake this feeling like this isn't over yet."
Sydney gently squeezed his hand. "Jalen, you almost died because of this man, but you survived, and now we're about to take him down. You don't have to carry this weight alone."
Jalen turned to her, his gaze softening. "I know, and I appreciate you being here."
Sydney smiled. "Always."
For the first time that day, Jalen allowed himself to relax, pulling Sydney closer as they sat in comfortable silence.
*****************************
Chris sat in his private office, whiskey in hand, reading an encrypted email from one of his investigators.
"No traceable link between Moss and Megan. No financial transactions. No proof he's supporting her."
Chris clenched his jaw. He had expected to find something, some way to pin Jalen as the mastermind behind Megan's escape. Instead, he had nothing.
That wasn't acceptable.
His office door opened, and his head investigator, Grant Nichols, stepped in.
"Find anything?" Chris asked, his tone clipped.
Grant hesitated. "Not on Moss. But we did find something else."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Grant set down a folder. "We confirmed Megan is living in a women's shelter under a pseudonym. Here's the kicker... she's pregnant."
Chris's grip on his whiskey glass tightened. "Pregnant?"
Grant nodded. "But there's no record of her seeing a doctor under her real name. She's been careful."
Chris stared at the folder, his mind racing. If Megan was pregnant... then whose baby was it?
A slow smile spread across his face. "Maybe we don't need to go after Moss. Maybe there's another way to break her."
Grant frowned. "What do you mean?"
Chris leaned back in his chair, swirling his whiskey. "If Megan thinks she's free of me, she's wrong. She might have a baby on the way, but she's still my wife, and that gives me leverage."
Chris's eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint.
"Let's see how long she can keep running before she realizes she has nowhere left to hide."
*****************************
Megan sat in the small break room of the women's shelter, sipping a cup of tea as she tried to focus on the latest updates from Karla. With Chris's assassin flipping on him, things were moving fast, and they were closer than ever to finally taking him down.
Just as she was about to call Karla for an update, her burner phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: "You really thought you could escape me, didn't you?"
Megan's stomach dropped. She stared at the message, her hands trembling. Another message came through.
Unknown Number: "Did you really think I wouldn't find out? I always know what's mine."
Megan dropped her cup, the ceramic shattering against the tile floor. A cold chill ran through her body. She stood quickly, backing into the wall, her breath coming in short gasps.
"No. No. No." she thought panicking.
Chris knew. She didn't know how, but he knew she was pregnant. Megan grabbed her phone and immediately dialed Karla.
"Karla! He knows! Chris knows I'm pregnant!" she gasped, her voice shaking.
Karla was silent for half a second, then cursed under her breath. "How the hell—? Listen, Megan, you need to stay where you are. Do NOT leave the shelter. I'll get to you as soon as I can."
Megan's heartbeat was pounding in her ears. She felt exposed. Trapped. How did he find out? Who told him? She looked around the break room, feeling suddenly unsafe, like someone was watching her. Then the next message came in.
Unknown Number: "If you don't call me by noon, I'll make your life a living hell."
*****************************
Jalen was still sore but feeling better as he sat at home, eating a sandwich and scrolling through his phone when Karla's name popped up.
He answered immediately. "Hey, baby, what's up?"
Karla didn't waste time. "Chris knows about Megan's pregnancy. He sent her some threatening texts this morning from an unknown number."
Jalen sat up straight, his whole body tensing. "What?! How?!"
"We don't know yet." Karla said, her voice tight. "I'm heading to her now. She's shaken up. We need to figure out our next move."
Jalen ran a hand down his face, frustration building. "This motherfucker just won't quit. First, he tries to kill me. Now he's coming after Megan again?"
Karla's voice turned steely. "Jalen, we need to be strategic. We're close to getting him arrested, but if we move too soon, he'll find a way to wiggle out of it. We need that hard evidence."
Jalen exhaled slowly, clenching his jaw. "I'm not gonna let him touch her, Karla. Whatever we have to do, I'm in."
Karla sighed. "I know, Jalen. We'll figure this out. Just stay low and let me handle this for now."
Jalen hated not being able to move freely, but he knew she was right.
"Keep me posted," he said.
"Always," Karla promised.
*****************************
Chris poured himself another drink, staring out the window of his luxury high-rise office. His mind was buzzing.
Megan was pregnant. It had to be Moss'. Nothing else made sense. All of this started when he came into the fold. Moss was behind all of this. He had to be.
Chris clenched his jaw.
He wasn't about to let his wife, his property, bring another man's child into this world without suffering for it. He grabbed his phone and dialed his investigator, Grant.
"I need more on Megan. I want everything, where she's been, who she's talked to, where she might be hiding, and I want it now."
Grant hesitated. "Chris, we've been digging, but she's covered her tracks well. And with the heat from the DA's office—"
"I don't give a fuck about the DA's office," Chris snapped. "Do your damn job. Find everything on her. If you can't, I'll find someone who can."
He ended the call and downed his drink in one gulp. Megan thought she was safe. She was wrong.
*****************************
Megan hadn't slept. Every little noise made her jolt awake, heart pounding. The phone was still on the table, taunting her. She hadn't called Chris. She had ignored his threats. Now, she was waiting for the fallout.
At 9:00 AM, another message came in.
Unknown Number: "Wrong choice."
Megan's breath caught. A moment later, a loud knock sounded at the shelter's entrance. One of the staff members answered, and Megan felt her stomach twist when she heard the hushed, urgent conversation. Then, the staff member came into the common room and looked straight at Megan.
"There's someone here to see you."
Megan froze. Her mind raced as she stared at the staff member.
"Who is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The staff member hesitated, glancing back toward the entrance. "He won't give his name, but he insists that you'll want to talk to him."
Megan's stomach twisted. It had to be someone from Chris. She had two choices. She could refuse to see whoever it was, which would likely only escalate things, or she could face them, figure out what they knew, and try to get ahead of this. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
"I'll talk to him."
The staff member led her to the small waiting area near the entrance. As soon as she stepped inside, she recognized the man immediately.
Grant Nichols. Chris's private investigator. Of course.
Grant was tall, lean, and dressed in a sharp suit. His graying hair was slicked back, and his eyes held an air of quiet menace. He wasn't just an investigator; he was Chris's fixer. The man who made problems disappear.
Megan crossed her arms. "I have nothing to say to you, Grant."
Grant smiled, unfazed. "That's fine, Mrs. Westward. You don't have to say anything. I just wanted to deliver a message."
"I'm not your client's wife anymore."
"Legally, you are, and that's exactly the issue."
Megan clenched her jaw.
"Chris is... disappointed." Grant continued, his tone eerily calm. "You had the chance to make this easy, but instead, you've chosen to hide and involve outsiders. And now—,"He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You've chosen to carry another man's child."
Megan's blood ran cold. So, he did know.
Megan swallowed, keeping her face neutral. "You're wasting your time. I don't owe Chris anything."
Grant tilted his head. "No? Well, the courts may disagree. You see, Chris has been very patient, but that patience is wearing thin."
Megan laughed bitterly. "Patient? He hired a hitman."
Grant smile. "Prove it."
Megan's hands clenched into fists.
"The thing about Chris," Grant continued, "is that he always wins. He's powerful, connected. Do you really think a judge will side with a woman who ran away in the middle of the night, who is now pregnant with another man's baby while still legally married? Who do you think they'll believe?"
Megan refused to let him see her fear.
"If Chris is so sure of himself, why send you here? Why threaten me? If he had me backed into a corner, you wouldn't be here. That tells me he's scared."
Grant's smile flickered just for a second. Megan felt a tiny surge of confidence.
"Chris doesn't scare me anymore," she said firmly. "And neither do you."
Grant took a step back, adjusting his cufflinks. "Brave words, but bravery won't protect you when this all falls apart."
He turned toward the door, then paused. "Oh, and Megan?"
She tensed.
"I'd be very careful about who you trust."
Then, he walked out. Megan stood frozen, heart pounding. What did he mean by that? Who was he implying she couldn't trust?
She needed to call Karla. Now.
*****************************
Megan sat in Karla's office, pacing back and forth as she relayed everything Grant had said.
Karla listened silently, her face unreadable.
When Megan finished, Karla exhaled sharply. "He's trying to rattle you. He wants you scared and unsure. That's Chris's strategy. Always has been."
Megan ran a hand through her hair. "But what if he's right? What if he actually finds a way to use this pregnancy against me?"
Karla shook her head. "He won't. That's why we have the prenup, the financial records, the evidence of emotional abuse. Plus, with the assassin flipping, we have a direct line to the attempted hit on Jalen. This is all stacking against him."
Megan hesitated. "Then why does it feel like we're still losing?"
Karla sighed. "Because men like Chris don't go down quietly, and because we're in the part of the fight where he's getting desperate. That's when they become the most dangerous."
Megan sank into a chair, feeling exhausted. "So, what do we do next?"
Karla tapped her pen against her desk. "We counter his threats with legal pressure. If he's willing to play dirty, then we'll play smarter."
She picked up a file and placed it in front of Megan.
"We file for an emergency restraining order. Not just against you, but against Jalen too."
Megan's eyes widened. "Wait, what? Why Jalen?"
"Because if Chris even so much as breathes in Jalen's direction, it strengthens our case. It shows a pattern of harassment. The more we can paint Chris as a threat, the better our position in court. We use this to lock him down before he can make another move."
Megan nodded slowly. "Okay. Let's do it."
Karla gave her a firm look. "And in the meantime, you do not contact him. You do not answer any unknown numbers. You don't go anywhere alone. We do this by the book."
Megan swallowed hard. "And if he doesn't back down?"
Karla's expression hardened. "Then we make sure he never gets the chance to come near you again."
*****************************
Jalen had spent the entire day cooped up in his apartment. He was going stir-crazy. The fact that Chris was still out there, making moves, threatening Megan, and he was stuck playing defense? It pissed him off.
His phone rang. Karla.
"Please tell me you have good news," Jalen said as soon as he picked up.
"We're filing a restraining order."
Jalen exhaled. "Good."
"But that means something else. You can't see or talk to Megan for a while. If Chris even suspects you two are in contact, he'll try to spin it as proof of an affair before the divorce is finalized. We can't give him any ammo."
Jalen clenched his jaw.
Chris was keeping him from Megan again.
"I get it," he said, voice tight. "But I hate it."
Karla sighed. "I know, Jalen, but trust me. We're almost at the finish line. We just need to be smart about this."
Jalen took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.
"Fine, but the second this is over, I want to be the first person Megan sees."
Karla smiled slightly. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Jalen hung up. Then he punched the wall. He was sick of playing by Chris's rules. This had to end.
*****************************
Back at her office, Karla had the office phone pressed to her ear as she finalized the emergency restraining order against Chris Westward. The police had already tightened security around Jalen, but now it was time to turn Chris's tactics against him.
Jalen was still recovering, which only fueled Karla's anger. Megan, already pregnant and vulnerable, deserved peace, not to live in fear.
Megan sat across from Karla, nervously rubbing her hands together. "Do you think this will stop him?" she asked softly.
Karla, ever the professional, leaned forward, eyes sharp. "No. Not yet, but it will box him in legally. He wants to play dirty? Then we'll use the law to destroy him."
She picked up a folder and tapped it on the desk. "I've been building a file on Chris for weeks now. The intimidation attempts, the private investigators, the attempt on Jalen's life, it's all documented. The judge isn't going to like this. If we keep applying pressure, Chris is going to make a huge mistake."
Megan swallowed hard. "And if he doesn't?"
Karla exhaled. "Then we force his hand in court."
*****************************
Jalen sat on the barstool in his kitchen, scrolling through his phone, reading Karla's updates. The restraining order was filed, the police were increasing surveillance, and the gunman, Eric Salazar was considering a proposed deal.
He exhaled. "We're closing in." He said to himself.
His phone buzzed. It was a text from Jessica.
Jessica: "How are you feeling?"
Jalen smiled. His ribs still ached, but knowing she cared really meant something.
Jalen: "Getting stronger. I can jog a little now. You still thinking about the other night?"
A pause. Then...
Jessica: "Yeah... and that scares me"
Jalen's smile faded. He knew exactly what she meant. Before he could reply, another text came in, this time from Karla.
Karla: "Can you talk? There's something you need to know."
Jalen sat up straighter, tension creeping back in. He dialed Karla's number. It only rang once before she picked up.
"Hey, thanks for calling so quickly." She said, answering.
Jalen answered. "What's going on?"
Karla's voice was serious. "Jalen... Salazar's playing hardball, but I have a feeling he's going to flip soon."
Jalen clenched his jaw. "And Chris?"
Karla sighed. "He's not stopping, Jalen. We need to be ready for whatever he tries next."
Jalen exhaled, running a hand over his face.
"I don't think I have a choice, Karla," he said. "I think we need to go on the offensive."
His mind was whirling. Eric Salazar, the man who shot him, was close to flipping and the restraining order was filed. But Chris Westward was still coming. Jalen couldn't just sit back and wait for Chris to make another move.
"Karla, I need you to fast-track whatever legal options we have to shut Chris down before he tries something else."
Karla sighed. "I'm already working on it. But legally? We have to wait for Chris to slip up. Right now, all we have is circumstantial evidence."
Jalen exhaled sharply. "That's not good enough."
"I know," Karla admitted. "Which is why I've been thinking... we need leverage."
Jalen raised an eyebrow. "What kind of leverage?"
Karla hesitated. "Chris is still desperate to find something on you. That means he's making mistakes. If we can expose his illegal tactics, we might have enough to put him on the defensive."
Jalen thought for a moment. "So what? We need proof of his intimidation tactics? His illegal investigations?"
"Exactly," Karla confirmed. "If we can catch him crossing the line, we can use it against him."
Jalen's grip on the phone tightened. "And how do we do that?"
Karla's voice was calm but firm. "We set a trap."
"So let me get this straight," Jalen said, "We create a situation where Chris tries to pull something shady, and we catch him in the act?"
Karla nodded. "Exactly."
Jalen exhaled. "And how do we bait him?"
Karla smiled. "Leave that to me."
Jalen trusted Karla, but he had a bad feeling about this. Chris wasn't the type to play fair.
*****************************
That afternoon, Karla made a strategic move. She leaked false information to a controlled source. A source she suspected was feeding intel to Chris.
The bait?
That Megan was planning to meet Jalen in a secret location to talk about a large sum of money he had supposedly given her to fund her escape.
It was a lie, but Karla was counting on Chris's paranoia to make him act recklessly. Now all they had to do was wait.
Twenty-four hours later, Karla sat in her office, tapping her beige-colored nails against her desk as she stared at her phone. Then it buzzed.
Call from an Unknown Number.
Her eyes sharpened. She answered smoothly. "Karla Silva."
Silence. Then, a familiar, cold voice.
"Ms. Silva."
Karla smiled. "Gotcha." She thought.
"I was wondering when you'd call," she said, her tone casual.
Chris Westward was silent for a moment. Then said, "You must think you're really smart."
Karla leaned back in her chair. "Oh, I don't think, I know."
Chris chuckled darkly. "You're spreading lies, hoping to get me to act impulsively. Cute."
"Lies?" Karla said, feigning innocence. "I'm simply doing my job. Defending my client, protecting her rights, oh, and making sure you don't get away with your usual intimidation tactics."
Chris's voice dropped. "You're playing a dangerous game, sweetheart."
Karla's grip on her phone tightened, but she didn't flinch. "Is that a threat, Mr. Westward?"
Chris chuckled again. "You tell me."
Karla let a beat of silence pass. Then, she dropped the hammer.
"You know, Chris, I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you."
"Oh? And why's that?"
Karla's smile widened. "Because I have reason to believe that a certain private investigator of yours has been using illegal methods to gather information on my client."
Silence. Karla continued.
"Now, I could go to the State Bar with this information. Maybe even the DA's office. Have a little conversation about ethics violations. But..." She trailed off, savoring the moment.
Chris's tone was tight. "But what?"
"But I'd hate for your reputation to take such a nasty hit. So how about you drop your investigation into Megan, Jalen, and the rest of my clients, and maybe, just maybe, I'll be generous enough to forget this little call ever happened."
Chris exhaled sharply through the receiver. Karla felt like she had him, but then, Chris did something she didn't expect. He laughed. Long, slow, and mocking.
"Oh, Karla," he said, voice dripping with amusement. "You really think you've got this all figured out, don't you?"
Karla's smile faded slightly. Chris's tone darkened.
"You're playing defense. But I'm playing offense. And you have no idea what I have planned next."
Then...*click*. The line went dead. Karla slowly lowered her phone, her heart pounding.
"Shit."
*****************************
Chris leaned back in his office chair, swirling the whiskey in his glass. He was pissed, but also amused. He expected Megan' camp to try something. What they didn't know was that he had already planned his next step. He picked up his phone and dialed another number.
Grant Nichols answered. "Yeah?"
Chris smiled. "I need a different kind of professional this time."
A pause. Then... "I know a guy."
Chris's smile widened. "Good."
*****************************
Karla sat in the dimly lit living room of her condo, sipping a glass of water. She wasn't rattled easily, but something about the way Chris had laughed...
"You have no idea what I have planned next." He had said.
That part wouldn't leave her head. Her gut told her Chris wasn't bluffing. She glanced at her phone, debating whether to call Jalen. He was still recovering, and she didn't want to stress him out, but at the same time, he needed to know.
Her doorbell rang. Karla's eyes snapped toward the door. It's almost 10 PM. Who the hell—?
She carefully placed her glass down and reached into the drawer of the coffee table. Her 9mm Glock was there. She wasn't reckless enough to be unarmed with everything going on.
Approaching the door, she checked the peephole. Her entire body relaxed when she saw who was standing there.
She quickly unlocked it. "Jalen! What are you doing here? You're supposed to be resting."
Jalen smiled slightly. "I was resting until I got a bad feeling. Figured I'd come check on you."
Karla sighed, rubbing her temples. "Dammit, Jalen." She looked him up and down. "You should still be taking it easy. You were shot, remember?"
Jalen grinned. "Yeah, I know. Still hurts."
Karla shook her head but stepped aside to let him in.
"You want something to drink?" she asked, shutting the door.
"Nah, I'm good," Jalen said, walking toward the couch. "But I do want to know what the hell happened with Chris today."
Karla exhaled. "I called him out, he tried to rattle me, I rattled him back. But..."
Jalen frowned. "But what?"
Karla hesitated before saying, "...He wasn't scared, Jalen. He was confident. Too confident. He's got something planned, and I don't know what it is."
Jalen's expression darkened. He sat down, leaning forward slightly, deep in thought.
Karla sat next to him. "I didn't want to tell you yet. You need to be focused on healing."
Jalen chuckled humorlessly. "Yeah, well, Chris doesn't give a damn about my recovery. If he's planning something, we need to be ahead of it."
Karla nodded. "I agree, but until we know what he's doing, we have to be careful."
A silence fell between them. Jalen suddenly glanced at the coffee table drawer where she had put her glock back.
"You expecting trouble tonight?" he asked.
Karla smiled slightly. "Always."
Jalen sighed and leaned back, running a hand down his face. "God, I miss all of you."
Karla turned toward him. "We miss you too."
Jalen looked at her. "I need to see everyone soon. I hate this."
Karla softened. "I know. But we can't be reckless. Chris is watching."
Jalen shook his head. "Yeah, well, I'm watching too."
*****************************
The following evening, Jalen couldn't resist anymore, and went to see Heidi. Fifteen minutes after leaving his apartment, he parked his truck a block away from her apartment complex, taking a few extra moments to scan the area. He had taken every precaution to ensure he wasn't being followed, doubling back on roads, making unnecessary turns, and watching his mirrors.
So why the hell was there a shady-looking dude posted near the entrance to Heidi's building?
Jalen's instincts kicked in immediately. The man was dressed in dark clothing, pretending to scroll through his phone while not-so-subtly stealing glances at the front entrance. He had to be one of Chris' guys. Jalen knew it in his gut. Chris was stepping up his surveillance of everyone associated with him and Megan.
"If they think they're getting near Heidi, they got me fucked up." Jalen whispered to himself.
He grabbed his phone and texted Heidi.
Jalen: "I'm outside, but don't come out. You have company."
Heidi: "What? Who?"
Jalen: "Not sure, but he ain't here by accident. Stay inside."
Jalen didn't wait for her response. He had to move. He stepped out of his truck, calmly but also deliberately, locking his door loudly. The man near the entrance noticed him immediately but pretended to keep looking at his phone. Jalen walked straight toward him. The man turned slightly away, as if trying to play it off, but Jalen wasn't having it. He closed the distance fast.
"You lost?" Jalen asked, his voice low and steady.
The man scoffed but didn't look up. "Nah, I'm good."
Jalen tilted his head. "You sure? ‘Cause you been standing here looking real outta place for a minute now."
The man exhaled through his nose. "Ain't none of your business."
Wrong answer. Jalen stepped in closer, forcing the man to either look up at him or back away.
"I just made it my business," Jalen said coldly. "So, I'll ask you one more time. Who you waiting on?"
The man finally looked at him. He was white, mid-40s, with a wiry build and a hard face, the type that had seen some shit but wasn't built for real confrontation. He gave Jalen a once-over, as if sizing him up, and smiled.
"You should watch yourself, Moss."
Jalen's blood ran hot. So, this wasn't random. Chris had sent him. Jalen's fists flexed at his sides.
"That a threat?" Jalen asked, his voice dangerously even.
The man chuckled, stepping back slightly. "I'm just sayin'... keep your head on a swivel. Lotta people got their eyes on you now."
Jalen held his ground. "You tell your people... if they so much as breathe in Heidi's direction, I will find them, and when I do, it ain't gonna be words we exchange."
The man's smile faltered for a split second, but he quickly recovered. "I'll pass that along," he muttered before turning and walking away.
Jalen didn't move until the man was out of sight. Then, he turned and walked straight into Heidi's building.
*****************************
The moment Jalen stepped inside, Heidi was on him, closing the door behind him.
"What the hell was that?!" she hissed.
Jalen ran a hand down his face, trying to steady his anger. "Chris has got people watching."
Heidi's face paled. "...He's watching me?"
Jalen exhaled, gripping the back of his neck. "I don't know if it's you specifically or just me and everyone close to me. Either way, I didn't like the way dude was posted outside."
Heidi crossed her arms. "What do we do?"
Jalen looked at her, studying her face, seeing the worry beneath her strong exterior. He stepped closer, his hands finding her waist. "We don't let that motherfucker win."
Heidi's eyes softened just a little. "I hate this," she whispered.
Jalen cupped her face gently. "I know, baby."
They stood there for a long moment, wrapped in each other's warmth, before Heidi finally exhaled.
"Stay the night?" she asked quietly.
Jalen didn't even hesitate. "Yeah. I'm staying."
*****************************
The man who had just encountered Jalen entered Chris's office, closing the door behind him.
Chris was sitting at his desk, swirling whiskey in his glass, waiting.
"Well?"
The man sighed. "Moss made me."
Chris's jaw clenched. "Meaning?"
"He confronted me. Knew I wasn't there for no good reason."
Chris took a slow sip of his drink before slamming the glass down on his desk. "You're fucking useless," he spat.
The man held up his hands. "Hey, I got close. I was right outside that Horner girl's building, but Moss ain't stupid."
Chris exhaled sharply through his nose. "Fine. We change tactics."
The man frowned. "What do you mean?"
Chris's eyes darkened. "I mean... if we can't scare Moss, we start pushing the people around him."
The man hesitated. "...That's risky."
Chris's smile was anything but friendly. "Good."
*****************************
Rachel DeSantos was not the kind of woman you could easily shake. She had spent years in the sports world, holding her own in male-dominated spaces, dealing with aggressive athletes, egotistical coaches, and entitled executives who thought they could intimidate her just because she was a woman. She had put in work in the gym, in her career, and in her personal life.
So, when two random men decided they wanted to press her outside of her apartment complex on Wednesday night..., they found out the hard way that they picked the wrong one.
Rachel had just parked her car in the underground parking garage of her apartment complex, grabbing her bag from the passenger seat. As soon as she stepped out, she noticed two men dressed in cheap suits lingering near the elevator. They weren't slick. They weren't even casual about it.
Rachel sighed. "Y'all gotta try harder than that."
She ignored them and started walking toward the elevator, her senses sharp and her heart rate steady.
"Miss DeSantos," one of them said, stepping into her path.
Rachel didn't stop moving. She sidestepped him and kept walking.
"You're a hard woman to get ahold of," the other one added, moving to block her again.
Rachel's patience was already gone. She tilted her head, crossing her arms. "Alright, let's cut the bullshit. What do you want?"
The first man smiled. "We just wanna talk."
Rachel let out a short, humorless laugh. "Then you should've sent someone less obvious and more interesting."
The second man took a step closer. "We just wanna make sure you understand... that the people around you are making bad choices."
Rachel raised a brow. "Lemme guess.... Chris Westward sent you?"
Neither man answered, but the silence was loud.
Rachel scoffed. "Figures. He's a pathetic, insecure little bitch, and now he's sending his goons to harass a pregnant woman?"
One of them shifted uncomfortably, but the first man smiled again.
"We're just here to remind you that aligning yourself with the wrong people has consequences."
Rachel made a devilish grin. "Oh, really?"
In a single move, Rachel launched forward, slamming her knee straight into his groin. The man let out a strangled grunt as he collapsed to the ground, clutching himself in agony.
Before the second guy could react, Rachel whipped around and grabbed his wrist, twisting it violently in an Aikido-style lock.
"Ah—shit!" he yelped.
Rachel leaned in, her grip ironclad.
"Listen very carefully," she hissed, her eyes blazing. "You tell your bitch-ass boss that if he tries this shit again, I will make sure every sports media outlet in Atlanta knows exactly what kind of man he is. And if you ever step in my space again—" she yanked his arm harder, making him cry out in pain, "—I'll break this shit clean off. Do you understand me?"
The man frantically nodded. "Y-yeah! Yeah, I got it!"
Rachel let go, shoving him backward, watching him stumble as he scrambled to help his still-wheezing partner. She brushed off her hands like she had just taken out the trash.
"Now get the fuck outta here," she said coolly.
The two men didn't need to be told twice. They practically ran toward the exit, limping and cursing under their breath. Rachel rolled her eyes and continued to the elevator like nothing happened. She pulled out her phone and dialed Jalen.
The moment he answered, she said, "Tell Megan's bitch-ass ex to try harder next time."
There was a pause. Then Jalen burst out laughing.
*****************************
Meanwhile, Chris sat on a barstool in his wine cellar, swirling whiskey in his glass as the two battered men stood in front of him, barely able to look him in the eye.
"She fucked you up?" Chris asked, his voice eerily calm.
The first man swallowed. "We didn't expect her to—"
Chris slammed his glass down so hard that whiskey splashed onto his desk.
"You didn't expect a pregnant woman to hand you your own ass?"
The second guy cleared his throat. "She, uh... she said if we try this again, she'll go to the media."
Chris's jaw ticked. "Fucking useless," he muttered.
He grabbed his cell phone and dialed another number. "This isn't working," he said the moment the line picked up. "It's time we go after the one who started all this."
The voice on the other end was quiet for a moment.
Then: "...Megan?"
Chris smiled. "Exactly."
*****************************
Jalen had been restless all morning. After Rachel's badass takedown of Chris's goons, things had been too quiet, and when things got too quiet in a situation like this, that usually meant something was about to go horribly wrong.
And it did. Jalen was finishing lunch when his phone rang. It was Karla. The moment he answered, her voice was shaky. A tone he never heard from her before.
"Jalen... it's Megan. She's missing."
Jalen froze, his entire body going cold. "...What?"
"She didn't show up for a check-in appointment at the shelter. They called me when they couldn't reach her. I tried calling her too, but... she's not picking up."
Jalen's stomach dropped. Megan was always careful. She knew how dangerous Chris was. She wouldn't just disappear without telling someone. Something was wrong.
"...Where was she last seen?" Jalen asked, already grabbing his keys.
"At her job last night. She got off her shift around 8 PM. Security footage shows her getting into an uber, but... after that, nothing."
Jalen clenched his jaw. That meant someone intercepted her before she could get home.
Jalen's breathing turned sharp, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel as he climbed into his truck.
"Meet me at the police station. Now."
*****************************
By the time Jalen arrived, Karla, Sydney, Rachel, and Kristen were already there, along with the detective Karla had been working with.
Everyone's faces were grim, a mix of worry and fury.
"What do we know?" Jalen demanded the moment he walked in.
The detective, a middle-aged man named Detective James Harris, sighed heavily.
"Not much. No ransom note. No messages. No sign of her car. It's like she just vanished."
Jalen's fists tightened. "This is Chris. It has to be."
Rachel nodded. "He's getting desperate, and if he can't win in court, he's gonna try to break her another way."
Karla crossed her arms, her face a mask of cold rage. "He's escalating. First, he tried to have Jalen killed. Then, he sent his men after Rachel. Now, he's outright taking Megan? We need to find her. Now."
Jalen turned to Detective Harris. "What can we do?"
Harris sighed again. "We're already looking, but without solid evidence that Chris took her, we can't move directly on him yet."
Kristen snapped. "So, we just sit here and wait?! While she could be God knows where—"
"No." Jalen's voice was low but firm. "We don't wait. We go after him."
*****************************
Megan woke up in a haze. Her head was pounding. Her vision was blurry. Her wrists were tied and her ankles were restrained. Panic flooded her system.
She was in a dimly lit room, sitting in a chair. The air was stale, the faint scent of cigarettes and cologne in the air. Then, she heard a voice. A voice she knew all too well.
"Rise and shine, sweetheart."
Megan's stomach twisted.
Chris.
She lifted her head, eyes narrowing with pure hatred as her vision cleared. Chris stood before her, dressed in one of his expensive suits, sipping whiskey like this was just another business meeting.
"What the fuck do you want, Chris?" Megan spat.
Chris chuckled, shaking his head. "You really thought you could just... walk away? From me?"
Megan's blood ran ice cold. She swallowed, trying to control her breathing. Stay calm. Stay smart.
"...Where am I?"
Chris took another sip, his smile widening.
"Oh, don't worry about that. You're exactly where you're supposed to be."
Megan's heart pounded. She wasn't just missing. She was trapped, and Chris had all the control.
*****************************
Karla's office had never felt so tense.
Jalen sat at the head of the conference table, his jaw clenched, his hands gripping his knees. The other six women, Sydney, Kristen, Rachel, Karla, Heidi, and Chrysti were all there now, their faces a mix of anger, fear, and determination. Nobody cared about work today. Megan was missing, and they knew Chris Westward was behind it.
"We need to get her back. Now." Jalen's voice was firm and controlled, but underneath, there was fury.
Rachel, always the one ready for action, leaned forward, her hands flat on the table. "The cops aren't gonna move fast enough. We need to force Chris to slip up."
Kristen's eyes were red from crying, but her voice was steady. "What if we go to the press? Get ahead of this before he can control the narrative?"
Karla shook her head. "Not yet. We don't have proof. We go public without it, Chris could spin it against us."
Sydney crossed her arms. "So what? We just sit here and do nothing?"
"No."
All eyes turned to Heidi, who had been silent until now.
Heidi sat up straight, her green eyes cold and calculating.
"We make Chris believe we have proof."
Karla leaned in, catching onto Heidi's plan. "You mean... bluff?"
Heidi nodded. "We have connections. I know some journalists, you have legal resources, and Jalen—"
She turned to him. "Chris already thinks you're behind everything. What if we use that?"
Jalen's eyes narrowed. "How?"
Kristen caught on next. "We make it look like we have something damning on him. Something so dangerous that he panics."
Rachel smiled. "And when Chris panics, he makes mistakes."
Chrysti was frowning, thinking. "So... we bait him into giving himself away?"
Karla nodded. "Exactly. We fake a leak. Make it look like Megan already gave us everything we need to destroy him."
Sydney's lips curled. "And when Chris starts scrambling, we find Megan."
Jalen exhaled slowly. It was risky, but Chris was a control freak. If he thought Megan had already exposed him, he'd try to cover his tracks.
Karla wasted no time. She called in a favor from a journalist she trusted. Someone who wouldn't actually publish anything but could pretend they had a breaking story.
The headline would be: "Prominent Lawyer Chris Westward Under Investigation - Insider Source Claims Bombshell Evidence Against Him."
Then, she had a friend in law enforcement leak a fake tip to Chris's camp, making it seem like the DA's office was suddenly interested in his financial records. And just for good measure, Rachel made an anonymous call to Chris's office.
All she said was: "We know everything. The world is about to find out."
Then she hung up.
Now. They waited.
*****************************
Chris slammed his fist into his desk.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE DA'S OFFICE IS ASKING QUESTIONS?!" he roared at his lawyer.
His legal team was scrambling.
"We don't know where the leak came from," one of them stammered. "But if they're sniffing around, it means someone is talking."
Chris's eyes darkened.
Megan. That bitch. She knew better than to cross him, and now she was going to pay the price, but if this was already getting out then that meant she must've talked before he grabbed her. Chris's pulse raced. If she had already exposed his secrets... Then keeping her alive might not be worth the risk.
*****************************
Jalen's phone buzzed. It was Detective Harris. Jalen picked up, his heart pounding.
"Moss. We just got something. A location."
Jalen bolted upright. "Where?"
"The Lendersfield warehouse complex out in Fayetteville, Georgia. We're preparing to move in now."
Jalen was already grabbing his keys.
"I'm coming."
"The hell you are—"
*Click*
Jalen hung up. He turned to the six women, eyes sharp with focus.
"They found her. I'm going after her. I'm not waiting."
Rachel stood up. "Jalen, No! Don't be stupid!"
Kristen turned to him with a very worried look in her eyes. "Yeah, let's just let the police han—.."
"I'm going!" Jalen snapped, cutting her off. "I'm getting Megan out of there!"
Karla walked towards him. "Jalen please you need to—"
"Let him go." A voice interrupted.
Everyone turned around to see Chrysti looking very intensely at them from the back of the room.
Chrysti sighed before continuing. "Jalen, if it were me out there, I would want it to be you to come after me, because I know that you love me. Megan knows that you love her, and you'll do what the police may be unwilling to do to get her back."
She paused to take another deep breath, before finishing. "That's what Megan needs right now. So even though it'll probably be very dangerous, I know you'll do what you have to in order to get her back, which is what I would want, and I'm sure Megan wants too."
There was silence for several moments after Chrysti finished speaking.
Then Rachel, seemingly convinced by what Chrysti said, sat back down. Karla took a step back, no longer attempting to stop Jalen from leaving.
"Thank you, Chrysti." Jalen said sincerely.
Sydney suddenly stood up.
"Jalen...," she looked directly at him, "Make damn sure that both of you come back alive."
Jalen smiled at her. "I promise."
*****************************
Jalen gripped the wheel tightly, his jaw clenched. He pulled up just far enough from the warehouse complex to avoid detection, killing his headlights. He checked his glove compartment and found no gun or weapon or any kind. He would have to rely on his fists and his willpower, or maybe he could incapacitate one of their men and take their gun if they had one...
Jalen got out of his car, quietly shut his door, and set off on foot the rest of the way. It was dark, barely any movement, however, when he got close to the warehouse complex, he saw one black SUV parked near the entrance, which meant Chris Westward had at least one of his men there.
"Black SUV, the vehicle of choice for shady activity..." Jalen muttered to himself.
Jalen moved quietly, avoiding detection and entering through the side entrance, while keeping low the entire time. The warehouse was mostly empty, but in the center, there was a single folding chair, and in that chair was...
"Megan." Jalen whispered to himself.
Megan's wrists were tied behind her back. Her hair was a mess and there was dried blood on her temple. She looked exhausted but alert.
She saw Jalen instantly, her blue eyes widening.
"Jalen—" she started, but then—
Footsteps. Jalen whipped around. A tall, bulky man stepped into view, his face partially shadowed. He was armed with a pistol resting in his grip. Jalen stilled.
"Now, what the hell are you doing here?" the man growled.
Jalen slowly raised his hands. "I'm just here for Megan."
The man scoffed. "That's not how this works, buddy."
Jalen's jaw tightened. "Chris is done. You know that, right?" Jalen took a step closer, his voice steady, controlled.
"The DA's office is already looking into him. The police are on their way here right now."
The man's grip tightened on the gun. "Shut up."
Jalen, however, didn't shut up. "You really think Chris is gonna protect you after this? He'll throw you under the bus in a heartbeat."
The man's eyes flickered, uncertainty creeping in. That's when Megan moved. A sharp kick to the chair, and the metal legs scraped loudly against the floor, catching the man off guard. In that split second Jalen lunged.
Jalen closed the distance and grabbed the gunman's wrist, forcing the barrel away from Megan. The man grunted, struggling, but Jalen was faster. He drove a knee into the man's gut, forcing him back. The gun clattered to the ground.
Jalen swung, a brutal right hook to the man's jaw. The gunman staggered. Jalen didn't stop. Another hit. Then another. The man tried to counter, throwing a punch but Jalen ducked and then *BAM*. Jalen's fist slammed into the guy's face, sending him crashing onto the concrete. He was out cold.
Jalen panted heavily, his adrenaline raging. Then he turned to Megan. "Are you okay?"
Megan nodded quickly, even though she looked shaken.
"I'm fine, but we need to go. Now."
Jalen knelt, quickly untying the ropes on her wrists.
The second her hands were free, she threw her arms around him tightly.
"I knew you'd come for me." she whispered.
Jalen exhaled. "Always."
Then they heard a sound. Sirens. Flashing red and blue lights poured in through the warehouse windows.
Jalen pulled Megan up. "Come on."
Together they ran toward freedom.
The police had arrived in force with half a dozen squad cars. Officers were already swarming the area. Jalen led Megan toward them, arms raised, making sure they weren't mistaken for suspects. One of the detectives, Detective Harris, spotted them.
"We got her! Get her checked out. NOW!"
Two officers immediately moved to help Megan, while Harris turned to Jalen.
"You okay, Moss?"
Jalen, still catching his breath, nodded. "Yeah."
Harris eyed him. "This was reckless, you know. You could've been killed. You certainly look like you just went through hell."
Jalen chuckled dryly.
"Yeah, well... I wasn't about to sit on the sidelines."
Detective Harris then smiled. "Let's get you and Megan home."
The officers took Megan's statement, documenting everything. She confirmed that Chris's men had grabbed her right after her Uber had dropped her off, and that Chris himself had shown up at the warehouse to confront and taunt her.
They had all the leverage they needed. Chris Westward was going down. For good.
***************************************
By the time Jalen and Megan left the station, the other women were already waiting. Sydney. Kristen. Rachel. Karla. Heidi. Chrysti. The second Megan stepped out, they rushed her. Tears, hugs, and relief. Jalen watched smiling. Then, Megan turned, her blue eyes locked on him. She walked over and kissed him. Softly, full of gratitude.
"Thank you."
Jalen ran a hand through her hair. "I told you. I'd always protect you."
Jalen stood in the dimly lit parking lot of the police station, his mind racing. Megan was safe. That was all that mattered in this moment. The rest of the women stood close by, relief washing over them after the emotional reunion inside. Megan clung to him, and Jalen held her tight, feeling the tension in her body and the exhaustion from the past twent-four hours weighing on her.
"I'm okay," she whispered, but Jalen could hear the cracks in her voice.
Karla stepped forward, her usual composed demeanor slightly shaken. "We need to talk about what happens next," she said, her voice firm but laced with concern. "Chris is running out of options, and that makes him more dangerous."
Kristen crossed her arms. "More dangerous than hiring a hitman and taking Megan? What's next? Bomb threats?"
Sydney nodded. "He's exposed himself. This isn't just about Megan anymore. He went after you, Jalen. He went after all of us. There's no way he's getting away with this."
Rachel exhaled sharply. "This motherfucker has got to go down."
Megan looked up at Jalen, her blue eyes filled with anger and determination. "I don't want to live my life in fear. I refuse to be scared of him anymore."
Jalen cupped her face gently, brushing his thumb along her cheek. "You won't have to. He's done."
Karla pulled out her phone. "The police have what they need, but we can't afford to sit back and wait for them to act. I'm going to put pressure on the DA's office to speed up the indictment. Chris has power, but he's bleeding out legally. If we keep applying pressure, we can force his hand before he has a chance to strike again."
Heidi stepped forward. "And if he does strike again?"
Jalen's eyes darkened. "Then I'll handle it."
Silence fell over the group. They knew he meant it.
Chrysti, who had been quiet through most of the conversation, finally spoke. "What if... What if we take this public?"
The others turned to her.
Chrysti continued, choosing her words carefully. "Chris thrives on secrecy. He controls people by making sure things stay in the dark, his affairs, his abuse, his corruption, but what if we take that control away from him?"
Karla's eyes narrowed, considering the idea. "You mean leak everything to the media?"
Chrysti nodded. "Not just the media, social media, influencers, the court of public opinion. Chris is powerful, but if we take his reputation from him, he won't have anywhere to hide."
Sydney leaned forward. "That could work. People like Chris get away with things because no one's watching, but if we put eyes on him, he'll have to play defense for once."
Jalen nodded slowly. "It's risky, but so is waiting for the justice system to do its job."
"There's another avenue we can take as well." Karla said, her eyes sharp with determination. "We need to hit Chris where it REALLY hurts. If we can get his financials, any proof that he paid someone to do this, that's our smoking gun."
Rachel smiled at Karla. "Then let's burn him."
Sydney crossed her arms. "How do we get his financial records? It's not like he's just leaving that lying around."
Karla smiled devilishly. "That's where things get interesting."
Jalen arched a brow. "What do you mean?"
"I have a contact," Karla said. "Someone who used to work for Chris. Someone who might be willing to talk."
Megan's eyes widened. "Wait...you don't mean—"
Karla nodded. "Yeah. I do. His old accountant."
Silence. If this worked, if they could get to someone who had seen Chris' financial dealings firsthand, then they might just have everything to not just arrest Chris but actually put him away for a long time.
Jalen exhaled. "Set up the meeting."
Karla's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. She held up her phone showing him her text messages. "Already did.
Megan squeezed Jalen's hand. "I just want this to be over."
"It will be," Jalen promised. "Like I said, Chris Westward is done. He just doesn't know it yet."
"Why hasn't Chris already been arrested? Megan saw him at the warehouse! He told her it was him who ordered her to be taken!" Rachel said.
Karla sighed, rubbing her temples. "Because the justice system is slow, and Chris Westward isn't just some random guy off the street. He's a powerful, well-connected attorney with deep political ties. We don't just need an accusation. We need undeniable proof that sticks."
Rachel clenched her jaw. "Megan saw him at the warehouse! He told her himself! That should be enough!"
"It should be," Karla agreed, "but unfortunately, it's not. Right now, it's Megan's word against his, and Chris has the resources to fight that in court. He'll claim she's lying. He'll say she was disoriented and that she thinks she saw him but that it really wasn't, and that she's trying to ruin his career out of spite. And trust me, he'll have people willing to vouch for him."
"I need to move," Megan said suddenly, her voice steady but full of resolve.
All eyes turned to her.
"I can't stay where I am. He found me once, and he'll find me again. If I keep living like this, looking over my shoulder, he's already won."
Karla nodded in understanding. "I can help with that. I'll pull some strings, get you into a safe place until this case is done."
Jalen wasn't having it. "You're not going anywhere alone," he said firmly. "You're coming with me."
Megan opened her mouth to protest, but Jalen shut it down. "No. Don't argue with me. You just got out of that warehouse. I am not letting you out of my sight."
Karla nodded, for once agreeing with Jalen's convictions on this. "Jalen's right. Megan, I know you're strong, but right now, you need to be somewhere safe. Somewhere Chris can't get to you."
Megan exhaled, her hands tightening into fists at her sides. Finally, she gave a small nod. "Fine. But I don't want to hide forever. I want to fight."
Kristen, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. "And you will. We all will, but you need to be alive and safe to do that."
Jalen looked at her, then at all of them, the seven women who had become his family. He had spent months protecting, loving, and fighting for each of them, and now, they were all standing together, and with that, they left the police station, ready to end this once and for all.
*****************************
The clock was ticking. Chris had gone too far this time, and everyone in the room knew it. Having Megan taken, the intimidation tactics against Rachel, and the constant surveillance all could and likely would be used against him. He was unraveling. His arrogance and entitlement made him believe he was untouchable, but that was about to change.
Karla wasted no time setting up the meeting with Nathan Hale, Chris' former accountant, who had worked for him for over a decade before quitting suddenly. Nathan was nervous. Chris had power, and Nathan knew exactly the kind of man he was dealing with.
Over dinner in a private setting, Karla, Jalen, and Megan pressed him.
"I left because I started seeing things I wasn't supposed to see," Nathan admitted. "Chris doesn't just hide money, he launders it. Offshore accounts, fake shell corporations, bribery payments. He's been careful, but there are cracks."
"Cracks we can use," Karla said.
Nathan hesitated. "If I help you... I need protection."
Jalen leaned forward. "You'll have it."
Nathan slid a USB across the table. "That's everything I kept. I knew one day it would be useful."
Megan's hands trembled as she picked it up. "This is it. This is what we need to destroy him."
*****************************
The moment Karla verified the documents, she knew this was bigger than a messy divorce case. This was federal. There was evidence of bribery, tax fraud, and money laundering. Karla made the call, and the FBI took over. They already had suspicions about Chris' dealings, but Nathan's data was the missing link. Federal agents launched an official investigation, and before Chris could even think about covering his tracks, the walls started closing in.
Finally, it happened on a Monday morning in the most humiliating way possible. Chris Westward, the once-powerful lawyer, was arrested in broad daylight outside of his office. The FBI and local law enforcement swarmed his building. Handcuffs clicked around his wrists, and the press was waiting, having already been tipped off thanks to Chrysti's idea of leaking information to the press and social media earlier, which led to them further digging into the matter.
Cameras flashed and reporters shouted.
"Chris Westward, do you have any comment on the charges?"
"Mr. Westward, is it true you ordered a hit on your former contractor, Jalen Moss?"
"How long have you been embezzling money?"
Chris, now pale with fury, refused to answer. He was shoved into a black SUV, his empire crumbling around him.
With Chris arrested, his hired gunman, Eric Salazar, finally cracked under pressure. Facing life in prison, he made a deal with prosecutors and handed over the evidence that he referenced to Karla before that linked Chris to the shooting of Jalen Moss. Chris wasn't just facing financial crimes anymore. Now, he was looking at conspiracy to commit murder.
*****************************
With Chris locked away and denied bail, Megan was finally free. Jalen and the other women could walk around without looking over his shoulder.
The day Chris was arrested. Jalen and Megan celebrated by making love at his apartment. They had made plans to meet up with the other six women to celebrate all together later that day.
As they laid together naked after several rounds of steamy sex, it still felt surreal to Megan. She was now truly free of Chris, she could live her life the way she wanted, and she could freely and openly be with the man she truly loved.
She nestled against Jalen, her head resting on his chest. She traced small circles on his skin with her recently manicured light pink-colored acrylic fingernails. His steady heartbeat was like a calming rhythm, a reminder that she was safe, and this was real.
Jalen kissed the top of her head, his hand gently running through her dark hair. "You okay?" he asked softly.
Megan let out a deep breath, almost as if she was exhaling the last remnants of Chris' control over her. "Yeah..." she whispered. "It just... still feels surreal, you know? I was trapped for so long, and now, I'm lying here with you, and for the first time in years, I don't have to worry about what he'll do to me. I don't have to be scared anymore."
Jalen tightened his arms around her. "That motherfucker will never touch you again," he said firmly. "You're safe, and you're mine now. Just like you were always meant to be."
A warm shiver ran through Megan at those words. She tilted her face up to look at him, her striking blue eyes soft and full of emotion. "You have no idea how much I love you, Jalen," she murmured.
Jalen cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. "I love you too, Megan, and I swear, I'm gonna make sure you never have to go through anything like that again."
Megan smiled, truly smiled, a feeling of peace and happiness washing over her. "I know," she said confidently. "Thank you for coming after me, after he took me."
"I wasn't going to rest until I brought you home." Jalen replied.
They lay there in silence for a few moments, just basking in the feeling of each other, until Megan suddenly smiled and playfully ran her nails down Jalen's chest. "So... we still have some time before we have to meet the others," she teased.
Jalen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You still want more?"
Megan grinned mischievously, rolling on top of him and straddling his waist. She leaned down, her lips ghosting over his. "I just spent five years in a loveless, sexless marriage," she whispered. "So yeah... I'm making up for lost time."
Jalen chuckled, flipping them over so she was beneath him. "Then let's keep making up for it."
And with that, he claimed her once again, solidifying the fact that Megan Westward was now completely, irrevocably, his.
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