Chapter 267


    Chapter 0267


    “You said you would tell him,” I said.


    “”


    “I was getting around to it.” Julian shrugged. “The right moment just hadn’te up yet.‘


    “You gave her that ne to help her out specifically in this ce,” Nichs said. “I highly doubt that


    you couldn’t find a moment to tell me about it.”


    “That’s the truth,” Julian said. “Besides, so long as one of us gets the message to help her out, does it


    matter which one?”


    “Then switch it to me,” Nichs said.


    –


    an argument they


    I gave Nichs a t look. He wasn’t helping deescte this argument shouldn’t even be having in the


    middle of Terry’s office while searching for secretpartments in his desk.


    Nichs deted a little, under my look, though he didn’t uncross his arms. The moment his eyes


    returned to Julian, they hardened again.


    “I wanted both,” I said.


    “And I will set it to both,” Julian said. “The very next free moment I have.”


    “Now, Julian. I imagine it will take you two minutes on your phone,” Nichs said.


    “And you don’t think we’re doing something vastly more important at the moment?”


    “No,” Nichs was firm.


    Julian sighed. “Keep searching, Piper.” He retrieved his phone from his pocket.


    The current drawer I looked through didn’t have apartment along the top, but when I traced my


    hand along the side, I felt a small catch. I pressed down and a lid sprung open, revealing a letter tucked


    away underneath.


    “What’s this?” I pulled the letter from the secretpartment and unfolded it.


    “Find something?” Julian’s eyes were on his phone.


    Nichs rounded the desk toe to my side. I opened the letter then nearly dropped it. Nichs


    caught it and me, steadying both.


    “Why didn’t he destroy this?” Nichs asked, more to himself than anyone else. “It even says to burn


    it?”


    “Why does uncle do anything?” Julian put his phone away. He scooched closer to me to peer at the


    letter over my shoulder.


    “Hubris,” I said.


    “Even so… This…” Nichs was at a loss for words.


    Julian whistled. “It’s damn incriminating.”


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    In my hands, I held a letter addressed to Terry, weing him to the underground organization.


    The letter was dated back a few years, long enough that he very well could have been the man


    to tempt Jane over to the darkness.


    Disgust and hatred swirled in my gut.


    “Do you recognize that signature?” Nichs asked.


    “I can’t make it out…” I said. I only saw swirls. There was no printed name underneath.


    “It’s Hawk,” Julian said. We both looked at him. “The unofficial underground organization’s leader? If


    you can call him that. Their leadership is more like a council. But Hawk is the one keeping them all in


    line.”


    Julian would know. He’d been investigating into the underground organization for who knew how long.


    “Hawk.” I tried the word out in my mouth. I felt bad for the bird that had to share its name with such an


    undoubtedly vicious person. “Who is he really?”


    “No one knows,” Julian said. “I doubt even Terry does, something that probably irks him to no end.”


    “Receiving this letter would be an honor, then,” Nichs said. “Something Terry would want to


    remember.”


    “He’s probably mad he can’t hang it up,” Julian said with augh. “But, lucky for us, he’s vein enough to


    hold onto it regardless. Tuck it into your pocket, Nichs, and let’s get the hell out of here. That should


    be proof enough.”


    Nichs folded the letter and put it into his inside jacket pocket.


    It felt like a victory, securing something like that.


    But we still had to survive the rest of the night to get it to safety.


    “Let’s go,” Nichs said, and held out his hand for me.


    I took it.