Chase really was the worst at keeping secrets; it’s how I always managed to find out he was cheating. He didn’t have the finesse.
Crap, that’s what Jackson said last night. As if Chase could pull off something like this without tipping his hand earlier.
“So, what? You just paid some guy to follow me around, leave me creepy roses, and then what? Hope that I somehow found my way to Aleks?”
Fuck. I’d confirmed his name.
Decker smiles. “I thought there was a chance Aleks might try to track you down, reach out. You’re an addiction like that. Although, it was slim odds. But I’d been paying my P.I. for so long and nothing was panning out. What was another few weeks tracking you in one last shot? I had the money to spare.”
Lucky.
Decker got fucking lucky.
And that pisses me off all the more.
“It took a while for the pieces to line up. Covington here was my first clue, but the scales tipped that night in the club, when you took off your gloves and the tattoos matched up.”
Aleks swears under his breath. But Decker keeps running his mouth, so damn proud of himself.
“It took forever to figure out where you lived. I was really hoping you’d take her home after the club. I was so damn sure. But no.” He tsks. “I didn’t score that until the Taylors’ ball.”
“The tail.” Parker jogs my memory.
“But I thought Francis lost him?” He took ages getting us to the apartment.
“He did; my guy lost you after the party,” Decker confirms. “Your driver is freakishly good.”
“Then, how?”
“When the investigator called to let me know the tail had gone cold, I came up with the next best solution. Chase got ripping drunk after you left. It was easy to swipe his phone. You hadn’t blocked him, so you were still sharing your location with him.”
My stomach drops. Shit. Shit! I hadn’t even thought to stop sharing my location. I forgot that I even was. I open my phone, pulling up Chase’s contact. Sure enough, I can see his location, and he can see mine. I turn the stupid thing off.
“Again, I wasn’t sure whether English would bring you back to their place or just home, especially since Blade still hadn’t brought you over. Honestly, my expectations were low. So, imagine my luck when I saw you stopped elsewhere. I sent the address to the P.I., and it was smooth sailing from there.”
“Not entirely,” Jackson taunts.
“No. Not entirely.” Decker stands up, walking right up to Jackson. “Never did figure you out.” He stares at the mask, and his jaw clicks before he twists away, dropping dramatically into his chair. “But two out of three was enough.” He eyes Aleks and Parker. “Not sure why you’re bothering to keep those masks on, but whatever makes you more comfortable. I always knew you were nothing without them on. Spineless.”
Aleks’ fists curl and Parker goes to step forward, but Sydney intercepts them.
“Cut the trash talk, Decker. You’ve said your piece, gotten your pitiful villain monologue out of the way. All of which has just shown that, at the end of the day, you wish you were The System. You were just looking to take them down due to some deep-seated jealousy and obsession. Honestly, I could have a restraining order placed against you in a heartbeat. Your temper tantrum has created a lot of damn work for me. Unnecessary work. And I’m done.”
“Alright then, Ms. Publicist. Show me the money if you’re so desperate to end this.”
Sydney flashes him the folded check, pinched between her second and third finger. Decker snatches it up, smiling at us as he unfolds it.
“Let’s see how much you think your secret is worth.”
When I thought it was Chase, I had some faith that whatever amount we offered would be enough because his main focus wasn’t the boys but me. Now, knowing that it’s Decker, that faith is shot like a bullet through a stained-glass window.
Decker’s smug smirk flattens dead, and he slowly looks up at us, eyes full of malice.
“What the hell is this?” His voice is low as he spits out the words. “What the hell is this!” He crushes the check in his hand and throws it at the ground. It bounces a few times before tumbling to a stop before my feet.
Eyes on Decker the entire time, I crouch down and pick up the ball. I let go of Aleks’ hand and uncrumple it, reading the delicately printed words.
Go fuck yourself.
I really hope there is a Plan C.
“Do you think I’m joking? That I won’t send this out?” Decker’s fingers crash across the keyboard as he brings up an email with a ZIP folder attached. My eyes skim across it, nausea roiling in my gut.
“No, Decker. I know you will.” Aleks reaches up to remove his mask, and my hand shoots out, grasping his bicep. I desperately search through the X’s for his eyes, wondering what the hell he is trying to do. Decker could have this whole place cammed up, streaming right now. I wouldn’t put it past him to turn this whole thing into a show, a boost for his own channel. Besting The System is his entire goal here; he wants to feel superior. He wants the kings to bow to him, surrender their throne.
Everything halts for a beat, and then all I hear is the tearing of Velcro. My hand falls to my side as the mask slips off to reveal his deep green eyes and a sinister grin.
“You were always going to release our secret, Decker. I know your gameplay. You’re as predictable as ever; it’s why you’ll never win against me.”
Decker shoots up, his chair slamming back against the desk.
“What are you talking bout?” He points to the mask in Aleks’ hand. “You just forfeited.”
“Nah, you’ve been ganked, mate.” Parker rips off his mask.
I look at Sydney, but she’s staring straight ahead. Expression completely neutral.
Something’s not right.
“No, no I haven’t,” Decker snarls. “Time’s up. Match over.”
He spins around, and I cry out, lunging forward to grab him. My hand grips his shirt, but it’s not quick enough. A woosh sounds out as he hits send, and I watch as the email disappears. Decker flips around, crazed triumph written over his face. “Triple kill.”
Parker just laughs. “Do you really think exposing us is going to ruin us?”
“You’re nothing without your masks.”
“Wrong,” Jackson’s deep voice announces. “Without the masks, we’re OP.”
I hear the ripping of Velcro again, and I turn to see Jackson peeling off his mask. His expression is one of pure boredom. He sighs, running a hand through his hair.
What is going on?
Why are they all so calm?
Why does it feel like I’m in the dark?
Aleks leans forward, bringing himself to Decker’s eye level. “You’re playing on my server, Decker. I make the rules here.”
“No, these are my rules. This is my game.”
“Then why are you three steps behind?”
“I’m not,” he shouts.
“Oh? Are you sure?” Aleks nudges past him and stands in front of the desk. He begins clicking around, and I watch as he opens The System’s VOD channel. My eyes fall on their latest upload, timestamped ten minutes ago. The video has twenty thousand views already.