Haunting-Adeline
Chapter 23The Manipulatorou’re going where to do what?” Daya barks through the phone. Isigh, closing my eyes in resigna on. “And with who? Zade? That’s“Yyour stalker’s name?”“Yeah.” I bite my lip. “I don’t know if I really had a choice…” I trail off.Because that’s not en rely true. Zade was going to say no to Mark. But Imade him say yes. Mark has informa on on Gigi and supposedly hasvaluable informa on for Zade as well.“Look, I don’t know what this man is into, Daya. But whatever it is, it’sreally fucking serious. And I can say that he really did try to avoid thesitua on.”“How the hell did this even happen, Addie?” Daya asks, frustra onevident in her tone.“I was working on my manuscript at Bailey’s when Zade and a fuckingsenator approached me, introduced himself and said he wanted to meetZack’s girlfriend. Zade was staring at him like he wanted to murder him.And he asked me to go along with it un l he could get rid of Mark. Longstory short, Mark’s father was best friends with my great-grandfather, John.He said he’d tell me more if I agreed to go to the party.”“So the man manipulated you,” Daya deadpans.I sigh. “Pre y much,” I say, before rubbing my lips together.Daya stays silent, and if it weren’t for her angry breathing on the otherline, I’d think she hung up. Wouldn’t blame her if she did.I am going to a party with my stalker.All for some informa on that might not even help me.“Addie, what does this man do for a living?”I blink. “I’m not en rely sure, to be honest,” I answer truthfully.“He’s not Z, is he? Because that would be fucking insane, but it wouldalso make sense.”
I frown. “What makes you think he is? Do you know a lot about thatorganiza on or something?"Daya hesitates before she admits, "That's who I work for."My mouth pops open.I've heard of Z from social media and news outlets. It's a massivevigilante organiza on built around destroying the government. A we for thepeople type of org, and basically the government's public enemy numberone.I knew Daya was a vigilante of sorts, I just didn't know she did it for Z. Inthat case, it doesn't sound like she is aware of a connec on between Markand the organiza on.And if Zade is indeed who she thinks he is, that means I'm now involvedin something so much more than I thought it was, if even Daya is ignorantto it.God, could Zade really be Z? It would explain his inexplicable ability toget past my security cameras. But more than that, it would explain himbefriending and hiding his real iden ty from a goddamn senator. How thehell did I get so unlucky that the ul mate hacker would stalk me?I never really stood a chance.“I don’t know, Daya. I honestly don’t. I just… really want to solve thiscase. Gigi didn’t deserve what happened to her. And I think Mark might beable to give us some insight on the case.”“Addie, I love you, but you’re crazy. There are other routes to look at,you don’t need to go to a goddamn senator’s party with a fucking stalker toget a bit of informa on. A stalker that might be a world-renowned hackerand vigilante.”She’s right.Totally valid point.But I'd be a liar if I said going to the party tonight didn't s r something inmy chest that feels sublime. The thrill. The adrenaline rush. The danger. Its rs something deep in my core, too.It calls to me and I’m too weak to ignore it.But that’s something that I can never explain to Daya. She’s logical.Reasonable. Smart. And she’s not an adrenaline junkie like I without adoubt am. She doesn’t get a thrill out of danger.I should’ve been a stunt double or something.
- Page 203 and 204: Chapter 19The Shadowdon’t regret
- Page 205 and 206: Sighing again, I pluck the pack of
- Page 207 and 208: Addie’s great-grandmother could
- Page 209 and 210: She snorts. “You really think I
- Page 211 and 212: are ever taken seriously anyways, w
- Page 213 and 214: Immediately, he dives for cover, pu
- Page 215 and 216: exactly alike when laid on their de
- Page 217 and 218: I enter into what looks like a foye
- Page 219 and 220: While Mark was burning his cigar on
- Page 221 and 222: Addie won’t ever have to worry ab
- Page 223 and 224: wary, and then resigned. Tears line
- Page 226 and 227: Chapter 21The Manipulator’m stewi
- Page 228 and 229: about the gun incident. I don’t t
- Page 230 and 231: Maybe I just want to be able to say
- Page 232 and 233: My world spins as I stumble up the
- Page 234 and 235: And then I climb up on the bed, in
- Page 236 and 237: I’ll never tell him how glorious
- Page 238 and 239: When the last bit of cum drops from
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- Page 243 and 244: As Mark drones on about some bill h
- Page 245 and 246: “S’all good,” I say calmly, s
- Page 247 and 248: Addie shakes her head, closing her
- Page 249 and 250: “Oh, I know that case!” Mark ex
- Page 251 and 252: Sighing, I push out of my chair and
- Page 253: wild with hunger. I’m ravenous an
- Page 257 and 258: Zade picks me up in a classic Musta
- Page 259 and 260: “The hell are you doing, Zade?”
- Page 261 and 262: I glare up at him, tears s ll linin
- Page 263 and 264: Oh, what a fine gentleman you’re
- Page 265 and 266: Ugh. The arrogance.His face turns s
- Page 268 and 269: Chapter 24The Manipulators there an
- Page 270 and 271: downright boring.The inside is even
- Page 272 and 273: another senator. I guess the story
- Page 275 and 276: Chapter 25The Shadowf I spend anoth
- Page 277 and 278: The girl gets off on fear. The mome
- Page 279 and 280: “If you were my li le girl, I wou
- Page 281 and 282: I groan, the feel of her ass diggin
- Page 283 and 284: Releasing her face, my hand dri s t
- Page 285 and 286: Chapter 26The Manipulator’m seeth
- Page 287 and 288: if I had to guess on what type of m
- Page 289 and 290: "Now, of course, when my father tol
- Page 291 and 292: told John he didn’t give a shit w
- Page 293 and 294: I open my mouth, ready to pry, but
- Page 295 and 296: “Because you’re not listening.
- Page 297 and 298: "You trauma zed me."He leans down a
- Page 299 and 300: “Or what?” he challenges. I sig
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Chapter 23
The Manipulator
ou’re going where to do what?” Daya barks through the phone. I
sigh, closing my eyes in resigna on. “And with who? Zade? That’s
“Y
your stalker’s name?”
“Yeah.” I bite my lip. “I don’t know if I really had a choice…” I trail off.
Because that’s not en rely true. Zade was going to say no to Mark. But I
made him say yes. Mark has informa on on Gigi and supposedly has
valuable informa on for Zade as well.
“Look, I don’t know what this man is into, Daya. But whatever it is, it’s
really fucking serious. And I can say that he really did try to avoid the
situa on.”
“How the hell did this even happen, Addie?” Daya asks, frustra on
evident in her tone.
“I was working on my manuscript at Bailey’s when Zade and a fucking
senator approached me, introduced himself and said he wanted to meet
Zack’s girlfriend. Zade was staring at him like he wanted to murder him.
And he asked me to go along with it un l he could get rid of Mark. Long
story short, Mark’s father was best friends with my great-grandfather, John.
He said he’d tell me more if I agreed to go to the party.”
“So the man manipulated you,” Daya deadpans.
I sigh. “Pre y much,” I say, before rubbing my lips together.
Daya stays silent, and if it weren’t for her angry breathing on the other
line, I’d think she hung up. Wouldn’t blame her if she did.
I am going to a party with my stalker.
All for some informa on that might not even help me.
“Addie, what does this man do for a living?”
I blink. “I’m not en rely sure, to be honest,” I answer truthfully.
“He’s not Z, is he? Because that would be fucking insane, but it would
also make sense.”
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