CHAPTER 85

WILLIAM POV

“You don’t get to walk away,” I said before I could stop myself.

She looked at me, cold. “I do.”

I wanted to reach for her, to fold her into me and promise and lie and bargain until she fell asleep trusting me again. Instead my hands felt like stone at my sides.

“Haley,” I said, turning to her, voice rough. “If you’re serious — then do it. But not like some amateur operation. I want details. Names. Timelines. How she disappears and no one traces her back. I’ll pay. I’ll make it clean.”

Haley’s eyes snapped to mine. “We don’t do clean, Will. You know that.”

“Then make it the cleanest mess you can,” I said. “No cops. No publicity. I don’t want this dragged into anything worse.”

She hesitated. Then she nodded once, sharp. “Midnight. You need to be ready to cut her a line. I’ll give you the contact in an hour.”

The panic that had been curling under my ribs turned hot and bright. Action steadies me. Plans steady me. I barked orders before I knew I was doing it.

“Mateo,” I said,