Goodbye Forever Ex-Husband (by Ammund) novel Chapter 217

Chapter 217

ADRIAN’S POV

“The commissioner sent in an apology email this morning,” James said, his voice calm, as he sat across from me at the dining table. “He also stated that he had fired the guys who got you arrested and took the video down from the media. So, for those who didn’t see anything, you’re clean. And for those who did? Well, they’ll eventually forget it. They’ll brush it off as some kind of mistake, a glitch in the system. Just noise.”

The sound of the television buzzed in the background, some late morning news program I wasn’t paying attention to. I barely heard the cheerful voice of the anchor, too distracted by the weight of my thoughts. I didn’t look at James as he spoke. My knife sliced through the beef steak on my plate with slow precision, like it was the only thing I had control over at the moment.

I didn’t bother responding. What James said? I already expected it. That was always going to be the outcome. Officers like those, trigger- happy and arrogant probably thought they were making a name for themselves by coming after me. But they underestimated who they were dealing with. And like I told James from the moment it happened, they got what they deserved.

But that didn’t erase the deeper issue. The real problem had been gnawing at the back of my mind since sunrise, and it only grew louder with each passing hour.

Who the hell gave them that information?

That question had been playing on a loop in my head, circling like a vulture waiting for something to die.

Because those officers didn’t act on a hunch. Someone fed them details, specific, sensitive details. Someone close enough to me to know what happened with the Greysons. Someone who knew the truth, and turned that knowledge into a weapon.

A traitor.

It wasn’t just about the arrest. That was a symptom. A warning shot. If I didn’t act fast, if I didn’t find whoever was behind this, the next hit could be worse. Much worse. I’ve worked too hard, and buried too many secrets to let it all fall apart because of one Judas hiding in my

midst.

I leaned back in my chair, still not looking at James, my mind scanning through the possible suspects like a deck of cards.

It’s a short list.

Dan. My right–hand man. He was there with me the day everything went down with the Greysons. Not just him, his guys were there too. He’s seen the things I’ve done. Hell, he’s helped me do them. Dan has been loyal since day one. He’s stood beside me through chaos and calm, never asking for more than what he was owed.

But loyalty doesn’t always last forever.

Still, if Dan was the one who cracked, why now? Why this incident? Why not any of the dozen other secrets he’s sitting on? Why go to the cops about the Greysons, specifically? If it were revenge or blackmail, he could’ve gone bigger. More personal.

Then there’s James.

My best friend. My brother, in all but blood. I’ve known him longer than I’ve trusted anyone. We’ve survived the fire together. But it’s James who tried to stop me from going after the Greysons in the first place. He pleaded with me. Said I was crossing a line.

What if he still thinks that?

What if turning me in was his way of… punishing me?

The thought turned my stomach more than the bloody steak on my plate. I hated even considering it. But I had to be honest with myself.

Sentiment doesn’t belong in situations like this. Someone close to me is trying to dismantle everything I’ve built. If I let emotion cloud my judgment, I’ll be too late.

If he was the mystery person… it would be truly heartbreaking.

Just the thought made my stomach twist. I couldn’t bring myself to say his name, not yet. The idea that someone so close could betray me made everything else feel pointless. But no, I wouldn’t jump to conclusions. Not without proof. That’s how people lose everything, acting on hunches instead of facts.

Still, the doubt was there. Creeping. Infectious. Dangerous.

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