An hour later, I sat on a bench outside the hospital, freshly bandaged. I scrolled through my phone until I found a number I hadn't dialed in years: Nathan Henson.
We'd been inseparable in high school. But after he went abroad for law school and I started dating Delgado, we drifted apart. To keep Delgado from getting jealous, I'd cut off contact entirely after the wedding.
Ten years. Gone in a blink.
I stared at the screen, thumb hovering over the call button. Finally, I pressed it.
"Alex? Is that you?"
His voice made my chest tighten. "Mm," I managed.
He still had my number. After all this time.
When I didn't speak, he chuckled nervously. "To what do I owe the pleasure? Don't tell me you're in trouble."
Same old Nathan. Still using humor to break tension.
"I... I need your help with something."
The words came out halting, reluctant. But I forced them through.
"Name it," he said instantly. "Where are you? I'm back in Riverdale. I'll come find you."
"I'm not in Riverdale. I'm in Seaside City."
"Seaside City." A pause. His tone shifted from surprised to focused. "Send me your location. I'm coming. Now."
Before I could protest, the line went dead.
Two hours later, the shop bell chimed. A tall, familiar figure stepped inside—Nathan Henson.
When his eyes found me, he rubbed the back of his neck, looking almost bashful.
"Hearing your voice... I couldn't just sit there." He shrugged. "Got a little excited."
"It's been so long. Figured I'd treat you to a meal."
His shy expression pulled a laugh out of me. It was only later I learned how he'd arrived so fast: private jet.
We caught up briefly, bridging the decade between us, before I laid everything out. All of it.
When I finished, Nathan shot up from his chair, face dark with rage.
"That animal." His fists clenched. "If that bastard were standing here right now, I'd kill him."
He rolled up his sleeves like he was ready to brawl. A genuine snort escaped me—my first real laugh in ages.
He thumped his chest, eyes locking onto mine.
"Leave it to me. I'll handle the lawsuit." His voice hardened with conviction. "We're going to destroy him."
Nathan handed me the dossier, his expression grave. "The more detailed the evidence, the better."
I scanned the list. Dealing with a man as controlling and vindictive as Alex Delgado required more than courage—it required strategy. Without tactics, he'd never let me go. He'd just tighten the leash.