Hellcat

Chapter 84

Matt and I moved down the street, my arm locked in his, and a cane in his hand, looking like any normal couple on an evening stroll. He had tucked his mask away into one of the deep pockets of the long coat Agent Nadeem had leant me to hide my little costume. I hid my mask in the other pocket and Matt had his dark glasses in place, completing the blind-man look.

We were listening as we walked, reaching out with all senses to see if anyone was following us. Matt paused, turning his head as if to glance back when we reached the base of a small staircase. Matt tapped his cane on the sidewalk twice, the two of us standing where we were and waiting. "Okay. There's nobody watching," Foggy spoke on the phone from the top of the staircase, near the entrance to the brownstone.

The plain, silver sedan pulled up in front of Matt and I, Nadeem and Brett getting out first. They both glanced around like they expected to see someone surveilling them. But we were alone on the block. I opened the back door of the sedan for Nadeem's wife and son, stepping back to let Nadeem get closer to them. "Straight up there, please," Matt muttered to them, gesturing to the stairs. "Nice and easy, no rush," I muttered, seeing the fear on his family's faces. "Go," Brett half-snapped at Nadeem after his family had passed.

The door to the brownstone was open, Bess Mahoney standing in the doorway to greet her frightened guests. "Thanks, Mrs. Mahoney," Foggy told her as Matt and I reached the top of the stairs. "Y'all ain't the only ones haunted by Wilson Fisk," was her response as Foggy and Brett stepped through the doorway. I stepped in next, waiting just inside for Matt. Mrs. Mahoney gently put her hands on the back of his shoulders, turning him to face the right way. "Thank you, dear," Matt told her, stepping into the house slowly. As if he didn't already know where the walls were.

Matt and I were in the house for only a few minutes, explaining some extra details to Mrs. Mahoney before stepping back out on the stoop. Brett had been helping the family settle in before coming outside and pacing the sidewalk. I tried to ignore the husband and wife fighting inside, but I caught pieces of it. Bits about lying, about the reason behind their marriage, even about their son, Sami, needing someone he could still trust.

"I'm sorry," Matt whispered beside me, pulling me from my thoughts. "For lying. For not telling you I was alive. Everything." Remaining where I was against the railing, I reached forward and too the hand Matt didn't have on the cane. "I forgave you a long time ago," I responded softly. He gave a gentle nod before squeezing my hand.

"When this is all over, we have to promise each other. No more lies, no more secrets. Not from either of us." My chest ached at his words. I was keeping a big secret right now. Inferno could be after me in a matter of days. They could capture me or kill me – or so much worse. But Matt said after this was over. After everything was over, we wouldn't keep secrets.

So I forced myself to think it was okay holding off telling him for now. We were already in the middle of so much shit that adding Inferno wouldn't help at all. So after this – after we dealt with Fisk – then I would tell him. I forced myself to think it was okay, and that I wasn't afraid. But I was terrified. "No more secrets," I agreed with a gentle nod.

The front door opened behind Matt and out stepped Foggy. "Mahoney really stepped up for us. Mrs. M, too," he muttered once he reached Matt's side. "Everyone in the neighborhood wants Fisk gone," he continued. "Foggy, you don't need to talk me into this anymore. I promised we'd do it your way, and we are," Matt reminded him gently. "Good. Cause it's gonna work," Foggy insisted. "Good. I hope you're right." Matt was quiet though, just standing for a moment before turning his ear towards the front door.

Glancing over his shoulder, I saw it open to reveal Agent Nadeem, peaking his head just out the door. "Hey, are we clear?" My small nod assured him enough that he stepped out onto the stoop. "So what now?" he asked us. "You're going to testify against Fisk, once you hire us to represent you," Matt told him firmly. "Represent me?" Nadeem asked in confusion. "As Nelson and Murdock: Attorneys at Law." It felt like a weight had been lifted, hearing Foggy say that again. like things were getting back to when they were good.