“No, I should be fine.”
“Okay, sure.”
She stays for a few minutes, rambling about her opening testimony and the witnesses she plans to call. I nod when I’m supposed to, but my mind’s a million miles away. All I can think about is the envelope burning a hole on my desk.
As soon as she leaves, I pull it out and open it, adrenaline pumping through my veins. When I read the words, my entire world spins.
Do you finally want to know the truth? It’s in your parents’ office.
Look in the safe.
My attention stays fixed on the words, my heart knocking against my rib cage like it’s trying to warn me of something I don’t quite understand.
Maybe it’s a joke. Another twisted game to mess with my head. That would make sense. But something settles in the pit of my stomach, and it won’t let go.
I should toss it in the shredder and pretend I never saw it. That would be the sane thing to do. But my fingers fold the paper before I can think twice, slipping it into the front pocket of my purse.
Grabbing my coat, I smooth my expression into something neutral and tell my assistant I need to step out for the rest of the day.
If the safe is empty, if whatever thisthingis turns out to be nothing, then it all ends there. But if it’s not, if there’s actually something inside, something my parents have been hiding from me…
I can’t even let myself finish the thought. What could it possibly be?
God, this is insane.
I slide into the driver’s seat, my bodyguards settling into the SUV behind me. The letter sits buried in my bag, but it might as well be burning a hole through the fabric. I can’t stop thinking about it. What it means. What it could lead to.
I know I have to tell Aleksei. Not just because part of me is scared, but because I don’t want to face this alone anymore. He’ll help me figure it out and eliminate the threat if it comes to that.
A wry laugh slips out. Look at me, thinking like a goddamn Mob wife.
I don’t know if that should terrify me…or make me proud.
The wheels crunch to a stop in the narrow dirt lot, but I barely register the sound. My eyes lift to the vineyard ahead, and even though I’m technically the owner now, I still feel like a trespasser, knowing I’m about to get into my parents’ safe.
Do they even know he signed the majority share to me?
Doesn’t matter. Right now, all I care about is whether there’s any truth to the note.
As I climb out, I silently hope there’s nothing to find. I’m seconds from reaching the door when it swings open, and Ijolt back at the sight of one of the employees emerging with a clipboard tucked to her chest.
“Ms. Clark, how are you? Your parents are out walking the rows. Should I get them?”
“No,” I answer too fast. “I just…need to grab something really quick. You don’t have to bother them.”
“Okay.” She starts down the steps. “It’s nice to see you. Have a good day.”
“You too.”
The second she’s out of sight, I rush down the corridor and into the office, shutting the door behind me. My focus goes straight to the framed grape artwork on the wall. I lift it down carefully and set it aside, revealing the safe hidden behind it.
My fingers hover over the keypad for a heartbeat before I finally enter the code. My birthday. They have never used anything else.
A soft beep sounds, followed by the quiet click of the lock releasing.
My pulse spikes.
I pull the door open and start working fast, wanting to be done before my parents come in and wonder what I’m doing here.
