Maya stops pacing. “I need more than rumors. I need a grenade. A contract, an email, a recording. Something that proves blackmail.”
Clara jumps in. “Something that is an NCAA violation.”
“Exactly,” Maya says.
Then Declan speaks.
“I have his passwords.”
Every head swivels to him. He sits forward, forearms braced on his thighs.
“He gave me access years ago. Donor portal, personal accounts. Said he wanted me to ‘learn the family business.’”
Zoë stares. “Your father gave you access to the empire?”
“He never changes them,” Declan says, voice cold. “Because he’s arrogant. He doesn't think I'm smart enough to use them against him. He thinks I’m tame.” Declan’s laugh is short and sharp. “Guess I’m finally proving him wrong.”
Genny types rapidly. “It’s a start, but the donor portal won’t show the real dirt.”
“Hadden & Croft,” Dante says quietly from the window. He doesn’t even turn. He just speaks into the room like he knows the weight of the name will hit the floor like a blade.
Maya’s eyes sharpen instantly. Cole nods.
“What is that?” Zoë asks.
“Alistair’s firm,” Dante says. “My grandfather sat on the bench with the senior partner. My family has been in the legal world for three generations—I know where they bury the bodies. That firm is where Alistair keeps the things he doesn't want the IRS to see.”
“This is where everything gets buried,” Maya agrees.
Genny pushes her glasses up. “If I can get into a terminal in his Athletics office, I can tunnel into the firm’s system without tripping alarms.”
My breath catches. The Athletics building. Dad’s hallway.
“So we need a distraction,” I say aloud.
Everything stops. Everyone looks at me.
My cheeks go hot but I hold their eyes.
“I grew up in that building. I know every hallway. I can get someone into the donor wing without questions—if we create the right kind of chaos.”
Zoë grins like a wolf. “Me and Gio.”
“Obviously it’s us,” Gio says proudly.
“Children,” Dante murmurs, but his mouth twitches.
Clara crosses her arms. “I’ll run interference. No one ignores a compliance threat.”
Adrian adds, “I’ll pull any assistant coaches into another hallway.”
Cole straightens. “I’ll come with Maya. I know their tactics.”
Genny nods. “Okay. We need a point person inside the donor hallway. Someone they won’t question.”
I swallow. “I can do that. I can walk Genny down with a meltdown about scheduling conflicts. No one will blink.”
Everyone looks at me—at once—but this time it’s not pressure. It’s respect.
