“If you ever try to tell anyone about our private matters again, I will destroy you, Cora. Do you understand me? I’ve invested too much in this family’s reputation. One more word to your teacher and you’ll regret it more than last time. No one will believe you anyway. They never do.”
The tape continues with the sound of something shattering, then my younger voice apologizing repeatedly, followed by a scream—my scream.
I don’t realize I’m crying until Ryder gently takes the recorder from my hands. He pulls me against his chest as sobs rack my body, years of fear and silent suffering pouring out all at once.
“It was right there on tape,” I gasp between sobs. “All this time...”
Ryder holds me tight as I sob, one hand stroking my hair while the other rubs circles on my back. He doesn’t offer empty platitudes or try to shush me. He gives me something I’ve never had—the space to fall apart safely.
“Let it out,” he murmurs. “I’ve got you.”
The door opens wider, and Dominic appears, concern etched across his normally controlled features. He takes in the scene—the boxes, the tapes, my tear-streaked face—and approaches with purposeful steps.
“What happened?” he asks, his voice low and steady.
Ryder explains as Dominic kneels beside us, picking up the recorder. His jaw tightens as he listens to a fragment of the tape.
“We need to secure these immediately,” he says, already pulling out his phone. “I’ll have a safe installed in the penthouse by tomorrow. Today, we’ll put everything in a safety deposit box at my bank.” His efficiency feels like armor being built around me. “And I’m upgrading the security system here. If Pike even thinks about coming near you...”
“He won’t get past the lobby,” Liam says, appearing in the doorway. He joins our circle on the floor, carefully examining the hospital forms. His attorney’s eyes scan each document with precision. “This is admissible evidence, Cora. The contemporaneous documentation, the hospital records showing patterns of injury, and these recordings—they create a compelling timeline of abuse.”
He looks up, meeting my eyes. “You’ve built yourself a case. A strong one.”
I look around at each of them—Ryder still holding me, his warmth chasing away years of cold fear; Dominic giving each piece of evidence the same attention he gives his business empire; Liam already formulating legal strategies to protect me.
“I never thought I’d have anyone on my side,” I whisper. “And now I have all three of you.”
Dominic’s hand finds mine, squeezing gently. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“We’ll end this,” Liam promises. “On your terms.”
I lean into their strength, feeling something that I never believed possible—hope.
37
DOMINIC
The email from Maddox Holdings burns in my mind as I pour another glass of Cabernet. Dinner sits untouched before me—an elaborate pasta dish Ryder prepared that I’d normally appreciate. My phone buzzes with another message from my CFO, but I silence it without looking.
“You’ve been pushing your food around and not eating,” Liam observes, fork paused halfway to his mouth. “Something wrong?”
“It’s nothing.” The lie comes automatically. I’ve built my entire life around handling problems alone. Weakness isn’t an option.
But Cora’s eyes catch mine across the table. The vulnerability she showed us yesterday, with her evidence boxes against Pike, still hangs in the air between us. She shared her darkest secrets, her proof, her pain. And now she’s watching me retreat behind my walls.
“Pike got to Maddox Holdings.” The words escape before I can stop them. “They pulled their forty million in funding for the harbor development this afternoon.”
The table goes silent. I take a long drink of wine to avoid their gazes.
“That’s your anchor investor,” Ryder says quietly.
“Was.” I set my glass down harder than intended. “Now I have seventy-two hours to secure replacement funding before the other investors can trigger their contingency clauses and walk.”
“God, Dominic,” Cora reaches across the table, her fingers brushing mine. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” I find myself taking her hand. “Pike’s been making calls all day. Suggesting there might be ‘ethical concerns’ with doing business with me. Pure fucking theater from a man who beats his daughter, but enough to spook Maddox.”
“We can fight this,” Liam says, already strategizing. “I still have contacts at Kimball Financial who owe me favors.”
