I closed my eyes and let the truth settle fully, without cushioning it.
Ray was not a victim.
He was a thief.
And whatever this money represented—whatever danger still circled it—I was standing at the center now.Alone.Clear-eyed.Awake.
A notification flashed across the screen.
Unknown Login Detected.
Location: Richmond, Virginia.
Another followed seconds later.
Account Access Verified.
Verified.
My mouth went dry.
Someone knew.
My hand flew to my cell phone with Creed’s name already waiting beneath my thumb.Muscle memory.Habit.The pull of a man who always fixed things.
I stopped.Just breathing for one second.
Calling him would be easy.Familiar.He would take control, neutralize the threat, make it disappear.And take me with it.
No!
I lowered the phone.
Whatever Ray had set in motion—whatever this was now—I needed to face it myself.
The house remained quiet.The girls slept on.
The danger wasn’t emotional.
It was real.
And it had my daughters’ names on it.
