“I won’t destroy her life.”
A low, dark growl emanates from Vaughn’s chest as he moves in front of me.
“That’s the second time you’ve threatened her,” he says quietly.
Andrés sighs. “This isn’t personal. It’s simply business. And in business, especially mine, weakness must be exploited. Not doing soisweakness in and of itself.” He walks over to a side table and picks up a manila folder.
“This,” he murmurs, turning toward us, “Is the evidence that will put Evelina in prison for kidnaping, torture, and attempted murder.”
“Excuse me?” I choke.
Andrés smiles as he walks over and drops it on the table in front of us.
“Several people saw us talking on the Knightsblood campus. Several others saw you get into my car with me and drive away, not to mention the CCTV footage.” His lips curl. “Your DNA is all over that car, with traces of my blood.”
I frown. “In what world does that make?—”
“There’s also the warehouse in Brooklyn rented under your name.”
My face pales.
“You were clever enough to use shell companies, of course,” Andrés sighs. “But any decent forensic accountant could trace the money back to you. And I imagine the authorities will have several questions indeed about the samples of my blood that will be found all over the small, windowless room where you kept me these last four months while I’ve been presumed dead.”
I swallow, my mouth going dry as Vaughn picks up the folder and starts to leaf through it. I turn to him, hoping to see an eye roll.
But he just stares at the pages, his jaw clenching tighter.
“Motive?” Vaughn finally growls. “You think the police will believe that a young woman like her with zero criminal past would randomly kidnap someone likeyou, or anyone for that matter, and lock you up in a basement for months?”
Andrés smiles coldly. “They will when they see the sworn affidavits testifying to her insanity and history of violence that her family’s been hiding.”
I stare at him. “What?”
He tsks. “You know, I thoughtIhad a bad relationship withmyfather. But the speed with which Pavel agreed to my offer to free him from that Russian situation in exchange for his sworn testimony wasbreathtaking.”
Pain stabs through me like a blade, twisting in my chest as my throat squeezes shut.
Oh my God.
I was wrong.
I’ve been trying to tell myself formonthsthat even with what he did, no matter what else, he was stillmy father. That we were family, and family doesn’t turn on family.
Roman tried to warn me, and now I know he was right. And when it clicks, I don’t even feel the need to accuse Andrés of lying.
Because I know in my heart he’s not.
“There’s also the testimony from your ex, Ethan,” Andrés sighs. “Now, credit where credit is due, he initially heartily refused. But he’s got that lovely new fiancée, and, well…” He smiles and spreads his hands. “He quickly saw reason.” He sighs. “Like I said, it’s just the way the game works.”
The room is silent. My hand tightens on Vaughn’s arm as I cling to him, feeling his muscles clench under my grip.
“So,” Andrés murmurs. “I’ll take the name of my half-brother now.”
Vaughn smiles darkly. “All that talk,” he growls. “All that posturing and clapping yourself on the back for being so clever.” Vaughn's eyes suddenly narrow. “There is no heir, you fucking idiot.”
Andrés grins. “Don’t play chicken with me, Vaughn. I’ll send the contents of this envelope to every DA, tip hotline, and news agency in New York. She’ll be behind bars within thehour.”
Vaughn just keeps smiling.
