The Chief nods proudly, puffing up his chest. “One less problem on your hands. The suspect fits perfectly—history of addiction, prior charges, no one will ask questions.”
A sick heat rises in my stomach. I force myself to swallow it down and take a careful sip of whiskey, masking the tremor in my hand.
“Efficient as always,” my father says, raising his glass. “To closure.”
Nancy clinks her wine against his, the sound sharp and hollow.
I can’t move. The air feels tight, like the whole restaurant’s closing in. My father’s gaze flicks to me, encouraging me to react.
I manage a small nod and lift my glass halfway before drinking. The burn of whiskey on my tongue feels like punishment.
Because I know exactly what that arrest will mean for Leoni. Closure. An end. Even though it’s all a lie to protect the real culprits. And for the first time in my life, it bothers me.
When the conversation drifts back to politics and property deals, I pull my phone from my pocket under the table. A single message sits unread.
Anthony: It’s done. He’s in custody.
I type back three words.Warren:Keep her safe.
Then I lock the screen and look up, past the wine and forced smiles, to my father’s expression, self-satisfied, godlike.Untouchable.
When I walk into the office the next morning, she’s already here. Leoni’s sitting at her desk, chin resting on her hand, staring through her screen like she’s a million miles away. The usual spark in her eyes is gone, replaced by something quieter, heavier.
“Morning,” I say.
She jumps slightly, blinking like she’s surfacing from underwater. “Oh. Hey.”
I stop beside her desk. “You okay?”
She hesitates, then nods, though it’s clear she’s not. “There’s been progress,” she says finally. “In Isaac’s case. The police arrested someone last night.”
I control my expression, pretending to be surprised. “Really? That’s good news, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice cracks a little. “They wouldn’t tell us who. Just that they’ve got someone.” She glances up at me, eyes searching. “Could you…maybe find out who it is?”
I frown. “Leoni, I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
Her brows lift, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “You forget I’ve seen how people act around you. You know people, police, lawyers, criminals.”
The words hit like a slap. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m not stupid. I’ve seen the dodgy people you meet. The money passing hands. You’ve got a bodyguard. And I know what I signed.”
Something cold settles in my stomach. “What yousigned?”
She nods. “That NDA. You think I didn’t wonder why a secretary needed one of those? It’s not exactly normal, is it?”
I laugh, it’s sharp, defensive. “Jesus, Leoni. I made you sign that because I’m rich, not because I’m running some underground operation. You’d be shocked how many women have sold stories about me. The NDA keeps things clean.”
“Right,” she says quietly. “So it’s about protecting yourself, not hiding anything.”
Her voice trembles slightly, and guilt hits me square in the chest. I shouldn’t be angry, but I am. Because she’s too close to the truth, and because I can’t stand the thought of her hating me for it.
Before I can stop myself, I grab her arm and pull her to her feet. “What do you think you know, Leoni?” I hiss, dragging her toward my office. Heads turn as I slam the door behind us.
She yanks free, eyes wide and wet. “I don’tknowanything,” she says, her voice breaking. “I just… I just need to understand why my brother’s dead. And why everything in my life has been torn apart.”
The anger drains out of me as quickly as it came. Her face crumples, her shoulders shaking as tears spill over.
