"I have a guy who's very good with financial records. Once we started looking, the pattern was obvious. But you'd have to know what you're looking for. Edgar Beauregard clearly doesn't."
I'm already thinking through the implications. "If this comes out?—"
"It would destroy both families. The Whitmores would be ruined. The Beauregards would be humiliated. And Savannah—" He pauses. "She'd be caught in the middle of it."
"She needs to know."
"Romeo." Luca's voice is cautious. "Think about this. If you tell her, if this comes out, you're not just ending her engagement.You're potentially destroying her family's business, her father's reputation. The fallout would be massive."
"She deserves to know what kind of man she's engaged to."
"Does she? Or do you just want to use this information to break them up?"
The question stings, because there's truth in it. But I push past it. "Is there more?”
Luca sighs. "I found some texts that indicate he wants to pressure Savannah to move up the wedding timeline. Maybe as early as Christmas, though I doubt her family would go for that. Not enough time to plan a big society wedding. But next summer, for sure. One of the breaks, when she could come home, and they could celebrate properly.”
My blood runs cold. "What?"
"Apparently, Thad's been pushing for it. He’s told his parents he doesn't want to wait. They're thrilled—think it shows he's serious about settling down."
My jaw clenches. That could be anything from a little less than a year to a few months away. I feel a growing sense of panic, a need to grab onto Savannah before he takes her from me. "He knows," I say slowly. "He knows she's pulling away. He's trying to lock her down before she can escape."
"That's my read on it too."
I'm on my feet, pacing, before I fully know what I’m doing. I’m running out of time to make Savannah see that she doesn't have to marry him, show her there's another option.
"There's one more thing," Luca says. "The reason he's embezzling. He's got gambling debts. Serious ones. To some very unpleasant people."
I press my lips together, considering. "How serious?"
"Seven figures. And the people he owes—they're not the type to accept payment plans."
The pieces click into place. "He needs the Beauregard money."
"Exactly. Marrying Savannah isn't just about family connections anymore. It's about survival. He's desperate, Romeo. And desperate men do dangerous things."
I think about Emma Hartwell, about all the things that have been covered up for Thaddeus Whitmore before this. "He's going to hurt her," I say flatly.
"Maybe. Or maybe he'll just use her family's money to pay off his debts and continue being a controlling asshole. Either way?—"
"Either way, she's not safe with him."
"No," Luca agrees. "She's not."
I'm quiet for a moment, thinking. "Send me everything you have. All the financial records, all the information about the debts. I want documentation."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know yet.” I can feel my teeth grinding together. I don’t know… but I’m going to figure it out, and soon. Before he can lock Savannah away for good.
"Romeo." Luca’s voice is lower, more serious now. "Be careful. If Whitmore finds out you're investigating him, if he realizes you're a threat?—"
"Let him try something. I'd welcome it."
"That's what I'm afraid of. You're not thinking clearly about this…"
I hang up before he can argue further.
