Page 161 of Broken Blades

Justice.

Finally.

Not the way I'd planned it—messier, louder, more public than I ever intended. But it didn't matter. The truth was out. The man who destroyed my life was finally facing consequences. Barbara too.

I should've felt triumphant.

Instead, I just felt… tired.

And ready to go home.

I grabbed my phone off the passenger seat and typed quickly.

Be home soon. Picking up takeout.

The reply came almost immediately.

Okay

That little red heart.

My chest tightened, like something inside me that had been clenched tight for years finally loosened.

I stared at the screen for a second longer than necessary, then set the phone down and shifted into drive.

The parking lot lights blurred past as I pulled onto the main road. The city sprawled ahead, neon signs and streetlights cutting through the early winter dark.

Somewhere behind me, the Harrington empire was collapsing. Investors scrambling. Lawyers circling. Media sharks smelling blood in the water.

And I didn't care.

Not anymore.

Because waiting for me at home was a girl who chose me over her father. Who walked out of that office with her head high and her hand in mine. Who kissed me like I was worth something, even when I didn't believe it myself.

I turned onto the highway and pressed down on the gas.

Justice was fine.

But getting back to her?

That was everything.

I didn't go to the restaurant.

My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary as I drove across town, away from the familiar route home. Away from takeout and normalcy and pretending I was calm.

I wasn't calm.

Not even close.

The address had been easy to find. Too easy. A quick search through Chastity's old social media tags, a couple cross-references, and there it was—Connor's apartment building in a part of town that looked like it had given up trying years ago. Cracked sidewalks. Peeling paint. A streetlight flickering like it couldn't decide whether to stay on.

I parked outside and killed the engine. Sat there for a second.

My pulse thudded steady in my ears. My knuckles already tight, already ready.

He'd grabbed her wrist at that merger party. Put his hands on her. Made her uncomfortable enough that she slapped him in front of a room full of investors.