secrets, and emotional intensity between Tony, Sandy, Jason, and Harold. This cha

pte

ily of

he heavens. It illuminated the grandeur of the house-the priceless artwork, the crystal vases, the antique f

black coffee as if he'd never left. He was freshly showered, sui

done

cking on marble warned

nd

lung to her every curve, her hair swept i

her. Last night still

, stopping at the f

ke a man memorizing the one painting he

tated. "

am

. She looked

ug down. "I

ped to him. "

ed the funds through a shel

k of the nearest chair.

a

'll bring down everything. The c

to go down wit

engagement was part business, part image. If Jason falls, I'll be painted as his partne

her. "Then help me. Help me prove

ink you can take them down cleanly? The

thing worse than getting you

ssed. The

n strode into the room, perf

this is

is shoulders squaring

ou two look like you've

"We were just discus

ed just slightly.

oor. "You should start preparing your st

re going to waltz back in, destroy my r

der. "I'm not here for tit

Justice is for saints

d. "But I'm no

room without

son Enterpris

ike a monument to control. Tony hadn't stepped into this building since the day securi

oardroom, whispers h

sat Harold Anderson, in a dark suit, flanked by Jason on one sid

oice cold. "I see you've

ked a remote. The screen behind him lit up with

to show you

embezzled funds to a company called Rivenhurst Holdings, ultimat

rdened. "Those

I have an original copy of the internal a

his throat. "Mr. Anderson, these are serious allegations. If true, th

xile wasn't punishment. It was a distraction. One that kept the Anderson

was dea

Sandy

ing but clear. "I've seen the files. I confronted

s burned. "

" Harold

one t

owly, looking

e company alive. Did I know Jason was siphoning money? Eventual

od. "And what do

looked

time in years, he

ghtful place. Let him rebu

is feet. "You're

," Harold growled. "Yo

at Tony. "Thi

tepped forward, gently but firm

r had r

st was onl

– Roofto

ars, hands tucked into his coat poc

t," she sa

to her.

dn't do anything. I just

r. "Why did y

," she said. "And pa

l in him trembling. "Then why

her hand... and slowl

ed it int

'm not his

g against hers. Their breath mingled in th

y for a

hispered. "There are more secrets. Mor

"Then I'll be

er-slow, ac

eclaim an empire... But to rebuild

cond, Sandy stayed in his arms, her head resting against Tony's chest as the hum of

ingered long in t

against his hip. H

wn nu

ed. "Tony

. Then a voice disto

nto graves better

stopped cold.

chuckle. "Check your mot

ic

red at t

back slightly.

eling. "Someone doesn't w

ned. "You think J

tyle. He's reckless but not subtle. This-this w

," she repeated. "W

this goes deeper than embezzlement. This isn't just about J

t. "You think... it

swer. He did

t – Anderson Es

or with an iron key Tony hadn't touched in years. The scent of aged leather and

found it-Elena Anders

heavier th

s slightly sad in her eyes. A few journals. Prescription

ed the

they tell you. There are things Harold never wante

the North Property. The vault behi

d turned

rd Sandy walk

t?" she as

ed her th

fingers tightening on the page.

found something she wasn't sup

im, heart pounding.

We go to the Nort

r – North Pro

st beyond the tree line outside the city, it used to b

nt of it now, flashlight be

es me chills,"

. "Means we're in

y floorboards echoing like a warning. Cobwebs hung like v

ay down into t

oming, and behind it, a faint out

a narrow tunnel leading to a

sta

ven know th

loser. "Do you

rs hovered o

hday," he

in. The lo

lt swun

cassette tapes, and a black

irst page of the bind

t money. It's ab

r document. Names. D

xperimenting. Using company money to f

d out," Sandy said. "

Maybe even board members. All part of a

ot just going to take back the company, Sandy. We're goi

allies. People we can trust. Whis

f someone warned me tonight

the vault. "You know

t her