felt diff

ante. No one else seemed to notice-but Maya felt it like static. Every email, every hal

s came wit

adding up. Jared's manipulation wasn't limited to one contract. The deeper she looked, the more it s

y'd been t

uzzed. Unkn

, unease curling

wered.

through the line. Col

ying detec

oze in

she sai

Congratulations on the Valerio job. Must be f

do you

to remind you that I'm st

ded th

e down. The sound of Ethan's voice after weeks

. How long until he knew

urther, her screen pinged

e Room 4.

d her noteb

t off, sleeves rolled up, leaning over a table of sp

it?" sh

right. Jared's fraud go

, eyes scanning the

ement," she whis

cracked under pressure. Jared used fake shell companies. D

t the boar

y think I'm the one trying to sabotage the family.

gaze. "So w

the inside. Someone who handled the books. If we get a whi

f we d

this place down be

open. Dante's a

o-your brot

t her pu

sion darkened.

ectly practiced smile. Sharp suit, Rolex watch, every inch t

smirk. "Still working la

between th

ck in. I heard rumors you were digging around old de

te deals with liars

areful, little brother. You'r

tarting to so

hile it lasts. When this house of cards

r slamming just hard

n't sleep

nd Dante's silence. She stared at the ceiling of her small apar

s in t

she remembered how Dante had looked that nig

nd the more she helped him, the more she realized

laptop, and went back i

ime to d

pped into Dante's office w

omething,"

exhausted but ale

folder on

icer. Resigned suddenly two years ago after the Merge

left right after I confronted Jared abou

t," Maya said. "But I thin

forward. "How

already r

ebrows

was with Valerio now and wanted to talk about some incons

r a long moment. Then-

just an anal

replied.

uiet coffee shop near

ight, eyes wary but sharp. When Dante sat

said to him. "Thought I'd

e said. "She's the one who fou

slowly nodded. "I shoul

hen, I was scared. Jared had power, friends on the board. S