Chapter 13
i jolted awake to unfamiliar surroundings, heart racing before I remembered where I was
Caspian’s penthouse. The guest bedroom with its ridiculously comfortable mattress and sheets that probably crest, more than my monthly rent.
My phone showed 5:47 AM and three missed calls from Isolde
“Where the hell are you?‘ she demanded when 1 called back, her voice thick with worry. Twe been freaking out all night!”
“Tim safe.” I moved to the window, watching dawn creep across Manhattan’s skyline, “Robert found me, Izzy. He knows where I live.”
“Oh my God. Her breath caught. “Where are you now? Do you need ine
“I’m at Caspian’s.” The admission felt like surrendering something precious.
Her silence spoke volumes before she finally asked, “Are you okay?”
“No.” The word came out raw, honest. “But I’m not running anymore.”
After hanging up. I found Caspian in the kitchen, hair damp from a shower, dressed in workout clothes.
The domestic normality of him making
ng coffee s struck me as bizarrely intimate more so than our night together six years ago.
–
“Morning.” He handed me a steaming mug, careful not to let our fingers touch. “Sleep okay?
“Better than I should have.” I took a sip, surprised he remembered how I liked it. “We need to talk strategy. For the case.”
His phone buzzed on the counter. Whatever he read made his jaw tighten.
“What is it?” I asked
contact found Robert.” He met my eyes, something dangerous flashing in his,
“He’s been staying at a motel near your apartment. Been there about two weeks.“
My hands went numb. That’s when the texts started.”
“This isn’t a coincidence, Sage. Victoria’s father hired him.
“Thats a serious accusation. But it made horrifying sense. “How can you be sure?”
He slid his phone across the counter. “Bank records. Robert received fifty thousand dollars frouka shell company owned by Palmer Investments three weeks
to me. To get to you?
The room tilted sideways. I gripped the
e counter to stay upright. They’re using him to get to
“And it ends now.” His voice held the steel that made him a leader on the field. “We hit back. Hard.”
“We can’t just
“Yes, we can.”
cut me off, green eyes blazing with a fury I’d never seen before.
They’re using your trauma as a weapon. Using the worst thing that ever happened to you to control as both.”
“It’s not that simple.” But what if
What if six years of running, of looking over my shoulder, could end? “What are you suggesting?”
counterattack. Your legal skills, my resources. He leaned forward, energy crackling around him.
“We expose Palmers illegal contract practices. File harassment charges against Victoria. Get a restraining order against Robert.”
“And your career?” The question slipped out before I could stop it. “If we do this-
“fuck my career.” The raw honesty in his voice made my heart stutter. “Some things matter more”
Chapter 13
Like what? I wanted to ask. Like me?
My phone chimed with Diana’s ringtone.
Her voice was sharp as a blade when I answered. “Where are you? The partners are meeting in an hour to discuss your… situation with Drake
“I’ll be there.” I glanced at Caspian. “With new evidence about Palmer’s contract manipulation.”
“That won’t be enough.” Diana’s voice dropped. “Victoria Palmer showed the ethics committer photos of you entering Drake’s building last night. They’re voting on whether to terminate you.”
Ice Blooded my veins. They can’t-
“They can and will unless you have something more compelling than contract disputes.” She paused. about to end your career, Sage.”
As 1 hung up. Caspian’s hands closed over mine. “What’s wrong?”
- “Whatever happened between you two in high school is
“They’re going to fire me.” My voice sounded distant, hollow. The ethics committee has photos of me coming here last night.”
“Victoria.” He spat the name like poison. She must have had someone follow us.”
“It doesn’t matter how she got them.” Panie clawed at my throat. Six years of work, of proving myself, all gone because-”
“Because of me. The pain in his voice made me look up. This is my fault. All of it
“No.” Surprising us both, I gripped his hands tighter. “This is Robert’s fault, Victoria’s fault. Her father’s fault. Not yours. Not mine.”
Something shifted between us, fragile as butterfly wings. Not forgiveness, not yet. But maybe understanding.
“We have an hour. I straightened, lawyer mode engaging despite my racing heart. “Show me everything you have on Palmer’s contract manipulation.”
He nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. And I’ll call my security team about Robert. Time to end this cat and mouse game.”
As we worked side by side, pulling together evidence of Paliner’s illegal practices, I felt something unexpected bloom in my chest,
Not trust, not quite. But determination, stronger than fear. The realization that running hadn’t protected me – it had only postponed the inevitable confrontation.
“Sage. Casplan’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“There’s something else you should know. About that night.” He handed me a worn envelope. “I wrote this the day after graduation. After Robert turned me
Inside was a letter, the paper creased from years of handling.
My eyes burned as I scanned lines written by a boy I thought had never existed – a boy who had fallen for the smart, fierce girl behind the glasses and scholarship status.
A buy who had searched for the words to explain a stupid bet that had groom into something real.
“You kept this?” My voice cracked. All this time?”
“I kept looking for you to give it to you in person.” The vulnerability in his eyes made my heart ache. “To explain that what happened between us wasn’t a game to me. That it was the first real thing in my life.”
My phone interrupted the moment, buzzing with a text that turned my blood to ice.
Running out of time, little girl. Your quarterback can’t protect you forever. Tonight, we finish what we started.
Caspian read it over my shoulder, his body tensing like a predator sporting poy. “Let him try.”
I should have been terrified. Instead, a strange calm settled over nie as pieces clicked into place. “We need to be at Morgan & Wright in thirty minutes. But first…”
“First what?”
Chapter 13
“First we set a trap‘ I met his eyes, seeing my own determination reflected back. “It’s time to stop running from predators and start hunting them.”
The elevator doors closed behind us as we headed down to the garage. My phone buzzed again – not Robert this time, but Isolde,
Someone broke into your
your apartment. Everything’s destroyed. The walls… Sage, there are messages written everywhere. Ecalled the police but you need to see
I showed Caspian the text, watching his expression darken.
This wasn’t just about threats anymore, Robert had escalated, crossed lines that couldn’t be uncrossed.
windshield wiper.
As we stepped into the garage, I spotted a small white envelope tucked beneath Caspian’s w
My name was written on it in handwriting I’d recognize anywhere..
“He was here,” I whispered. “While we were upstairs. He was right here.”
