Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
The question pounds in my head. Why wouldn’t he report any of this when it was clear the situation was deteriorating?
Money. It always comes back to money. People kill, lie, and cover things up because of it. Back then, Jay was going through divorce number two—two alimony payments bleeding him dry. Maybe that’s why he looked the other way.
But who was paying him?
I pull up financial records, corporation filings, anything that might lead to answers. And what I uncover leaves me with a sick feeling in my gut. This wasn’t just Jay ignoring a few fights. This was corruption—ongoing, blatant, and it stinks. “What the fuck, Jay?” I whisper, shaking my head.
The trail leads back to the corporation that owned Hope House, but there’s no information about them anywhere. It’s like the company never existed.
The cabin’s silence weighs on me as I stare into my now-cold coffee. My partner. His name was all over those reports, and I didn’t even notice it. I didn’t even think twice. Why would I?
Needing a fresh cup, I head to the kitchen. My hands shake as I pour the coffee, and I set the pot down harder than I mean to.
I need to get into his finances, figure out who was paying him. And my father’s reports. The thought makes me sick to my stomach, but I know I have to do it. I also need to track down the other officers who wrote reports from Hope House. They might know something, might hold the answers, but I can’t reach them from here.
No one is going to volunteer the truth. Trust feels like a luxury I can no longer afford.
I sigh, taking the mug back to my laptop. There’s more to find. I take another sip and settle in for a long day.
“Hello, kitten.” Damien’s deep voice startles me. I didn’t even hear him come in and for the first time since we met, the sound of his voice and the sight of him don’t immediately fill me with warmth. I love him, but right now my emotions are too raw to process anything other than betrayal. His gaze lands on my face, studying it carefully before his brows pinch into a frown. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I sigh, shutting down the urge to unload everything.
“Francesca, talk to me.” Damien gets to his knees, so we’re eye to eye, and he holds my face in his hands. “Something is clearly wrong, kitten. Tell me what I can do.”
It’s the look on his face that sets me off. The calm, the concern, as if he hasn’t been hiding things from me. As if a few comforting words will make everything better.
“What can you do?” The words explode out of me. “You can start by telling me the truth, Damien, for once in your life!” My words shock him as much as they shock me.
He pulls back, confusion written all over his face. “I’m always truthful with you. Where is this coming from?”
A sharp laugh escapes. “Truthful?” I ask, my voice dripping with disbelief. “Is that what you call it, Damien?”
His eyes narrow, the confusion giving way to something darker, more intense. “You don’t get to throw accusations around without telling me what’s really going on!”
“You. Jay. You’re both lying to me and cloaking it in a bullshit need to keep me safe. I don’t need either of you to keep me safe. What I need is the truth, goddammit. I need answers.” My heartbeat flutters inside my chest like it’ll just take flight and carry me with it, but I can’t let it. Not yet. I need to hear him tell me the truth.
“Frankie,” he growls. “I’ll always keep you safe.”
“I appreciate that, but right now that’s not what I need.”
His jaw clenches. “What do you need?”
I sigh, licking my lips. “I need to know how long you and Jay have been hiding things from me.” The words hang in the air, and I brace myself for his answer.
“What? Hiding things?” He shakes his head. “Let’s be clear. Hawkins is not my friend, and we’re definitely not working together.”
“So, you’ve known each other longer than you let on?” I cross my arms, waiting for his response.
Damien’s eyes narrow, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. “It’s not what you think. Jay was just another cop who came around Hope House. That doesn’t mean we were close or that we’re conspiring against you.”
“Then why hide it from me?”
“Because it doesn’t matter,” he snaps. “What’s important is what’s happening now, not something that happened fifteen, twenty years ago.”
“Bullshit!” I snap, frustration rising in my chest. “You wouldn’t hide something from me unless it mattered. What aren’t you telling me, Damien? I deserve to know.”
He exhales, his expression hardening. “It’s not that simple—”
“No, stop.” I cut him off, my voice trembling now, a mix of anger and hurt spilling out. “I’m tired of the excuses. I don’t need you to protect me. I need you to be honest. You keep dodging the truth, and I’m standing here, feeling like I don’t even know you anymore. I can't do this if you're going to keep shutting me out.”