Liam's POVI grabbed the files from the chair then waved them casually at my father while trying to keep my facial expression neutral even though my heart was pounding. "Just going through some business documents that need reviewing before tomorrow. Nothing important."My father's eyes lingered on the papers for a moment longer than felt comfortable before he nodded slowly. "I didn't know you brought work to the hospital with you.""I had to grab them from my place when I was getting here." The lie came out smoothly but my hands wanted to shake so I gripped the files tighter. "Figured I'd use the downtime to catch up since I've been behind for weeks.""Makes sense I suppose." My father walked further into the waiting room then sat down in the chair I'd vacated. "Though I was hoping we could talk for a bit since Elijah mentioned you had something on your mind."I shot Elijah a look but he just shrugged apologetically while gathering his own things. "Actually I need to make some calls d

Liam's POVSarah gestured toward the menu on the table between us while settling into her chair like she had all the time in the world. "You should order something. Coffee at least. This might take a while to explain.""I'm not in the mood for coffee." My patience was already thin after the phone call with my father. "Just tell me what you wanted to show me."She studied my face for a moment then nodded slowly like she understood I wasn't here for small talk. "Alright. But some of this is going to be hard to hear so I need you to listen to everything before you react.""I'm listening."Sarah pulled the folder closer but didn't open it yet. "When you and I were still in college there was something happening that you didn't know about. Something involving that textbook I gave you a few months ago.""Okay?”She took a breath. "Mr. Edwards knew about those seed phrases. He was the one who took the book away from you back then. It wasn't stolen like you thought."My brain stuttered trying t

Liam's POVSarah stood there in the darkness, looking at me like she'd expected to find me here staring at her house surrounded by police tape. "You need to stop pressuring your father about anything. Just watch him for now without letting him know you're watching.""You're alive." The words came out stupid but my brain was still trying to catch up to the fact that she was standing in front of me when I'd been sure she was dead inside that house."Obviously." She glanced toward the crime scene then back at me. "Those bodies aren't mine. They're the people who came for me. The hitmen I warned you about earlier.""You killed them?""I defended myself." She said. "They broke into my house planning to eliminate me before I could tell you anything else about your father. I was ready for them."It seemed as if I lost the art of breathing. "How did you know they were coming?""Because I've been watching the same people you should be watching." Sarah moved closer. "Your father, Charles, and t

Liam's POVClaire's words stayed within me for a while as I tried to process what she'd just said about her family being involved in her father's death."Why would they kill him? What would they gain from that?""Control of the company, access to his assets, and freedom from his oversight." She stood up then walked to the window looking out at the city below. "My father was careful about how money moved through Harrington Tech. He audited everything and questioned irregular transactions. My mother hated that because it limited what she could take.""But killing him seems extreme.""Does it?" Claire turned to face me. "You've seen what people in this world do for money. How they justify murder as necessary. My father was worth more dead than alive to certain people.""Do you have proof?""Not yet. But I've been looking into things since his death." She came back to sit on the bed. "There are inconsistencies in the timeline. Questions about who was with him that day. Financial transfers

Liam's POVMy father stood there in front of Bellevue Square with his hands in his pockets looking at the building like he could see through it to what used to be underneath."The orphanage was called St. Catherine's. Small place. Maybe thirty kids at any given time. You were brought there when you were just a few months old.""What happened the night of the fire?" I asked while keeping my voice steady even though my heart was beating fast."Gas leak according to the official report. Started in the basement then spread through the building faster than anyone expected." His voice was matter of fact like he was reciting something he'd memorized. "Six people died. Four staff members and two children who couldn't get out in time."That didn't match what Sarah had told me. She'd said the fire was deliberately set. That someone had paid to have it done. That my father was involved. "You believe it was an accident?""I believe the official report is what the authorities decided happened base