Liam's POVI turned and walked back into the apartment. Claire followed me inside and closed the door behind us. She grabbed my arm and spun me around to face her."What just happened out there?" Claire asked and her voice was shaking. "Why were they kneeling? Why did Michael's father call you Lord?"I looked at her and realized I didn't have answers to give. "I don't know.""You don't know?" Claire repeated. "Liam you just killed three people and then Michael's father showed up and bowed to you and now you're saying you don't know what's happening?""I know what I did," I replied. "But I don't know why Michael's father reacted that way or what being an Ackerman really means.""Then find out," Claire said while her grip on my arm tightened. "Because whatever is happening it's changing you and I need to understand what I'm dealing with."I pulled my arm free gently. "I'm going to the Rossi mansion. Mr. Rossi knows more than he's told me and I'm done waiting for answers.""Now?" Claire

Liam's POVI woke up the next morning feeling like I hadn't slept at all even though I must have passed out at some point during the night. Claire was already awake and dressed sitting at the kitchen table with coffee. She looked up when I came out of the bedroom."Are you going to the office?" she asked."Yes," I replied while pouring myself coffee. "I can't hide here forever."The drive to Harrington Tech felt surreal. Everything looked the same as it always did but I felt completely different. Yesterday I'd learned that Charles was my biological father and that knowledge sat in my chest like a stone I couldn't swallow or spit out.When I walked into the building people greeted me. Employees I barely knew nodded and said good morning. Some of them even stopped what they were doing to acknowledge me as I passed.But I could see it in their eyes. The respect they were showing wasn't genuine. It was the kind of politeness people used when they were scared or trying to stay on your good

Liam's POVClaire and I walked inside together. The penthouse looked completely different with the Christmas decorations.The tree dominated the living room with ornaments catching the light and casting small reflections on the walls.Garland wrapped around the railings and small lights were strung across the ceiling.I headed toward the wine cellar while Claire went to the kitchen. When I opened the door to the cellar I found rows of bottles I'd never seen before.Premium labels that must have cost a fortune…I was quite sure Elijah was behind this because he was always doing things like that without asking — Buying expensive items and having them delivered when I wasn't aware.I smiled and selected a bottle that looked older than the others. The label was in French and I couldn't read most of it but the date showed it was from decades ago.I grabbed it and headed back upstairs toward the kitchen to get glasses.But when I walked in Claire was already there holding two wine glasses.

Liam's POVHow did this person get here? Since when have they been here?I didn't take a step forward or backward…My body stayed frozen with the cold metal pressed against my skull. I didn't even turn to look at whoever was holding the gun."Look at me," the voice said. Then I heard movement and fabric rustling. "I said look at me!"The gun pulled away slightly and I slowly turned my head. The man standing there had removed his mask and I recognized him immediately.It is one of Mr. Edwards' old enemies.A businessman who'd lost everything when Harrington Tech rose to prominence and pushed his company out of the market.I scoffed despite the gun still pointed at me. "You can't live with your own failure so you're here to kill me because of that?"The man pressed the gun harder against my head and I felt the barrel dig into my skin. "Shut up."But I didn't shut up. "The person you want dead is actually dead. So what do you want with me? I'm just their errand boy and that's the same a

Liam's POVSilence…The man holding Claire didn't answer my question. Just stood there with the knife pressed against her throat while his eyes stayed locked on mine.I knew from their stances that they wouldn't release Claire. They were here for one thing and they wouldn't leave without it. And even if I handed over the files they'd kill both of us anyway because we'd seen their faces and could identify them later.I scoffed and tried a different approach. "I'm at a disadvantage here. Why don't we do it this way? You release her and leave this vicinity. Make sure you never attack us again and the files will be kept safe by me."The person holding Claire shook his head slowly. "That's not possible."I doubled down. "If you don't leave the files will be automatically published for the public to see. But if you leave now you'll be safe as long as you don't threaten me again."The three men who were still standing looked at each other. Some kind of silent communication passed between the