Liam's POVIt was already morning and I was still thinking about the message written in red on Elijah's wall when my phone buzzed with a text from one of the senior Rossi family members. They wanted me to attend a private business function that evening where several influential investors would be gathering to discuss potential partnerships and I needed to represent the family's interests.I typed back immediately that I didn't want to be seen in public because too many people were already asking questions about my connection to the organization and every appearance I made increased the risk of exposing everything I was trying to keep hidden.The reply came back within seconds stating that I could act as the representative for now without revealing my position as Don and that my presence was required because important deals were being negotiated that needed my approval.I stared at my phone and considered refusing again, but I knew that declining would only make the family question my

Liam's POVElijah and I spent the next two hours trying to trace where the photos had come from but every lead ended in nothing and we couldn't find any information about who had sent them to my phone. The number was a burner that had already been disconnected and the metadata on the photos had been scrubbed clean of any identifying information."This is pointless," Elijah said, closing his laptop with frustration. "Whoever sent these knows how to cover their tracks."I stared at the photos on my phone screen and felt very annoyed because someone had violated our privacy and was making it clear that they could reach us anywhere at any time."Give me. I can at least track the general location where the photos were sent from." I asked.Elijah opened his laptop again and pushed the laptop towards me. My fingers flew across the keyboard as I pulled up programs Elijah didn't understand and I ran searches through systems that probably weren't legal to access.After several minutes of typing

Liam's POVCharles and I made eye contact across the boardroom and neither of us looked away. The moment stretched out until it felt like everyone else in the room had disappeared and it was just the two of us locked in a silent battle of wills. His eyes were cold and calculating and I could see the satisfaction in them at having won this round against Claire and against me.Finally Charles broke the stare and turned to address the room one last time before leaving."Before I go, I have to ask," he said with mock curiosity in his voice. "Where is the actual owner of Harrington Tech? Surely he should be present for such an important decision about his company's future."No one answered because most of the board members had no idea who really owned the company or that there was even a question about ownership beyond what the legal documents showed."Is he a crybaby?" Charles continued, his voice dripping with contempt. "Too scared to show his face when real business decisions need to be

Liam's POVI prepared for the dinner with more care than I usually took with my appearance and stood in front of the hotel mirror adjusting my tie until it sat perfectly straight. The suit I wore was expensive and fit me well and I looked like someone who belonged at a table with wealthy people instead of someone who should be serving them.When I arrived at the Harrington estate, the same butler who had looked down on me during my first visit opened the door and his eyes widened slightly when he saw how I was dressed. He led me through the familiar hallways to the dining room where the family was already gathering for the meal.I walked into the room and saw them all seated around the long table with their wine glasses and their superior expressions and I felt something shift inside me as memories flooded back. I remembered being in this house years ago when I used to scrub these same floors on my hands and knees while they walked past me without acknowledging I existed.I remembered

Elijah's POVI had been working late at my apartment going through case files when I realized I needed some documents Liam had borrowed from me last week about corporate restructuring.He had texted earlier saying I could come by his hotel room anytime to pick them up since he would be out for most of the evening at some family dinner.The hotel lobby was quiet when I arrived just after ten at night. I took the elevator up to Liam's floor using the spare key card he had given me for emergencies. When I let myself into his room, I called out his name just to make sure he wasn't back yet but got no response.The room was messier than usual with papers scattered across the desk near the window. I walked over to look for my files among the chaos of documents Liam had been reviewing. Most of them seemed to be financial statements or property records that meant nothing to me until one particular letterhead caught my attention.Rossi Family Holdings.My hands froze over the papers as I star