Page 296 of Fatality

They shake uncontrollably.

My fingers immediately begin fidgeting with my rings.

Evren steps in behind me.

I can feel the murderous aura radiating off him.

His arm snakes around my front and settles across my collarbone, holding me steady.

“Well,” Ren begins, “we got the file open. It took a week, but we finally broke the encryption.”

He pauses.

“There was an anonymous letter.”

I frown.

“Officially, it was an accident. But off the record, the true heir of the Laordie empire was murdered... by accident.”

My brow furrows deeper.

What the hell does that mean?

Murdered by accident?

Ren continues before I can process the words.

“They were planning to kill you, Riven.” He lets the sentence hang in the air. “The goal was to make your brother submit because he had ties to the Lower Layers. The letter doesn't say who those ties were with, only that the people behind it hacked the security cameras in your parents' penthouse. They saw you running downstairs... so they changed targets.”

My knees buckle, every drop of blood drains from my body.

Evren's arm tightens around me, holding me upright.

“Professionals, then.” Evren says at last.

Ren nods.

“And nothing else?” Evren asks, his thumb absently tracing slow circles over my shoulder.

“No.” Ren exhales. “The encrypted archive is why it took a week instead of a few hours. There were the Enforcers' reports, the medics' reports... more pictures.”

He pauses.

“Mostly of Kyle's body on the scene and on the examination table.” Silence. “And your parents' testimonies.”

For a long moment, no one speaks.

Evren's hold tightens, I can feel his heartbeat quickening against my back.

Ren avoids looking at me.

All of this... For that.

Nothing that points to the person who orchestrated Kyle's murder.

Just an anonymous bastard who decided to send a letter.

But why? Why now?