Page 127 of The Truth of Us

“You realize what you’re asking?” he asked.

And it would be a real big fucking deal if what I thought turned out to be true.

“Yes.”

“And you realize Alexander Montgomery has probably buried half of it?”

“Then dig carefully.”

Rowan exhaled. “You’re playing with something that could destroy you.”

“I know.”

“No,” he said. “I don’t think you do.”

I closed my eyes. All I could see was Harper flinching when that reporter said history was repeating itself.

“I think somebody lied. I think it was a targeted attack,” I said quietly.

“And if you're right?”

I opened my eyes. “Then Harper deserves the truth.”

Rowan was silent for a long moment. Then he said, “I’ll look.”

The line disconnected. I lowered the phone and stared out the window. My driver pulled away from the curb, but my attention stayed behind us. With the woman I had hurt.

My phone started buzzing before we reached the next light. Julian. Caleb. Three board members. Northwell legal. The communications director. Then, a stock alert. Northwell Holdings dipped, then dipped again. I watched the numbers fall.

For a second, old instinct twitched.

Contain. Control. Protect.

Then I thought of Harper on that sidewalk, with her fingers gripping her father’s arm, her face holding steady while strangers clawed at wounds they had no right to touch, and I turned the phone face down. Let the numbers fall. Let the board panic. Let investors whisper. Let the whole fucking world decide what kind of man I was. For once, they might even be right. But Harper was safe in her car, away from the cameras. And for the first time in my life, I did not care what protecting someone else cost me.

31

HARPER

The interview found me before I went looking for it. I was halfway through reviewing grant proposals in my father's office when Emily Bennett sent me a message.

Emily:

Don't watch it.

Thirty seconds later another appeared.

Actually... maybe watch it.

I smiled despite myself.

Should I ask how you got my number or tell you how very helpful you are right now.

Three dots appeared almost immediately.

I'm trying my best.

Then another.