Page 35 of Midnight Rebel

I hesitate, a gnawing feeling in my gut telling me not to leave her. But I know I have no choice.

“Promise me you’ll be careful,” I say, my voice low and intense. “If anything feels off, anything at all, you call me immediately. Understand?”

Autumn nods, a soft smile on her lips. “I promise. Now go, be the hero I know you are.”

I pull her in for one more quick kiss before reluctantly letting her go. As I swing my leg over my bike, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s about to go wrong. But I push it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I call out as I start the engine.

Autumn waves, already heading towards The’s entrance. “I’ll be here. Be safe, Colt.”

A chill runs down my spine as I pull away, watching Autumn’s figure grow smaller in my rearview mirror.

I can only hope that by the time I return, it won’t be too late.

Chapter 11

Autumn

I watchColt’s taillights disappear into the darkness, a mix of emotions swirling in my chest.

The Manor looms before me, its gothic spires cutting sharp silhouettes against the night sky. As I make my way inside, the weight of what I’m about to do settles on my shoulders.

The halls are eerily quiet as I make my way to the office. My footsteps echo on the hardwood floors, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched.

I slip into the office, closing the door behind me with a soft click.

Hours pass as I pore over the numbers, cross-referencing dates and transactions. The more I dig, the more certain I become that this is deliberate, systematic fraud.

Payments redirected, expenses inflated, client contracts tampered with—it all points to an inside job.

I’m so engrossed in my work that I almost miss the footsteps in the hallway. My head snaps up, heart racing.

The door creaks open, and Frank Ward stands in the doorway, his bulk filling the frame. His sharp, calculating eyes narrow asthey land on me, then flick to the papers scattered across the desk.

“Miss Clarke,” he says, his voice deceptively calm. “Working late, I see.”

I force a smile, trying to keep my voice steady. “Just following up on a few leads, Mr. Wells. You know how it is with deadlines.”

He steps into the room, closing the door behind him. The soft click of the latch sounds like a gunshot in the tense silence.

“Leads, huh?” Frank’s eyes never leave mine as he moves closer. “And what kind of leads might those be?”

I stand, putting the desk between us. “Oh, you know, just some background on The Manor’s history. Nothing too exciting.”

Frank’s lip curls, his polite facade cracking. “Cut the bullshit, Miss Clarke. We both know what you’re really looking for.”

My heart pounds, but I force myself to stand my ground. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He slams his hand down on the desk, making me jump. “Don’t play dumb with me! I’ve seen you snooping around, asking questions. You’re digging into things that don’t concern you.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. No point in pretending anymore. “Actually, Mr. Wells, I think they do concern me. And a lot of other people too. Care to explain why over half a million dollars is missing from The Manor’s accounts?”

Frank’s face contorts with rage, his calm demeanor evaporating. He’s around the desk in a flash, his hand closing around my arm in a bruising grip.

“You little bitch,” he snarls. “You have no idea what you’re meddling with.”

I try to wrench my arm free, but his grip is like iron. “Let me go,” I demand, my voice shaking despite my best efforts.

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