Page 9 of Fierce Lies
Macey chuckled. "You're probably right. Leo already said I'm on call if they need consultation. Once in the family, always in the family."
That was the truth of it. The Donatis never really let anyone go—not those they trusted. It was both comforting and confining.
I installed the audio devices next, small enough to be virtually undetectable unless someone was specifically looking for them. One under the desk, one near the computer, one by the visitor's chair.
"She'll be here at nine," Macey said, checking her watch. "I've got her paperwork ready, security badge, all that. First week will be training with me, then she's on her own."
I finished the installation and ran a quick test on my phone. All feeds were coming through clearly. "Let me know if she does anything unusual."
Macey raised an eyebrow. "Define unusual for an accountant. We're not exactly known for our wild antics."
"You know what I mean." I folded my arms. "Questions about certain accounts. Unusual interest in specific clients. Anything that feels off."
She nodded, suddenly serious. "I've been doing this long enough to know what needs protecting, Jackson. I won't let an amateur compromise anything in my last few weeks."
I believed her. Macey had been handling the Donati books through multiple federal investigations, rival family threats, and internal restructuring. She knew which numbers were real and which were necessary fiction.
"I know you won't." I closed the now empty case. "I'll be around if you need anything. I'm the IT advisor now. I'll be on this floor."
"Playing IT now? That's a step down from your usual intimidating presence floating around when Meredith is here." Her eyes twinkled with amusement.
I shrugged. "Just following orders."
"Aren't we all?" She turned to head back to her desk. "See you around, Graves."
I left the accounting department, checking the feeds once more before heading back to my regular duties. The cameras were working perfectly, capturing every angle of the small office. By nine, I'd be able to see exactly what kind of person Elena Peters was and whether she posed any threat to the family.
It wasn't the assignment I'd wanted, but in this life, you did what was needed. The Donatis had given me purpose after the military, structure when I needed it most. If they needed me to watch an accountant, then that's what I'd do.
Besides, there were worse jobs than keeping an eye on a pretty new hire.
4
ELENA
My hands trembled slightly as I pulled into the Donati Enterprises parking lot. I'd expected nice cars, this was a successful company after all, but the collection of vehicles surrounding me belonged in a luxury car showroom, not an office parking lot. Gleaming BMWs, Mercedes, Audis and even a few Porsches lined the spaces closest to the building.
I guided my Honda rust-bucket into an empty spot near the back, wincing at the grinding sound my brakes made. The contrast between my car and those around it felt like a perfect metaphor for my situation—an outsider pretending to belong.
I checked my reflection in the rearview mirror, tucking a strand of dark hair behind my ear and straightening my blouse. The navy pencil skirt and white button-up had cost more than I'd wanted to spend, but first impressions mattered. Especially when you were infiltrating a company to spy on your secret half-siblings.
I still couldn't believe I was doing this, that I'd even landed the job here. Ivy had found it far too thrilling, and was the wicked little voice in my eat every step of the way, urging me onward.
Landing me right here, in this parking lot.
"You can do this," I whispered to myself, gripping the steering wheel tight. "Just another accounting job. Nothing difficult."
Except it wasn't. This position was my ticket into the world of the Cassaros turned Donati—the family that had everything while my mother and I had nothing. The family that might have killed my father.
I'd jumped on the job listing the moment I saw it. An accounting position at Donati Enterprises—where Meredith Donati worked—felt like fate. From the photos online, it seemed Grayson was also involved, although he was not exactly listed on the website. My previous employer had been surprisingly accommodating when I explained I needed to take another position to help with my mother's medical bills, even offering to keep me on part-time remotely. Between that and quitting my waitressing job, I'd managed to free up enough time to focus on this new mission.
The background check had worried me. I'd just have to pray we'd not made it into my father's will, because the check would reveal who I was. If I'd been listed in the will with my mother, then my cover was blown before I even began. But no one had called me out yet, so either Anthony Cassaro hadn't acknowledged me in death any more than he had in life, or they hadn't connected the dots.
I grabbed my purse and water bottle, took a deep breath, and stepped out into the cool morning air.
The building loomed ahead, all glass and steel, at least fifteen stories tall. I smoothed my skirt one last time and walked toward the entrance, my heels clicking against the pavement.
The lobby was minimalist and modern—white marble floors, sleek furniture, and a massive reception desk where a woman with a perfect blonde bob sat typing. I pushed aside the instantKarenthought that bubbled up. Ivy really loved pointing them out to me. They were her favorite form of entertainment, and our small town sure had a few of them we got to see in the wild.
