Page 113 of The Daredevil

“You had all these years to come after me. Why now?” When he didn’t answer, I added, “Does it have something to do with your father’s death? I heard about it on the news. He got himself into some shit.”

Dominic shot me a look that told me he knew something I didn’t. “My father was an abusive asshole. I don’t care how he died,” he said callously. “Did it ever occur to you why the police let you go so easily?” He studied me. “How you didn’t even have a record of any wrongdoing?”

I’d never even considered that, but now that he brought it up. What did Dominic know that I didn’t? I doubted he’d tell me.

“It’s because I’m an exceptional citizen.”

“I wanted to press charges, but the detective told me it would be difficult since we were all fighting. Normally, it would’ve been easy to pin something on people like you. My family has connections to the city, but the detective told me to let it slide.” A smirk slid onto his lips. “Someone made sure you had a clean record to attend college. Your life isn’t on the straight and narrow either.”

The news shocked me. Who had been helping me? Why?

“Maybe that someone believed I could be of service to society.” I gave him no indication that I was clueless. “I can’t help it if other people want to help me. Whereas youintentionallywant to destroy me because you can’t let go of a grudge. In a courtroom, ‘intention’ is very important. I’m sure Brittany Parker—whom you also fucked—will have a lot to say on the witness stand.”

“Get out!” He shot up from his chair and flung an arm at the door.

“Happy to.” I got up from my seat. “That email is just one piece of evidence. There’s more where that came from. If you know what’s good for you, leave me and mine alone. I can easily send you a bill for all the damages you’ve done to my global business. That alone will bankrupt you.”

“You destroyed my dream, my life,” he seethed.

“You cheated your way through high school. You ruined your life on your own. Besides, you made my life hell back then. Do you see me coming after you? You framed the former chief and forced him out of office. I have evidence of that too.”

Fuming, he stared at me for a long moment. “This isn’t over. I’m Chief of Police, and I’m going to make your life hell.”

It’s already over with your statement, fucker.

“Do you know how your dad died?” I asked. “Why was his body buried inside the wall of a garage? Are you connected to the same people who killed him?”

He glared at me. “I’m an asset to them. And you’re in my way.”

“So you know who killed your father? And you’re working for the same people?”

I considered the silence to be admission. How could he work for a dangerous organization when he knew what they’d done to his father?

“Just so you know, I can destroy a man just as easily as you can. Money can buy many things that don’t leave traces of DNA. Remember that when you touch what’s mine.”

His face twitched, probably already plotting while weighing the pros and cons.

Arriving home, I downloaded the recording of our conversation to my computer to be sent out to the news station upon my request. I deleted the sections with my threats. That wouldn’t benefit my career or research program.

The meeting was to coax Dominic into incriminating himself. He wasn’t the smartest guy back then, and I made an educated guess nothing had changed. My sudden appearance ensured he wouldn’t be prepared to have cameras at the birthday party. But I was prepared.

Dominic didn’t even flinch at my threats, which meant he had someone powerful backing him. Or he already had a backup plan.

Either way, I sensed a storm brewing. But he brought up a good question I needed answers to: who had helped me back then?

CHAPTERSIXTY-TWO

MICHELLE

I hadn’t sleptat all last night. The image of Fiona leaving Royce’s car kept replaying in my head, mocking me. Now the sun had risen, and I was wide awake.

It was stupid of me to keep thinking about it, but I couldn’t help it.

Had everything been an act from the beginning? Had he been with her while he was with me? I hated myself for not being able to stop the insecurity stabbing me in all directions.

What was missing here? Why didn’t it make sense? I caught them with my own eyes. The pain was too much for me to think clearly. I had to let it go so I could function properly.

Right now, I felt like my body was in one place while my mind was in another, and my soul was still in bed under the covers. I was all over the place.

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