Chapter 10 - RYAN'S CONFESSION
Ryan agreed to meet at Mara's office.
He came alone.
Or claimed he did.
Daniel had the parking garage checked anyway.
Ryan looked terrible.
Unshaven.
Exhausted.
Nothing like the confident husband who had watched his father hurt me two nights earlier.
I felt no sympathy.
He looked at my stomach first.
“Is the baby okay?”
“Yes.”
Relief crossed his face.
I hated that part of me noticed.
Mara placed a recorder on the table.
“This conversation is being documented.”
Ryan nodded.
I stared at him.
“Start at the beginning.”
He rubbed his hands together.
“Evelyn approached Dad when I was twenty-seven.”
“Why?”
“Dad owed money.”
“To whom?”
“People connected to Marcus.”
“What kind of money?”
“Investment losses.”
Grant had borrowed against properties he didn't fully own.
He had hidden debt from Diane.
Evelyn offered a solution.
Not cash.
Opportunity.
“She said there were wealthy women whose assets were poorly protected.”
My stomach turned.
“And you agreed to marry one?”
“No.”
Ryan looked at me.
“Not at first.”
I said nothing.
“She introduced Tyler to Natalie.”
“That worked.”
“Then there were others.”
“Laura?”
His face tightened.
“Yes.”
“Did you kill her?”
Ryan shot upright.
“No.”
Mara watched him closely.
“Did you know someone planned to harm her?”
“No.”
“Did Grant?”
“I don't know.”
I leaned forward.
“Then tell me about me.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
“Evelyn showed Dad your profile.”
The phrase profile made me feel like merchandise.
“She said you were ambitious.”
“Independent.”
“Financially secure.”
“Estranged enough from extended family that nobody would interfere.”
My hands went cold.
“She knew that much?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
Ryan looked ashamed.
“I was supposed to meet you.”
“Make you like me?”
“Yes.”
“Marry me?”
“If it got that far.”
I stared at him.
“And then?”
“Gain financial access.”
The room went silent.
I felt my baby move.
I placed one hand over my stomach.
“Did you ever love me?”
Ryan looked at me for several seconds.
“Yes.”
I almost laughed.
“You don't get to use that word.”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
My voice sharpened.
“You held my wrists while your father hurt me.”
Ryan lowered his eyes.
“Dad told me you were about to expose everything.”
“What?”
“He thought you knew.”
“So he wanted me frightened?”
“Yes.”
“You helped him.”
“I thought he was going to scare you.”
The answer disgusted me.
“And if I had screamed and hit him while Brooke recorded?”
Ryan went silent.
Mara answered for him.
“They would have used it against you.”
Ryan nodded.
My marriage had ended hours earlier.
Now whatever remained turned to ash.
“Why are you here?”
Ryan looked toward the recorder.
“Because Evelyn is cleaning up.”
“What does that mean?”
“She knows Brooke found the files.”
“She knows Marcus took her.”
“She knows you're working with forensic accountants.”
Ryan swallowed.
“And she ordered Dad to destroy everything.”
“Where?”
“Dad has a warehouse.”
Daniel looked up.
“Address?”
Ryan gave it.
Then he reached into his coat.
Daniel immediately moved.
Ryan froze.
“It's only a flash drive.”
He slowly placed it on the table.
“I copied what I could.”
I stared at it.
“Why?”
Ryan looked at me.
“Because Evelyn told Marcus something last night.”
“What?”
May you like
Ryan's face lost its remaining color.
“She said if you won't cooperate, they'll remove you from the succession process permanently.”
