Chapter 13 - What My Father Knew

I did not sleep.

At dawn on December 26, Miriam brought in a portable scanner and began digitizing every page from my father's notebook.

Marcus stood by the window, jaw tight.

"Tell me what you know," I said.

He rubbed a hand over his face.

"Your father didn't trust Roman. Not at the end."

"Why didn't he tell me?"

"He tried. You stopped taking his calls after the wedding fight."

The memory landed like a slap.

Dad had objected to Roman buying out the remaining Reed Industrial partners. I had accused him of jealousy and control. Roman had stood beside me afterward, gentle and patient, telling me some fathers could not accept losing influence over their daughters.

I had repeated those words to Dad.

They were the last cruel thing I ever said to him.

"What happened before he died?"

Marcus looked at Miriam.

She nodded.

"Your father believed Roman was using Harrow to pressure minority owners into selling. Nothing he had was strong enough for charges. Then he found evidence of asset pledges tied to Northstar's early financing."

"And two weeks later he had a heart attack."

"Yes."

I stared at him.

"Are you telling me Roman killed my father?"

"No. I am telling you your father was frightened before he died. I don't know more than that."

Claire arrived shortly after nine with a laptop and a swollen face from crying.

"I found the source file for the photograph," she said.

"Why does that matter?"

"Because the person who sent it to you also sent me something."

She opened a video.

Roman sat in a private dining room two months earlier with a man I recognized from company events: Victor Sloane, Northstar's founder.

The audio was rough but clear.

Victor said, "If she refuses?"

Roman answered, "She won't. Savannah hates conflict more than she hates me."

My chest tightened.

Victor laughed. "And if the father taught her better?"

Roman's face went cold.

"Her father is dead."

The video ended.

Claire looked at me. "There's more, but the rest is encrypted."

Miriam leaned toward the screen.

"Who recorded this?"

Claire swallowed.

"Roman's younger brother."

I blinked.

Roman had told me for years that his brother Daniel wanted nothing to do with the family.

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Claire opened a new message.

DANIEL CARTER: I CAN UNLOCK THE REST. BUT SAVANNAH HAS TO COME ALONE.