Chapter 7 - THE ENEMY INSIDE
Sterling North Capital managed more than sixty billion dollars.
Its CEO, Graham Sterling, had spent twenty years cultivating a reputation for discipline, philanthropy, and ruthless intelligence.
He was also Elias Vane’s godfather.
Ava learned that ten minutes later.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not,” Elias said.
They had moved Lily to a secure hotel suite.
Damian sat across the room under the watch of two security guards.
Ava looked between him and Elias.
“Your godfather?”
“My father’s oldest friend.”
“And your company works with him?”
“Sometimes.”
Damian gave a humorless laugh.
“Sometimes? Sterling North financed Vane Global’s first major acquisition.”
Elias looked at him.
“You’re becoming irritating.”
“You should be irritated.”
Damian leaned forward.
“Graham knows everything you’re doing.”
“Prove it.”
“Why do you think every witness disappears before you reach them?”
Elias’s expression changed.
Ava noticed.
Damian did too.
“That got your attention.”
“What witnesses?” Ava asked.
Elias didn’t answer.
Damian did.
“Accountants. Brokers. Two former Langford employees. Every time Vane’s people got close, somebody quit, moved, lawyered up, or suddenly forgot everything.”
Elias’s jaw tightened.
Damian continued.
“Because Graham sees both sides.”
Ava sat down.
“And you worked for him.”
“I still do.”
“So you’re admitting to a crime?”
“I’m admitting I was stupid.”
Ava laughed sharply.
“No. You don’t get to call this stupid. Forgetting an anniversary is stupid. Stealing my research and selling it is a choice.”
Damian looked at her.
“I know.”
“You took my savings.”
“I know.”
“You lied to me every day.”
“I know.”
“And then you dumped me the second you didn’t need me.”
Damian looked down.
For the first time all night, he had no clever answer.
Ava’s voice shook.
“Why?”
Damian rubbed his hands together.
“At first, I needed money.”
“So you sold my work.”
“Yes.”
“To Graham?”
“Not directly.”
“To whom?”
“A director named Paul Mercer.”
Elias looked at his security chief.
“Find him.”
Damian shook his head.
“You won’t.”
“Why?”
“Because Mercer died eight months ago.”
Ava felt a chill.
“How?”
“Car accident.”
Elias’s security chief checked his phone.
“Officially.”
Damian looked at Ava.
“After Mercer died, I wanted out.”
“And that’s when you left me?”
“Yes.”
Her chest tightened.
“Why?”
“Because they knew about you.”
Ava stared.
“Who?”
“The people paying Mercer.”
Damian’s voice dropped.
“They knew the report had come from you. They knew where you lived. They knew where your sister worked. They knew everything.”
Ava looked at Lily across the suite.
“No.”
“I thought if I cut you loose, they’d stop seeing you as connected to me.”
“You could have told me.”
“I was scared.”
“So you humiliated me?”
Damian’s face tightened.
“That part…”
He looked ashamed.
“That part was me.”
At least he admitted it.
Ava stood.
“I hope you live long enough to regret it.”
Damian looked at Elias.
“They’ll come for her now.”
Elias’s gaze was ice.
“Then they’ll have to come through me.”
Damian laughed bitterly.
“That’s exactly what they want.”
Silence.
Elias’s brow tightened.
“What?”
Damian leaned back.
“Ava’s report isn’t the real problem.”
“Then what is?”
“The drive they took from her apartment contains authorization codes.”
“For what?”
Damian looked at Ava.
“Accounts worth almost four hundred million dollars.”
Her mouth fell open.
May you like
“And every account,” Damian said, “is tied to Elias Vane.”
---
