Chapter 7 - My Sister Finally Confessed Why She Chose Marcus—And the Recording She Gave Me Changed Everything
Constantine was discharged three days later, against his surgeon's recommendation and despite Petra's repeated objections.
“You need rest,” she told him as Owen helped him into the car.
“I can rest at home.”
“You can barely stand.”
“I can stand.”
He took one step, grimaced, and stopped.
Petra folded her arms.
“Convincing.”
Constantine looked at Owen.
“Don't encourage her.”
“Wouldn't dream of it, sir.”
Petra helped Constantine into the car and sat beside him. She had spent the previous two nights in the hospital, sleeping in a chair and waking whenever a monitor beeped. She had also spent those nights reviewing the warehouse records.
The attackers had been hired through a shell company. The payments led back to a consulting firm linked to Marcus, but the authorization had passed through several intermediaries. The evidence was strong enough to justify further investigation, not yet strong enough to establish who had ordered the shooting.
Constantine's legal team was coordinating with a trusted investigator outside his organization. They had agreed that the financial evidence would be preserved and provided to the appropriate authorities.
Petra insisted on that.
“If we find proof of what happened to my father, I don't want it disappearing into another private file,” she had told Constantine.
He had agreed.
Now, as the car entered the gates of the townhouse, he glanced at her.
“You haven't eaten.”
“I had a sandwich.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“That doesn't count.”
“Neither does your idea of resting.”
He almost smiled.
“I'll eat if you do.”
“Fine.”
They went inside together.
The townhouse felt different now. Petra had begun leaving books in the living room, photographs on the mantel, and her work papers on the dining table. Constantine's staff had stopped treating her like a temporary visitor. Even Owen had started asking her opinion about the household schedule.
She was becoming part of the place.
That realization frightened her more than she wanted to admit.
Because she no longer wanted to leave.
That afternoon, Elena arrived with a message from Cecily.
“She wants to speak with Petra,” Elena said.
Constantine looked up from his chair.
“Where is she?”
“She's at a hotel under observation. She agreed to cooperate, but she won't provide a full statement until she speaks with her sister.”
Petra stood.
May you like
“I'll go.”
Constantine's expression tightened
