Chapter 6 - The Betrayal Inside Hayes Logistics
Daniel Hayes disappeared that night.
By sunrise, every bank account connected to Genevieve’s company had been frozen.
Hayes Logistics was collapsing.
Employees were panicking.
Union representatives were threatening strikes.
A federal investigation was underway.
And Judge Whitmore had disappeared.
The family empire Genevieve had inherited was crumbling around her.
Nico sat across from her in the library.
“We can recover the company.”
Genevieve stared at the financial statements.
“Can we?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“By exposing the people who stole it.”
She looked at him.
“And what does that cost?”
“Everything.”
She laughed sadly.
“That sounds expensive.”
“It is.”
“You're willing to help me rebuild?”
“I told you I would protect you.”
“That was before you saw how much trouble I am.”
Nico smiled.
“I knew how much trouble you were the first time you walked into my club.”
Genevieve looked away.
For the first time in days, she smiled.
Their partnership began.
They worked with federal investigators.
They gave over the ledger.
The church evidence.
The recordings.
The financial records.
Harper agreed to testify.
She revealed that Daniel had recruited her months earlier.
He threatened her family.
She had helped place trackers and monitor Genevieve’s movements.
But Harper also provided something critical.
A recording of Daniel speaking to Harrison Whitmore.
He admitted everything.
The brake lines.
The forged contracts.
The marriage plan.
The liquidation.
All of it.
Genevieve listened in silence.
When the recording ended, she cried.
Not because of Daniel.
Because of the final sentence.
“Thomas never trusted Genevieve enough to tell her the truth.”
Nico touched her hand.
“Your father loved you.”
“I know.”
“He made mistakes.”
“I know that too.”
The trial was set for months later.
But before it could happen, Genevieve received another message.
A photograph.
Nico.
Taken outside the estate.
Underneath it was one sentence.
WE KNOW WHAT SHE MEANS TO YOU.
Genevieve showed him.
His face hardened.
“Who's after you?”
Nico looked at the photograph.
“Elias Vale.”
The name returned.
“What does he want?”
“Me.”
“Why?”
“Because I killed his brother.”
Genevieve stared.
“What?”
Nico explained.
Years ago, Elias’s brother had betrayed Nico's father and sold information to rival gangs.
Nico had been twenty-four.
He had ordered the execution.
Elias disappeared.
Now he had returned.
And he wanted revenge.
“But why attack me?”
Nico’s voice was quiet.
“Because you're the one person I won't sacrifice.”
Genevieve’s heart skipped.
She looked at him.
“Why wouldn't you?”
“Because I made a promise.”
“To my father?”
“No.”
“To whom?”
He stepped closer.
“To you.”
They stood inches apart.
Neither moved.
Then Genevieve kissed him.
It was not planned.
It was not strategic.
It was simply two wounded people recognizing something real.
When they separated, Nico rested his forehead against hers.
“This is dangerous.”
“So is everything else.”
He almost laughed.
Then his phone rang.
The caller was Mateo.
“Boss, we found Elias.”
Nico straightened.
“Where?”
“At your old warehouse.”
May you like
Genevieve looked at him.
The war had entered its final phase.
