Chapter 7 - The Family That Had Been Lying to Her
Finn explained everything.
The staged death.
The hidden witness.
The ledger.
The false identity.
And the one thing nobody had expected.
Liam had not been the leader.
He had been the middleman.
Someone else had funded the operation.
Someone with access to Ashgrove's deepest records.
Someone who wanted Declan dead.
The evidence pointed to the Kavanagh family's attorney.
Gerard Vale.
For fifteen years, Gerard had controlled the legal structure of the estate.
He had diverted money.
Created shell companies.
Protected criminals.
And manipulated Liam.
His goal was simple.
Destroy Declan.
Take control.
Then use Ashgrove to rebuild the entire network under his command.
Gerard discovered Finn was alive.
He ordered an attack.
This time, Rowan was the target.
Not because of what she knew.
Because of what she represented.
The surviving family that could expose him.
The final confrontation began at Ashgrove.
Gerard arrived with armed men.
The estate went into lockdown.
Bridey handed Rowan a shotgun.
Rowan stared at her.
“I don't know how to use this.”
Bridey nodded.
“Then don't.”
She took it away.
“Use your head.”
Rowan almost laughed.
Outside, gunfire erupted.
Declan moved through the house.
Finn covered the west corridor.
Patrick went to secure the records.
Rowan ran to Midnight Reel.
The horse was terrified.
She entered his stall.
“Easy.”
He turned.
She placed her forehead against his.
“You and I have spent too long being afraid.”
The horse exhaled.
Then calm returned.
A loud crash echoed through the corridor.
Gerard stood outside.
He looked at Rowan.
“You should have stayed gone.”
She stepped out.
“You should have stayed honest.”
He laughed.
“You have no idea what truth costs.”
“No.”
Rowan looked behind him.
“But I know what lies cost.”
Declan emerged at the end of the corridor.
Gerard lifted his weapon.
Rowan saw the movement before Declan did.
She shoved him aside.
The bullet struck her.
Pain exploded through her body.
Declan caught her as she collapsed.
“Rowan!”
Gerard ran.
Declan's men chased him.
Rowan's fingers gripped Declan's coat.
“Don't let him escape.”
“I won't.”
“You promised.”
“I promise.”
He carried her.
The wound was serious.
But she was alive.
Outside, sirens approached.
Inside the house, Gerard was cornered.
He had one final card.
He held up a folder.
Inside was proof that Declan's father had ordered the first shipment.
The original sin.
The secret everything had been built on.
Declan looked at it.
Then at Gerard.
“You thought this would save you.”
“It will destroy you.”
“No.”
Declan dropped the folder.
“My father did terrible things.”
He looked at the evidence.
“I will not erase them.”
The confession ended the Kavanagh family's protection forever.
Declan cooperated.
The estate changed hands.
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The criminal empire began collapsing.
But Rowan was still fighting for her life.
