Chapter 6 - The Secret Behind the Silence
Caitlyn survived the surgery.
The bullet had missed the bone.
She spent two days recovering in Deari’s penthouse.
He barely left.
Luigi complained that his boss was becoming impossible.
Deari ignored him.
Caitlyn woke one evening and found Deari asleep in a chair beside the bed.
His suit jacket was folded over the back.
His tie was loose.
His head rested against the wall.
She stared at him for a long time.
She had never seen him unguarded.
She reached for the blanket.
It slipped.
He woke instantly.
“You need anything?”
“No.”
“You should rest.”
“So should you.”
“I am resting.”
“In a chair?”
“It works.”
She smiled.
He looked at her shoulder.
“Pain?”
“Not terrible.”
“Good.”
Silence.
Then Caitlyn asked, “Why are you staying?”
He did not understand.
“Because you are injured.”
“That isn’t what I mean.”
He looked at her.
She forced herself to continue.
“Why do you care so much about me?”
His answer took a long time.
“Because I noticed you.”
“That doesn’t explain it.”
“It does to me.”
She looked away.
Deari stood.
“When I first saw your file, I thought you were another employee.”
“And now?”
“Now you are the only person in my organization whose safety matters more to me than the organization's stability.”
Her heart raced.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It is.”
He left before she could answer.
The next day, Richard Voss arrived.
He wore the same reassuring smile he had worn for years.
“Miss Elmore,” he said. “I am pleased you're recovering.”
Caitlyn stared at him.
Her instincts screamed.
Deari entered the room.
“Why are you here?”
Richard sighed.
“To help.”
“Leave.”
Richard frowned.
“This is still my company, Deari.”
“No.”
Deari stepped closer.
“You are chairman in the legal structure.”
He leaned in.
“But you stopped being family years ago.”
Richard’s smile disappeared.
“You have no proof.”
“I don't need it yet.”
The room became colder.
Richard left.
That night, Caitlyn found something hidden inside one of the files Margaret had given her.
A photograph.
Richard.
Luigi’s brother.
And Daniel.
Standing together.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
THE FIRST BETRAYAL CAME FROM INSIDE.
Caitlyn showed Deari.
He looked at the image.
“Luigi’s brother was innocent.”
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“Then why haven't you confronted him?”
“Because if I accuse Richard without proof, he disappears.”
Caitlyn frowned.
“What do we need?”
“The blue ledger.”
They found it three days later.
It was hidden beneath the floorboards of an abandoned warehouse.
Inside were names.
Accounts.
Dates.
Payments.
And one final entry.
RICHARD VOSS — AUTHORIZED DESTRUCTION OF HAMILTON FAMILY ASSETS.
Below it was another line.
TARGET: DEARI HAMILTON.
Caitlyn looked up.
“It's not about the money.”
“No.”
“He wants you dead.”
“Yes.”
“And he has been using everyone around you.”
Deari closed the ledger.
“Which means the next move is ours.”
They built a trap.
They leaked false information about the ledger.
Richard took the bait.
But they did not realize one thing.
Richard was already prepared.
He kidnapped Tommy.
Caitlyn received the call at midnight.
“Your brother is alive.”
Her blood turned cold.
“Where is he?”
“Bring the ledger.”
Deari was beside her instantly.
“No.”
Caitlyn looked at him.
“He has Tommy.”
“I know.”
“I have to go.”
“No.”
“He is my brother.”
“I will bring him home.”
“You can't risk him.”
Deari's eyes hardened.
“I can risk everything.”
Then he reached for her face.
His hand was gentle.
“Except you.”
Caitlyn stared at him.
He lowered his forehead to hers.
For one second, neither moved.
Then Caitlyn whispered.
“I love you.”
Deari closed his eyes.
When he opened them, every wall was gone.
“I know.”
She almost laughed.
“You knew?”
“I was hoping.”
Then he kissed her.
May you like
Not like a powerful man claiming something.
Like a tired man finally admitting what he had been afraid to say.
