Page 151 of The Art of Ruin

I answer immediately. “Talk.”

Rossi’s voice comes through low and steady. “Another one pulled out.”

Good.

I lean back slightly in my chair, gaze drifting toward the skyline beyond the office windows while Rossi continues listing figures.

Another investor gone.

Another contract quietly dissolved.

Another bank suddenly unwilling to extend Jasper the credit he desperately needs.

Carefully orchestrated pressure from a dozen different directions.

Not enough to draw suspicion.

Just enough to slowly suffocate him.

“How bad?” I ask.

“Bad enough he’s selling assets now.”

Something cold settles calmly into place inside me.

Jasper spent years humiliating Casey while building another life behind her back, then had the audacity to chase after her when she left his sorry ass. He should consider himself fortunate that this is all I’m taking. “And the federal investigation?”

“Moving faster than expected,” Rossi replies. “Turns out your instincts were right. Tax fraud, offshore accounts, falsified reporting. He buried it well, but not well enough.”

I glance briefly toward Matteo, who’s watching me quietly now.

No jokes this time.

Because he knows exactly what tone my voice takes when I decide someone deserves to disappear. “Keep digging,” I say calmly. “I want everything.”

The line goes quiet for half a second.

Then Rossi sighs softly. “You love this woman.”

The bluntness of it catches me off guard enough that I don’t answer immediately.

Because the terrifying thing is—I know he’s right.

“Handle the investigation,” I say instead.

Then I end the call.

Silence settles across the office for a moment.

Matteo studies me carefully before speaking. “You going to tell her?”

“No.”

His jaw tightens slightly. “Adi—”

“She asked me not to interfere.” I keep my voice even, though irritation flickers sharply beneath it anyway. “This has nothing to do with her anymore. She doesn’t need to know.”

Matteo raises an eyebrow. “That’s objectively untrue. I want it noted that I don’t agree.”