Page 103 of The Quiet After The Fall

“No,” I say. “Keep it for now. Please. I’m sorry, I know you probably want to throw it in my face but we have to be careful about this.”

Her eyes narrow but she pushes it back on. “You know I’m not marrying you now, right?”

“I know…just…let’s talk tomorrow okay? I need to go meet with your father.”

“Fine. Be careful alright. Whatever this meeting is about, I know my father, and he doesn’t like when things don’t go according to his plans.”

“I will.”

“I mean it, Knox.” Her eyes flick to the bruising on my cheek, and she wraps her arms around her chest. “I’m not an idiot. I know what goes on in my family, maybe not everything, but enough. So don’t give me another reason to worry.”

“I won’t.”

Not if I can help it.

She walks me to the door, all the warmth between us drained away, leaving only a careful distance. It’s awkward, but I feel lighter and I hope she does too.

Once I’m back in my car, I text Sawyer.

Don’t freak out, but I’m going to talk to Moretti. Ella got me a meeting with him. I think I can get him to turn on my father and maybe this whole wedding shit will be over.

She answers right away.

Sawyer: Okay…but that seems like a bad idea. What if he hurts you?

Sawyer: Also how’d it go with Ella? What did she want?

I knew Sawyer would have more questions than I have time to answer right now.

It’s a lot to text. I’ll tell you everything when I get back.

She calls me, her beautiful face lighting up my screen. Getting that look at her fills me with resolve. When I don’t answer, another text comes through.

Sawyer: I don’t like this. Just please be careful. I can’t lose you.

I stare at the words longer than I should, feeling a calm wash over me. Whatever happens tonight, I’m not doing this for revenge anymore. I’m doing it so there’s an after for both of us. So we can have a life together. Revenge is just the cherry on top.

I pull out onto the road, and head toward the one house in Ashford I never thought I’d willingly walk into.

Chapter 27

Sawyer

Gia left a little while ago after dropping off some pizza and wine. I wasn’t the best conversation partner. I’m hoping she didn’t notice.

I’ve read the same documents four times, while finishing off half the bottle of wine, and haven’t absorbed a single word. I’m uncomfortable, the guest house feels smaller tonight, like the walls are closing in every minute that I don’t hear from Knox.

I can’t believe he’s at Moretti’s house. The same guy that had the shit kicked out of him. Unarmed and alone with a barely formed plan. There’s no way this turns out in our favor.

My phone buzzes and I swipe it open immediately, holding my breath. But it’s only a promotional email. It’s been about an hour since he texted me. He’s got to be done there soon.

I try to distract myself with the case files again, spreading my annotated copies across the little kitchenette table, on top of the pizza box. We’ve found a few inconsistencies in the original permit filings, dates that don’t line up with the construction timeline or invoices. There’s small gaps that might mean nothing or might mean everything. These could be the breakthroughs to show how Richard was hiding money.

I make a note to ask the lawyer about cross-referencing them with county records, and for a few minutes, I manage to focus on something other than Knox’s impending doom.

Then my phone buzzes again and every bit of calm flies out the window.

Gia: You good? Felt like a weird vibe tonight when I was over earlier, just checking in