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He scrolls farther down until the discussion turns to money. The sender starts talking about what Murphy Enterprises might pay to avoid a public accusation, how much the women could receive and how their identities could be protected.
“All four eventually agreed to make allegations,” Colton says. “These emails show they were solicited and offered money. What they don’t show is whether any of that money was actually paid. I’m still working on that.”
Our attorneys now have evidence that the accusations didn’t begin the way the women claim, but nothing proving who funded any of it.
Alessia reads several of the messages before looking around the room. “Then we handle them carefully. Going after these women publicly will only make Duncan look like a powerful man trying to intimidate his accusers.”
“They agreed to lie about him,” Ronan says.
“And they’ll answer for that. But whoever approached them knew what to offer and how to get them there. Desperation, greed, fear, stupidity—it could be any combination of those things. We don’t need to decide what kind of people they are before we know why they agreed.”
Colton looks back at the emails. “We can give the attorneys everything and let them decide what can be used. If any of it goes to the media, the names can stay out of it until legal clears it.”
“Do that,” I tell him.
Declan shifts closer to Xavier. “We also need an answer for the questions about Maria.”
He doesn’t call her his mother this time. After the conversation we just had, I don’t expect him to.
Kieran slips an arm around Alessia’s waist. “The public record already supports what we’ve said for twenty-two years. Maria transferred money out before she disappeared and left Philadelphia without telling anyone where she was going. We reported her missing, and nothing investigators found at the time suggested she’d been taken against her will.”
My attention moves briefly to Alessia. Maria is the only person she ever killed herself rather than leaving the work to one of us, and Kieran has carried his own guilt over that night for years because he wasn’t there with her. Neither of them needs to say it now.
“We stay with the documented facts,” Kieran continues. “The immediate problem is finding Alina before she decides what comes next. Taylor and Kenji are already working on it.”
Alessia looks around at all of us. “Then everyone needs to go home, eat something, and get some rest while we have the chance. This isn’t over yet.”
Alessia hugs each of the boys before they leave, but when she reaches Declan, she holds him longer than the others. He wraps both arms around her and lets her. No one comments on it, and eventually the office empties until only Declan, Xavier and I remain.
Declan stays quiet for a while, staring toward the windows while Xavier sits close enough that their legs touch. I don’t push him. Twenty-two years of believing his mother abandoned him isn’t something he can replace with the truth in a single conversation.
When he finally looks at me, there’s no anger in his expression, but that doesn’t make what he says any easier to hear. “You should’ve told me sooner, Daidí.”
“Aye. I should have.”
“I spent most of my life thinking she left because she didn’t want me. I used to wonder what I did wrong, even when I was old enough to understand that a five-year-old couldn’t have done anything to make his mother leave.” Xavier reaches for his hand, and Declan threads their fingers together. “Finding out she didn’t abandon me should make some part of that better, but she tried to kill us instead. I’m not sure which truth I would’ve preferred.”
There’s no answer I can give him that changes either one. “You did nothing wrong. Not then, and not now. What Maria did was about her, never you.”
He studies me for another moment before nodding. “I don’t blame you. I’m pissed you waited this long to tell me, but I understand why you did when I was a kid.”
“You can be angry with me for the rest.”
“I’ll probably take you up on that.” There’s enough of my son back in his voice that some of the pressure in my chest eases. He glances at Xavier before looking at me again. “Speaking of things people should probably talk about before twenty-two years pass, what are you doing with Nash?”
The subject change is deliberate, and I let him have it. “What do you mean, what am I doing with him?”
Xavier smiles. “He wants to know if you’re keeping him.”
Declan leans back against the couch. “I’m asking if he’s yours.”
That answer requires no thought. “Aye. Nash is mine.”
Xavier’s smile widens. “There it is. The Murphy wolfy claim.”
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “I don’t remember either of you asking permission before deciding Xavier belonged to you.”
Declan looks at the man beside him as though there has never been another possible answer. “I didn’t need permission. Xavier’s mine.”
