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Jeremy was proximity. Access and trust.

He knew what was on the line and what it was worth. He knew where the bones were buried because he was the one helping me decide where to dig.

"I wanted to tell you sooner," Sienna says. "That's why I kept trying to get you alone."

I turn back toward her.

"Why not text?"

Her expression flattens.

"Because I had no idea how much access Jeremy still had to your phone or your email. Or whether he was monitoring either. If someone close enough to you was willing to sell out the trust issue, I wasn't interested in leaving a written trail for him to find."

That shuts me up.

Because it's sensible.

Worse, it's the kind of sensible I should have gotten to on my own. Instead I assumed she wanted something from me. That she was circling old ground. That this was personal.

Another thing I got wrong. Add it to the damn list.

"I thought this had something to do with you and me," I say finally.

Sienna's expression softens by half an inch.

Then she lifts her left hand.

The diamond on it could probably be seen from space.

"I should thank you, actually."

My brows pull together.

She glances down at the ring. "For not letting me sell myself short. I would have agreed, you know. If you'd asked back then, I would have said yes." Her mouth curves, but there's no real humor in it. "And we both know we would have ended up miserable."

I don't argue.

Because she's right.

She lowers her hand and looks back at me. "You marrying Aria gave me the chance to see what was right in front of me. He asked. I said yes."

I nod once. "I'm happy for you. You deserve it."

"I know I do," she says lightly, then the smile fades. "And I want you to be happy too, Everett. This," she gestures vaguely between me, the briefcase, the city outside the window, all of it, "isn't what I want for you."

"It doesn't help that I went from your best client to nonexistent."

That gets a quiet laugh out of her.

"Yes, well. It won't help the paycheck, that's for sure." Then she sobers. "But I care more about your family than just that. We've worked together for years. I hate that the trust is doing this to all of you. I wish I knew how to help."

"Some things can't be helped." I look down at the briefcase beside me. "The rest of the Kauffmans will make it without me. And I'll be fine."

"I know you will be." She studies me for a beat too long. "But you love her, don't you?"

There's no point pretending with Sienna. There never really was.

I nod.