“So how did you know that telling me to look into him would work out?”

“I didn’t know for sure,” I say honestly. My mouth quirks. “But I knew if anyone could find the dirt to take that sleazeball down, it would be you.”

Still, her expression gives me nothing, her jaw working in thought. “Why didn’t you tell me that you quit?”

I breathe out a sigh. “Because…I didn’t want to put any more pressure on you.”

“Pressure.”

“Yes, pressure. I know that everything that happened between us was a lot for you to process, and with that and the trial…I figured you had enough on your plate without adding any more confusing elements.”

“How is you quitting and taking your mother out of that house confusing?”

“I just— Wait. How did you know about my mother?”

“Eli told me.”

My face scrunches up. “Eli? You talked to Eli?”

“He caught me after court today,” she says. “We talked.”

“You…talked.”

“Trust me,” she snorts. “I found it just as bizarre of an experience.”

“I don’t understand.” I shake my head. “Did he…he didn’t threaten her, did he? Because I swear to God, I will—”

“No, no, no!” She waves her hands back and forth. “He didn’t. I promise. He just— Well, you see—” She exhales sharply, thrusting the folder out to give to me. “Here. This is for you.”

“What?” I take it from her, frowning down at it. “What is it?”

“Documents detailing the transfer of Bianca’s trust from Italy to America the year she came of age.”

I look at her and then back at the envelope, furrowing my brow. “I don’t understand.”

“Look at the signature of the lawyer who handled the transfer,” she says.

I’m still frowning as I pull documents from the folder, shuffling through them until I see the signature she’s referencing. A cold sort of shock passes over me, and I gape up at her. “Is this really…?”

“Alexander’s signature? Yes. And if you go through the rest of the documents, and hell, the financial records for the next several years, you can trace a clear pattern of withdrawals made by Lorenzo that were possible because Alexander falsified documents naming him as a co-beneficiary. I compared the signature on those documents to Bianca’s. They don’t match.”

“You mean…?”

She nods. “Alexander must have forged it. Or Lorenzo. Regardless, they’re both complicit in stealing from her for years while Lorenzo built his business.”

“But what did Alexander gain from this?”

“As far as I can tell, a giant payout. I checked bank records we had copies of for the trial. Lorenzo deposited a huge sum of money into Alexander’s account a month after all this went down.”

“Jesus.”

I stare down at the documents in my hands, still in slight disbelief that I’m really holding evidence that can prove Alexander is as much a snake as I’ve always believed him to be. That I might be holding what I need to make sure that my mother never suffers at the hands of Alexander Hart ever again.

“Wow, I…wow.”

She reaches into her pocket, pulling out a flash drive and handing that over too. “Oh, and this is from Eli. Apparently, he broke into Alexander’s office and copied whatever he could get his hands on off his laptop. I guess it’s his way of extending an olive branch.”

“I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.”

“Yeah, I know it’s a lot. He actually told me to tell your mother he was sorry.”

“I think he should tell her that himself,” I scoff.

She gives me a small smile. “I agree.”

“Dani, I…thank you.” My voice sounds too thick, and I have to breathe deep through my nostrils. “Seriously. I can’t believe you did this.”

“You can’t?”

Her eyes are softer now, her smile just a little more sad. “No, I can. I really can.”

There’s so much more I want to say to her; fuck, the way I want to touch her. My body is practically vibrating with the need to. But I told her I would wait until she was ready, and I meant that. Even if it kills me.

“Is that…” My throat bobs with a swallow. “Is that all you came to say?”

“I…well. I guess it is.”

“Oh.” I nod, looking at my feet to try to hide my disappointment. “Right. Well. I really appreciate this.”

“Ezra, it was nothing. Really.”

All I can do is nod again. “Right.”

“Fuck.” I look up as she runs her fingers through her hair, blowing out a breath. “That’s a lie.”

“What?”

“That’s not all I came to say.”

“I’m confused.”

“I know.” She nods, looking miserable. “And that’s my fault.”

“No, Dani, that’s not what I—”

She holds up a hand. “No, I need to get this out.”

She takes a deep breath, the determination on her perfect face so like her that I might laugh if this were any other time. She looks at me like she’s about to deliver an opening address to a judge and jury. Her eyes hold that same ferocity that she gives to everything else in her life.

Maybe that’s why what she says nearly knocks me over.

“I’m in love with you.”

I don’t think I have ever actually been in a position where I have nothing to say. Retorts normally come so easily to me, but Dani has managed to render me speechless with only five short words. She takes advantage of my silence, barreling onward like she won’t be able to get it out if she stops.

“I know that I fucked up with you,” she says hoarsely. “I have spent so long telling myself that people are a foregone conclusion, that anything good I might find will eventually end, so what’s the point of even trying? Maybe that’s why I took the first chance I got to push you away.” She shakes her head. “Not that it makes it right.” Her brow wrinkles. “You were right to stop chasing me. You shouldn’t be chasing me.”

“Dani—”

“I’m going to chase you this time,” she says resolutely, nodding as if asserting her decision. “So however long it takes for you to forgive me, I’m going to wait. Because you’re worth staying for too, Ezra. And I’m sorry if I made you feel like you weren’t. I promise if you give me another chance, I’ll—”

She makes a surprised sound when I cross the distance in the blink of an eye, pulling her to me and crushing her mouth to mine. She’s still for only a moment before she melts into it, her hands wrapping around my biceps and squeezing before she slips her arms around my neck. I feel every doubt, every worry, all of it—seeping out of me in droves as her mouth moves against mine. Like everything that comes after this will be easy, because now I know she’ll be here for it.

“I mean it,” she gasps between kisses. “I’ll wait for you—”

“Shut up, Dani.” I press my lips to hers, lingering. “Don’t be stupid.”

She pushes at my chest, only staying close to me because I have my arms wrapped firmly around her waist. “Stupid?”

Her indignant expression makes me smile; it probably means I’m a basket case, how elated her looking at me like that makes me.

“Very stupid,” I tease, holding her tight so she can’t squirm away. “If you think I’m letting you out of my sight for another second…”

She stops fighting my grip, her eyes softening. “What?”

“Don’t you know?” I lean in, brushing my lips across hers, smiling. “I’ve loved you for ages, Dani. I’ve just been waiting for you to catch up.”

She blinks back at me like she’s trying to process what I’ve said, and the moment she does, her eyes crinkle in pleasure, her smile wide and open, and the effect it has on my heart is something very similar. She lunges herself at me, zippering her body to mine and shoving her fingers in my hair. She pulls at the strands hard enough to sting, but I’m just so happy to have her hands on me again that I welcome it.

“Wow,” I hum against her mouth. “You must have really missed me.”

“Barely at all.”

I grin, kissing her jaw. “Didn’t even spare me a thought.”

“Almost forgot your name at one point,” she laughs breathily.