And the best part is…I’ll never have to.

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Thirty-Two

I really had hoped I would never have to come back here again, but strangely, this is the first time that walking through the front doors of Alexander’s house—because it’s his, I realize, it’s never been a home to me—doesn’t fill me with dread. No, this time, that same peace that I’ve felt since Dani came back to me and handed me all the missing pieces sticks to my bones, leaving me feeling calmer than I’ve ever been inside these walls.

I know he’s here; I never thought that I would ever in my life be calling Eli for help, but our conversation this morning about Alexander’s whereabouts, while stilted, left me feeling oddly…hopeful. Like maybe one day we might actually be something to each other.

I catalog the sparkling interior and the fine furniture as I move through the house, adamant that this will be the last time I ever have to look at any of it. That if today goes as planned—which I have full faith it will—I can walk back out those front doors and never think about this place ever again. The thought is freeing.

There’s a light shining under Alexander’s office door, telling me he’s inside, and I hesitate outside it for a few seconds, collecting my thoughts and preparing myself for the inevitable onslaught that I’ll be facing when I step inside. I remind myself that I have the power now. That he’s just a man. That he can never hurt me or anyone I love ever again.

I don’t bother knocking, partly because I know that annoys him, turning the handle and pushing the door open without any warning and stepping inside the massive room to find Alexander sitting behind his desk, shooting me a glare when I enter. His nose is bandaged, his eyes black with bruises from the punch I landed, and it takes all I have not to smile at the sight, feeling an immense satisfaction at seeing him look so weakened.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here,” he says darkly.

I do smile then, closing the door behind me. I clasp my hands behind my back casually, strolling over to the massive built-ins and studying the rows upon rows of law books and ledgers lining the shelves as if I can’t even be bothered to give him my full attention. I pluck a random volume from the shelf, eyeing it, turning it over in my hands just to fill him with even more anger by not immediately responding.

“You know,” I say finally. “I used to sneak in here as a kid when you weren’t home.” I slide the book back into place, still not looking at him. “I used to think that if I could learn more about what you did, maybe you’d start to care about me.” I clench my teeth. “I was so damned desperate for your approval back then.”

“You never did anything to deserve it,” Alexander sneers.

Remarkably, his disdain only makes me smile harder, and I finally turn back to him to let him see, which only makes him look angrier. “I never stood a chance though, did I? You hated me from the day I was born.”

“You can blame your tramp mother for that.”

I tamp down the desire to hit him again, willing myself to remain calm.

Don’t let him gain the upper hand. This will all be worth it soon.

“Can you really blame her for seeking out some scrap of affection? God knows you weren’t giving it to her. Did you ever even love her?”

His narrowed eyes almost look comical with both sporting the purpling bruises, and if I weren’t so determined to keep collected, I might laugh.

“She’s always been a disappointment,” he scoffs. “Just like you. You could never be like your brother.”

“Ah, but Eli isn’t at your beck and call anymore either, is he? Tell me, Alexander. Have you heard from him this week?”

The hand gripping the pen he’s holding tightens, and I hear the plastic creaking under the pressure. “What did you say to him?”

“Me?” I shake my head. “I didn’t say anything. I think he just finally realized the same thing the rest of your family did a long time ago. That you’re a worthless piece of shit.”

Alexander drops the pen, slamming his hands on his desk. “If you don’t get the fuck out of my office right now, I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” I step closer to his desk, placing my hands on the wood and bracing myself against it so I can lean in. I notice with satisfaction that he flinches when I do, just a little. “You want a repeat of the other day, Alexander? I’d be happy to break more of your face.”

“You’re lucky I didn’t call the fucking police,” he growls. “You really think you could take me head-on in court? With my connections?”

“I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that, since I imagine you’ll already have your hands full,” I answer blithely, shrugging. “But that all depends on you.”

“Is there a point you plan on making?”

“Right.” My lips curl in another slow grin. “Do you know what your problem is, Alexander?”

He says nothing, just continues to glare at me.

“Your problem,” I go on, “is that you’ve gone unpunished for so long that you think you’re untouchable.”

“Because I am,” he answers smugly.

“I’m sure you really believe that,” I laugh. “But that’s the problem with men like you. If you go unchecked for too long…you stop anticipating danger. You let yourself get comfortable.”

“This is pointless,” Alexander scoffs. “Just get the fuck out of my—”

“Do you want me to remind you about Bianca Casiraghi’s trust fund, Alexander? Or do you remember? You were the one who handled the overseas transfer of the funds, weren’t you?”

The intense gratification I feel when he blanches is an allover sensation, my body practically humming. His eyes round and his mouth parts, and for the first time in my entire life, Alexander Hart looks…truly afraid.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammers.

“Oh, I know exactly what I’m talking about,” I assure him. “And I have several documents to prove it.”

“You can’t—there’s no way—it’s not possible.”

“Like I said, Alexander,” I tell him calmly. “You’ve let yourself get too comfortable. You stopped anticipating the danger.” The smile on my face feels feral, predatory even, but I enjoy watching Alexander quiver like prey. “But the danger found you just the same.”

“You little shit,” he seethes. “Whatever you think you know—”

“I know that you falsified legal documents,” I tell him. “I know that you forged signatures. I know that you helped your buddy Lorenzo steal from his own wife for years to build his business and enjoyed a big, fat payoff for your trouble. That was the year you left the firm you worked for, wasn’t it? You started your own that same year, if I remember correctly.”

“You’ll never prove it,” he flounders. “You have no idea the people I know. I’ll never allow it to see the light of day.”

“Oh, it’s much too late for that,” I chuckle. “We’ve already handed everything over to Bianca. I thought she might feel overwhelmed having to dive into a criminal case so soon after winning that draining divorce case against her scumbag husband—sorry, I know you’re buddies—but funnily enough, she seemed more than up for the challenge. We all have no doubt that she’ll gain another win, with all the evidence she got from me and Eli.”

I take a second to enjoy Alexander’s shock, because it is absolutely delicious, but only a second.

“That’s right,” I say. “Your perfect son, the one whose mind you poisoned for years, finally had a moment of clarity. I guess you shouldn’t have trusted him with a key to your office.” I lean in a little closer. “Once again, you just got too comfortable.”