Chapter 7 - The Truth Behind the Rejections
No one spoke.
Elena stared at the phone.
Rafe stared at his sister.
Tessa felt his body become rigid beside her.
"Explain," he said.
Elena's face went white.
"I can't."
Rafe took one step toward her.
"Try."
Mateo looked almost sick.
The ledger showed payments routed through companies Elena had once controlled.
Millions of dollars.
Dates extending back five years.
Including payments after her supposed death.
"Rafe," Elena whispered.
"Tell me it's false."
She didn't.
That silence hurt him more than any answer.
Tessa saw it.
"You knew about the network?" Rafe asked.
"Not at first."
"When?"
Elena closed her eyes.
"Six years ago."
Mateo whispered a curse.
Rafe's voice became quieter.
"You knew people were disappearing."
"I knew identities were being sold."
"And you said nothing?"
"I tried to stop it."
"The ledger says you took money."
"I moved money."
"Into your accounts."
"To trace it."
Rafe laughed once.
Nothing about the sound was amused.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"No."
Elena looked at him.
"I expect you to hate me."
Rafe stopped.
Tessa saw the old wound opening again.
Everyone leaves.
Everyone fears.
Everyone lies.
Elena continued.
"I found Marcus's payments when I was managing Calder medical investments. I created shell accounts to follow the transfers."
"Without telling me."
"I didn't know who I could trust."
"Me."
"You were surrounded by people he chose for you!"
Rafe flinched.
Elena's voice broke.
"Marcus hired your first guards. Your accountants. Your attorneys. He introduced Madeline's father. He knew everything before you did."
Rafe looked at Mateo.
Mateo slowly nodded.
"She's right."
Elena held up her hands.
"I needed evidence before I came to you."
"So you stole millions?"
"I moved millions."
"Where is it?"
Elena looked at Thomas.
Thomas said, "In a federal evidence account."
Tessa stared.
"You knew?"
Thomas nodded.
"Elena brought me records before the crash."
Rafe looked between them.
"Everyone knew except me."
Elena started crying.
"Because Marcus watched you more closely than anyone."
Rafe stepped away.
Tessa reached for his hand.
He didn't take it.
Not because he rejected her.
Because he needed room.
She let him have it.
Marcus laughed from where federal agents held him.
"You see?"
Rafe turned.
Marcus smiled.
"They all lied to you."
"Shut up," Tessa said.
Marcus looked at her.
"Even your brave nurse will."
Rafe's eyes shifted.
Tessa walked directly to him.
"No."
Marcus laughed.
"Give it time."
Tessa ignored him.
She took Rafe's hand.
This time he didn't hesitate.
His fingers closed around hers.
Marcus's smile weakened.
Tessa looked up at Rafe.
"Elena lied because she was afraid."
Rafe said nothing.
"That doesn't make it right."
Still nothing.
"But fear isn't rejection."
His eyes met hers.
"There's a difference."
Elena wiped her face.
"I'm sorry."
Rafe looked at her.
"I need time."
"I know."
"But you're my sister."
Elena's breath caught.
"That hasn't changed."
She covered her mouth.
Tessa felt Rafe's hand tremble once in hers.
He was not emotionless.
He had simply spent years learning how to hide emotion from people who might use it against him.
Marcus had built that prison carefully.
One cruel lesson at a time.
Federal agents removed Marcus.
Thomas was taken to a hospital under protection.
Madeline arrived later and gave a full statement.
By dawn, warrants were being executed across the city.
Hospital executives.
Private investigators.
Police officers.
Two judges.
Several members of Marcus's organization.
The network began collapsing.
Rafe was cleared of the storage-room murder after security footage surfaced showing one of Marcus's men entering through a maintenance tunnel.
The police captain who arrested him disappeared before federal agents reached his house.
But his bank accounts told enough of the story.
At seven in the morning, Rafe stood on the roof of the Calder building.
Tessa found him there.
He had removed his jacket.
Sleeves rolled to his elbows.
The bandage she'd placed on his hand was dirty now.
"You need that changed."
He didn't turn.
"Good morning to you too."
She came beside him.
The city looked different in early light.
Less mysterious.
More ordinary.
"You haven't slept."
"Neither have you."
"I slept for twenty minutes in a chair."
"Luxurious."
"I'm adaptable."
He smiled faintly.
Then it vanished.
"Tessa."
She waited.
"You should walk away now."
Her heart sank.
"Why?"
"Because Marcus is gone."
"That's generally when people stop running."
"Not what I mean."
She looked at him.
Rafe continued.
"You did something extraordinary last night."
"What?"
"You saw me differently."
"Still do."
"That's because everything was happening at once."
"Rafe."
"When life becomes normal—"
"Stop."
He did.
Tessa turned fully toward him.
"Are you rejecting me before I have a chance to reject you?"
His silence answered.
She almost laughed.
"You are."
"I'm being realistic."
"No. You're terrified."
His jaw tightened.
"Don't."
"You told everyone you don't get afraid."
"I lied."
"Apparently."
He looked at the horizon.
Tessa stepped in front of him.
"Look at me."
He did.
"Do I seem confused?"
"No."
"Drugged?"
"No."
"Under threat?"
"No."
"Then maybe I know what I want."
"You met me yesterday."
"And?"
"People don't fall in love in one night."
Tessa paused.
"I didn't say I was in love with you."
Rafe looked almost offended.
She smiled.
"I'm saying I want another day."
He stared.
"And after that?"
"Maybe another."
"And then?"
"You're very needy for a crime lord."
He laughed.
Tessa's smile softened.
"Eventually we find out."
Rafe looked down at her.
"What if you decide everyone else was right?"
"Then I'll tell you."
"That simple?"
"Yes."
"You're terrifying."
"I've heard."
He touched her face.
Carefully.
"May I?"
She knew what he was asking.
Tessa nodded.
Rafe kissed her.
It was gentle.
Unexpectedly so.
No force.
No dramatic possession.
Just a man who had spent years believing touch had to be purchased, tolerated, or pitied discovering what it felt like to be chosen.
When they separated, Tessa smiled.
"Not bad."
"Not bad?"
"I've had worse."
Rafe stared.
She laughed.
His arm went around her.
"You're enjoying this."
"Very much."
For the first time since she'd met him, Rafe looked peaceful.
It lasted forty-three seconds.
Mateo burst onto the roof.
"We have a problem."
Rafe sighed.
"Of course we do."
Tessa looked at Mateo.
"What?"
"The captain."
"The one who disappeared?"
"He just contacted us."
Rafe's face hardened.
"What does he want?"
Mateo held out his phone.
A live video played.
The captain stood inside a dark room.
Behind him was Madeline.
Tied to a chair.
Alive.
The captain looked directly into the camera.
"You destroyed Marcus," he said. "Now I'll destroy the one thing he spent years protecting."
Rafe frowned.
"Madeline?"
The captain smiled.
"No."
He moved aside.
A second chair became visible.
Someone sat in it.
Rafe's face changed.
Tessa recognized the woman from the old photograph beside him.
Not Elena.
Someone older.
Someone Rafe had once believed he had lost forever.
May you like
His mother opened her eyes.
And whispered, "Rafe?"
