At the training camp, Matthew was in the middle of a strategy meeting when n''s message shed across his screen. He got up quietly and stepped outside into the cool evening air, then called n back on a secure line.


    "What happened to Reese?" His voice was low, tight with worry.


    n never reached out during a mission unless it was serious. He got straight to the point. "I think the Ratcliff family''s ming her for what happened to the old man. The only way she''ll clear her name is if she gets the medicine."


    Matthew''s jaw clenched. Sebastian had purposely sent Matthew to the unit. For a while, Matthew had even hoped Sebastian was changing, maybe trying to patch things up with Reese while Matthew was gone.


    But now he saw it for what it was. Sebastian had never meant well.


    Sometimes Matthew really wanted to crack open his head just to see what was going on inside.


    He nced over at the medic nearby. "I''ll take care of this. I''ll be back as soon as I can."


    He ended the call and headed straight back into the tent. Marching up to Mr. Sanchez, who was leading the meeting, Matthew snapped a sharp salute.


    "Commander, I need emergency personal leave. My grandfather''s in critical condition and needs immediate medical help. I''m requesting permission to take the medic and medical supplies to the hospital."


    Mr. Sanchez looked surprised for a second, then remembered, Matthew had just been acknowledged by the Ratcliff family, and his grandfather was Mr. Ratcliff himself.


    The Ratcliffs had done a lot for the country, and they''d even been involved in Project de. Plus, their families were connected by marriage. There was no way he''d say no.


    After a moment, Mr. Sanchez nodded. "All right. I''ll handle the paperwork. Take a medical team and get there fast, but don''t let it interfere with your mission." "Yes, sir. Thank you, Commander."


    A flicker of relief crossed Matthew''s face. He saluted again and hurried off toward the helipad.


    Iron Financial, Executive Office.


    Zach took the file from his assistant, flipping through page after page, his mood growing darker with every line.


    When he got to the death certificate for the person who''d drugged Sebastian all those years ago, and the crash scene photos, he lost it. The file went flying across the room.


    "So it was the Ramos family all along. They set Reese up to marry Sebastian. "Dylon! Tara! How could you do this!"


    He mmed his hand on the desk, making his assistant flinch and take a step back.


    In all his years working for Zach, he''d never seen his boss this angry.


    "The Ramos family thinks they can just walk all over Reese because she has no one taper? After squeezing every penny out of her, that wasn''t enough. They had to ruin my rtionship with her too?"


    Zach got up and started pacing, his mind racing.


    Every time he thought about everything Reese had gone through with the Ratcliffs, all those years


    hed spent hating her, and everything he''d done to her when he first came back, he felt like want to tearthe Ramos family apart.


    He was even angrier at himself for not seeing the truth sooner.


    "Dig into Tara. Find out everything she''s done using Iron Financial''s name. I want every dirty detail."


    He turned to his assistant, his voice cold and steady. "And get me proof of Dylon''s short selling against Ramos Corporation want them t? know exactly what it feels like to get what''sing to them."


    The assistant nodded, then hesitated. "Boss, I just got word. Mr. Ratcliff''s in ICU.


    The family''s ming Ms. Meyer for it."


    Zach stopped pacing. As the assistant quickly exined the whole situation, his heart twisted at the thought of what Reese was going through.


    "Call thewyers. We''re going over there right now."


    Outside the office, Tara listened to the chaos inside, her face drained of all color.