Matthew nced down at Reese, his longshes casting gentle shadows across his skin. His eyes held something unreadable, a storm hidden behind calm, with a softness he barely let show. He didn''t bother with small talk. His thumb traced slow circles on the back of her hand as he spoke, his voice steady and almost casual, like none of this really mattered.


    "The board picked two candidates. Me, and Joseph.” He paused, then smiled a little, almost like he was amused by it all. “Joseph lost his mind when he heard. Said someone like me someone born out of wedlock-had no business touching Ratcliff Global. But honestly, I''m not interested."


    Reese almost asked why, but stopped herself. She remembered when Ramos Corporation was on the edge of copse. Matthew had stepped in quietly, pouring in money, helping her pull everything back from disaster. He''d never asked for anything in return. There was no way his life was as simple as it looked. Maybe he really didn''t care about Ratcliff Global, not with all the fights and backstabbing going on inside. And she knew he hated thatpany, hated it all the way down to his bones. The Ratcliff family had hurt his mother, left scars that never healed. There was no way he''d want to take over a ce that only brought him pain.


    It was clear she''d have to think of something else.


    Just as she opened her mouth to say something, Matthew seemed to know exactly what was on her mind.


    "Joseph''s making a move now because he thinks I''m sick, that I can''t fight him. He wants to get the shareholders on his side and take over while he thinks I''m weak. If you don''t want to see him win, I can step in."


    Reese felt a warmth spread through her, calm and steady. She looked up at Matthew, a small smile tugging at her lips, relief softening her eyes.


    "You don''t have to do this for me. What you want is what matters. But... I really don''t want him to get his way. I''m heading to Vista Tech to sort out the shares and the project stuff."


    "I''ll go with you." Matthew''s answer came instantly, his voice sure and gentle, with none of the hesitation she usually heard from others.


    Reese didn''t argue. She just nodded, her fingers wrapping around his, palm against palm,fort flowing between them.


    They left the police station side by side, the afternoon sunlight breaking through the clouds, spilling over them and washing away the cold, heavy feeling left behind by the Interrogation room. ''


    ***


    When they got in the car, Matthew leaned in and buckled Reese''s seatbelt for her, then pulled a bottle of warm milk from the glove box and handed it over.


    "Drink this first. When we''re done, I''ll take you to your favorite Japanese ce."


    The milk was warm in her hands and in her chest. Reese smiled, soft and grateful. "Thank you."


    The car rolled out, smooth and quiet,


    following the line of the street.


    het


    They''d barely gone a few blocks when Reese''s phone rang. The Sereed showed a local number she didn''t know. She hesitated, then answered.


    "Reese."


    The voice on the other end was all too familiar, and it made her skin crawl.


    Her brows knit together and her voice dropped, cold and sharp. "What do you want?"


    "I heard what happened with the


    Meyer family Sebastian''s voice was low and t; impossible to read.


    "Bailey''s dead.


    harboring a fia got arrested f


    itive. The Meyer


    family''s out of money. And Joseph tricked them out of a huge project. I doubt they''llst much longer, will they?"