Page 118 of Discretion at Its Finest

My hand froze on the door knob, my mind racing at the thought of taking them with me, at the thought of them forcibly having to go back to Gregory anyway in the end, of me staying and enduring the same longing, the same pain Jamie did until this family, this sickness eventually killed me too.

And I almost decided to stay. Almost threw the entire plan away, the plan I’d thought of for the last eighteen hours on no sleep—my entire freedom, my happiness, the love of my life—when I felt my little boy hug my legs from behind, tears leaking into my jeans. “…I love you too, Mom.”

He pulled away. And in that moment, I felt strong enough to open the door, strong enough to step out into the night—but I wasn’t strong enough to turn back.

I couldn’t.

Chapter forty-five

Reid

The morning air hit cool against my skin, nothing like the recycled, stagnant vents of detention center they kept me in for show.

I stepped out onto the private tarmac in a dark suit that fit my new body too well. Months of confinement had carved me into something leaner and harder. The fabric stretched over muscle born from consistent exercise my mind forced me into for my sanity. My features that had grown darker and more weathered over the same time, however, I had little control of.

Two federal escorts flanked me, guarding and watching my every move while being fearful of me all the same.

How ironic… the man under a leash was still the most feared in the room.

My polished shoes clicked against the asphalt, echoing beneath me against the sound of the sleek black jet waiting to take off. Not commercial or traceable, it was obviously the kind of plane billionaires would use to make people disappear.

Alexander walked a few paces ahead, clipboard in hand, posture tight. He was also in a suit, expensive and pressed,but he looked older than he had just months ago. Thinner and harsher around the eyes. He had essentially become… me to the public. Executing every task, every order, every deal or succession without fault while I orchestrated it all behind the scenes.

He waited at the base of the stairs as the guards paused, giving a respectful nod like he outranked them—because in this transaction, he did.

We ascended the steps, entering the cabin, and the flight attendants poured whiskey on rocks as refreshments.

Alexander didn’t waste a second once we were alone. “The remaining transfers are holding steady,” he said. “We’re at 1.5 billion moved, unflagged, and the final Newman account freeze from the Feds went through this morning,” he said. “Every Newman Trust account Gregory started and failed is officially locked.”

“What about the three dormant accounts you used?”

“Under the eyes of the Feds. They’re technically frozen but Gregory never filed them under Newman’s umbrella. They’re independent entities on paper. The government can’t seize what Newman Trust doesn’t own.”

I almost let a smile slip.Good boy, Gregory.“But Uncle Sam is greedy. He’ll want every penny they think they can find.”

He shrugged. “The Department of the Treasury has more shit to worry about than the shell network we built. They’re not worried about messy hedge funds, dormant real estate holdings, or failed start-up portfolios. Those places no one is looking because they won’t think it’s Newman money.”

“And they can’t connect it.”

“They can’t even find it. The Trust collapse buried the trail. As long as Newman Trust remains under federal freeze, the government assumes the fortune is locked. Meanwhile, we usethe money, recycle it, let it sit and generate the bank interest. So long as we don’t raise too many red flags, the money is clean.”

“Cheers to that.” I lifted my glass, downing the liquid as he shook his head.

Alexander exhaled. “It still amazes me no one has touched you.”

I raised a brow. “They can’t.”

“You know… most men who get pulled into federal custody come out broken,” he murmured. “You came out with more power than when you went in.”

My jaw ticked. “Thank Russel for that,” I said, low, a hint of distaste on my tongue. “Him and his elite posse were probably petrified of what I was becoming. And with Silicon Valley projected to advance into tech they’re not even ready for, he decided wisely. Positioned himself behind the fire rather than standing in front of it to get burned. Wrapped a leash around my neck, afraid I’d do it to him first… Made this cage feel like a partnership.”

Alexander swallowed. “Well… captivity from a business partner is one hell of an endorsement, I’ll tell you that.”

I didn’t respond, taking another sip out of the glass as I looked out the window. I could have laughed. An endorsement this huge felt like a trap and a favor all at once, but I knew that from the very beginning. Frederick made sure the world couldn’t stop me. Not the government, investors, elites. Not even… her.

Every time I tried to get her out of my head, every time I tried to focus on something that wasn’t the woman I fell asleep dreaming of or woke up thinking about… I failed.

My exile this time around was different, more brutal than years ago. I had wanted her here with me. I wanted her tochooseme.