Page 84 of Downfall

“I am sorry I didn’t come forward right away. I had to bide my time. I knew he would slip up eventually. I never wanted it to come at the cost of someone’s life, though.”

I look at her. “You—you really didn’t text me the address to get the evidence?”

She shakes her head. “I didn’t. I was still figuring out my next move, and honestly, I didn’t even know you were looking into him until I heard about the car accident. I’m not sure who was trying to get you to expose Marshall, but the accident had Nicole written all over it. I just had to get her alone.”

I nod. “What will you do now?”

“I’ll figure it out. This isn’t my first rodeo.” She gives me a small smile that I return, as warmth envelops me from behind.

“I’m sorry, baby,” he says against my ear. “I know I said we would just talk, but I couldn’t let it go.”

“I know,” I whisper. I love when he calls me baby almost as much as when he calls me Firefly. “I just want to go home.”

He takes my hand, and we say our goodbyes to Claire.

Declan opens the car door for me, and as I go to get in, my phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s a text from Patrick Ross, my dad’s lawyer. I texted him last night about setting up a meeting to talk about the trust, so he’s probably responding to that. I shove my phone back in my pocket, sliding into the passenger seat. I’ll text him back when we get home, after I’ve had a minute to wrap my head around everything.

When Declan gets in the car and starts the engine, there’s another buzz. He looks my way but doesn’t say anything.

“Who is it?” he finally asks, checking his rearview mirror.

I check it again. More messages from Patrick.

“My dad’s lawyer,” I tell him.

He palms the wheel, the muscles in his arm flexing as he turns it all the way to the left. “What does he want?”

“I don’t know,” I say. I have no idea why he would text me three times.

When the fourth text comes through, Declan gives me a look, and I finally open the messages.

Patrick Ross

I need to speak with you, Skylar.

Patrick Ross

It’s urgent.

Patrick Ross

Please come to my office as soon as possible.

34

DECLAN

Skylar nibbles her lip, twirling a lock of her auburn hair around her finger as her right leg bounces.

“Baby,” I say softly. “It’s going to be okay.”

“What could be so urgent?” she asks.

“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out.” I keep my tone calm, even though I’m anything but. My dad was arrested. Just like that. Thanks to Nicole’s confession and the recovered text messages on the burner Claire found, he was hauled away in cuffs for trying to have my wife killed. His assistant is a nutcase, both of them are, although I get it. I know the toll someone like Marshall Astor can take on a person.

He wasn’t even remotely sorry for any of it. Not when we barged into his office, not when Claire called him out on everything he had done, not even when I was beating the ever-living shit out of him. But, fuck, did that feel good. It was a long time coming. Ever since he locked me in that damn closet, I knew there would come a time when I would get him back for everything.

Messing with my sister’s life.