Chapter 3 - My Father’s Real Debt
I found Aiden outside the cathedral twenty minutes later.
Winter rain fell across the steps.
Black SUVs waited at the curb.
“Aiden.”
He stopped.
I lifted my dress and hurried down the steps.
“You knew something was wrong.”
“No.”
“But you suspected.”
He glanced toward Tommy.
“Yesterday.”
“What happened yesterday?”
“Your father asked me to transfer another four million dollars immediately after the ceremony.”
“For what?”
“He wouldn’t say.”
I stared at him.
“You were going to marry me while investigating him?”
“Yes.”
“That’s insane.”
“Probably.”
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
Almost.
Aiden opened the SUV door.
“Go home, Claire.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I live with my father.”
He looked back toward the cathedral.
“Not tonight.”
I folded my arms.
“Are you ordering me somewhere?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I’m suggesting you avoid the man who forged your signature until you understand why.”
That was irritatingly reasonable.
I looked at Tommy.
“Can you actually get the company records?”
Tommy smiled.
“Already have them.”
Aiden gave him a look.
“What?”
“You told me to.”
“That was nine minutes ago.”
“I’m efficient.”
For the first time that day, I laughed.
Aiden looked surprised.
Then Tommy’s phone rang.
His smile disappeared.
He answered.
“Walsh.”
He listened.
“Where?”
Aiden’s posture changed immediately.
Tommy ended the call.
“Someone broke into Bennett Shipping.”
My heart dropped.
“When?”
“Twenty minutes ago.”
“What did they take?”
Tommy looked at Aiden.
“The accounting server.”
Aiden cursed quietly.
I grabbed his sleeve.
“My father said Russo.”
“I heard him.”
“What does this mean?”
“It means someone knew we’d start looking.”
Aiden looked toward the cathedral.
“Where’s Richard?”
Tommy turned.
Then stopped.
My father was gone.
We found his car abandoned four blocks away.
His phone sat on the passenger seat.
There was an envelope beneath it.
My name was written across the front.
CLAIRE.
Inside was one sentence.
I’m sorry. I thought I could fix it.
Aiden read it twice.
“Your father didn’t run.”
“How do you know?”
“He left his phone.”
Tommy nodded.
“And his medication.”
I looked between them.
“Then where is he?”
Aiden’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Sullivan.”
A man laughed.
“A wedding without a bridegroom. Chicago will talk.”
Aiden put the call on speaker.
Victor Russo.
I recognized the name.
“Where’s Richard?” Aiden asked.
“Safe.”
“Define safe.”
“Alive.”
I stepped closer.
Aiden held up one hand, warning me to stay silent.
Russo continued.
“Richard owes me twelve million.”
“You’re not getting it from me.”
“I don’t want your money.”
“Then what?”
“The Bennett docks.”
Aiden’s eyes narrowed.
Those docks controlled a major section of commercial river traffic.
Russo wanted infrastructure.
Not cash.
“You used Richard to get access,” Aiden said.
“Smart man.”
“You threatened him.”
“I encouraged responsible financial decision-making.”
I hated his voice immediately.
Aiden looked at me.
Then said:
“Release Richard.”
Russo laughed.
“Bring me the transfer documents tomorrow.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You’ll receive Richard in significantly less useful condition.”
My stomach turned.
Aiden ended the call.
I grabbed his arm.
“We have to help him.”
Aiden stared at me.
“After what he did?”
“He’s still my father.”
“That doesn’t erase what he did to you.”
“I know.”
“Claire.”
“I know.”
My voice cracked.
I hated that.
I steadied it.
“But I’m not going to become someone who leaves him to die because he betrayed me.”
Aiden studied my face.
Finally, he nodded.
“Okay.”
Tommy frowned.
“Boss.”
“We get Richard back.”
“How?”
Aiden looked toward the river.
“We give Russo exactly what he asked for.”
May you like
Then he looked at me.
“On paper.”
