Chapter 5 - Fiona Became Fallon
The meeting was set for midnight at an abandoned luxury hotel Victor Dane secretly owned through three shell companies.
Fiona wore crimson.
She hated crimson.
Fallon adjusted her collar.
“Stop looking terrified.”
“I am terrified.”
“Fallon doesn’t get terrified.”
“What does Fallon do?”
“Make everyone else terrified.”
Ronan entered.
He stopped when he saw Fiona.
For a second, his expression gave away everything.
Fallon noticed.
“So it’s that bad?”
Ronan ignored her.
He looked at Fiona.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No.”
“You keep saying that like you’re in charge of me.”
“I’m used to it.”
“I noticed.”
Fallon laughed.
Fiona pointed at her.
“You’re enjoying this too much.”
“Absolutely.”
The plan was simple.
Which meant Fiona immediately distrusted it.
Victor believed Ronan had captured Fallon.
Fiona would offer Victor the encrypted drive in exchange for safe passage.
Fallon would access Victor’s servers remotely once he authenticated the drive.
Ronan’s people would record everything.
No unnecessary confrontation.
No improvisation.
Fallon looked at Fiona.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“If Victor asks about Dad, tell him Dad died protecting the blue ledger.”
“What blue ledger?”
“There isn’t one.”
“Then why—”
“He’ll panic.”
Ronan frowned.
“You’re still keeping secrets.”
Fallon smiled.
“Marriage suited us.”
At midnight, Fiona entered Victor’s penthouse suite.
Alone.
Victor Dane stood beside the windows.
He was in his sixties now.
Silver hair.
Perfect suit.
Warm smile.
Fiona remembered that smile from childhood.
“Fallon.”
She forced herself not to react.
“Victor.”
“You look well.”
“You look old.”
His smile widened.
“That’s more like you.”
Fiona placed the drive on the table.
“I want out.”
“You already tried that.”
“This time I have leverage.”
Victor looked at the drive.
“The Gallagher accounts?”
“And more.”
He poured two drinks.
“You were always the ambitious twin.”
Fiona’s stomach tightened.
He knew.
She kept her face blank.
“What twin?”
Victor smiled.
Then he reached for her right hand.
Fiona pulled away.
“Don’t.”
Victor chuckled.
“Still sensitive about the scar?”
Her heart hammered.
He knew about that too.
Fallon’s voice whispered through the tiny earpiece hidden beneath Fiona’s hair.
“Stay calm.”
Victor moved toward the laptop.
“Let’s see what you brought.”
He inserted the drive.
Across town, Fallon began working.
“Connected,” she whispered.
Victor entered a password.
“First layer open,” Fallon said.
Fiona needed time.
She leaned against the table.
“Before we finish, tell me something.”
Victor glanced up.
“What?”
“Did my father die protecting the blue ledger?”
Victor froze.
Fallon whispered:
“Got him.”
Victor’s eyes sharpened.
“Who told you about that?”
Fiona smiled.
“Nobody.”
Victor reached for his phone.
Too late.
The suite doors opened.
Ronan entered with Patrick and two security men.
Victor stepped backward.
“What is this?”
Ronan’s voice was calm.
“An accounting problem.”
Victor looked at Fiona.
Then at Ronan.
“You think she’s loyal to you?”
“No.”
Ronan walked toward Fiona.
“I think she’s loyal to herself.”
A second woman appeared in the doorway.
Victor’s face lost all color.
Fallon.
He looked from Fallon to Fiona.
For once, Victor Dane had nothing to say.
Fallon smiled.
“Surprise.”
Patrick removed the laptop.
Fallon continued.
“You spent six years using my family as insurance.”
Victor’s voice turned cold.
“You have no idea what you’ve started.”
Fallon held up her phone.
“Actually, I just finished it.”
Victor’s financial records had already been copied.
His allies.
His hidden accounts.
His bribery network.
Everything.
Ronan looked at Patrick.
“Send the package.”
Patrick nodded.
Victor’s empire began collapsing before they even left the room.
Outside, Fiona finally exhaled.
Ronan approached her.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Fair.”
She looked at him.
“You dragged me into a car three days ago.”
“I remember.”
“You threatened me.”
“I remember that too.”
“You called me your wife.”
Ronan almost smiled.
“That part was technically directed at someone else.”
Fiona shook her head.
“You are unbelievable.”
She started walking away.
Ronan followed.
“Fiona.”
She stopped.
“What?”
He held out her purse.
Inside were her phone, wallet, apartment keys, and employee badge.
“You’re free to go.”
Fiona stared at him.
“No guards?”
“No.”
“No locked bedroom?”
“No.”
“No armored car?”
“I can call a taxi.”
She took the purse.
“Good.”
Then she walked away.
Ronan didn’t follow.
May you like
For some reason, that bothered her more than when he had.
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