Chapter five

The photograph trembled in Rowan's hands like a live wire.

Elena Voss is my mother. Elena Voss gave me away. Elena Voss is going to use this to destroy everything.

Kael's arms tightened around him, but Rowan barely felt it. The safe house walls seemed to close in, the air growing thick with secrets and lies. How many times had he investigated her? How many times had he written about her crimes without knowing—

"Rowan." Kael's voice cut through the spiral. "Talk to me."

Rowan looked up, meeting steel-gray eyes that held genuine concern. He cares. This dangerous, ruthless man actually cares about me.

"She gave me away," Rowan whispered. "My own mother sold me like I was nothing."

Kael's jaw clenched. "That explains why she's been watching you so closely. Why she knew exactly where to hit."

"She knew I'd come after her eventually." Rowan stood on shaky legs, pacing the small room. "She knew I'd dig until I found the truth. And when I did, she'd have this waiting."

"Rowan—"

"Don't." Rowan spun to face him. "Don't tell me it's going to be okay. Don't tell me we'll figure this out. My entire life has been a lie, and the woman who abandoned me is going to use it to kill us both."

Kael moved fast, grabbing Rowan's shoulders. "Then we use it first."

"What?"

"We expose it ourselves." Kael's eyes burned with intensity. "We tell the story before she can. We control the narrative."

Rowan stared at him. "You want me to go public with this?"

"I want you to own it." Kael's hands slid down to grip Rowan's wrists. "Elena thinks this makes you weak. She thinks it gives her power over you. But what if it makes you stronger? What if the world sees a man who survived being abandoned by a monster?"

He's right. God help me, he's right.

"And if it destroys what's left of my career?"

"Then I'll rebuild it." Kael's voice was fierce. "With my name, my resources, my protection. You're not alone in this anymore."

Rowan felt something crack open in his chest—hope, maybe, or the terrifying realization that he was falling for this man. This isn't fake anymore. This stopped being fake the moment he chose to protect me instead of using me.

"Okay," Rowan said quietly. "Let's do it."

Kael's smile was sharp and satisfied. "That's my fiancé."

---

The press conference was scheduled for noon.

Rowan stood in front of the mirror in the safe house bathroom, adjusting his tie with trembling fingers. In two hours, the entire world would know that Elena Voss abandoned her son. In two hours, everything would change.

Kael appeared behind him, hands settling on Rowan's shoulders. "You look good."

"I look like I'm about to destroy my life."

"You're about to take control of it." Kael's fingers worked at Rowan's collar, straightening it with surprising gentleness. "Elena can't hurt you if you own the story first."

Rowan met his eyes in the mirror. "What if she has more? What if there's something worse waiting?"

"Then we'll face it together." Kael's hands slid down to Rowan's waist, turning him around. "You're not doing this alone."

The kiss was soft, almost reverent. Rowan melted into it, letting Kael's strength anchor him. This man would burn the world for me. And I'm about to burn mine down.

When they pulled apart, Kael rested his forehead against Rowan's. "Ready?"

"No." Rowan managed a shaky smile. "But let's do it anyway."

The conference room was packed with reporters, cameras flashing like lightning. Rowan stood at the podium with Kael beside him, their hands clasped in a show of unity that felt increasingly real.

"Thank you for coming," Rowan began, voice steady despite the chaos in his chest. "I have an announcement that will change everything you think you know about Elena Voss."

Here goes nothing.

---

The story exploded across every news outlet within minutes.

"Elena Voss Abandoned Her Own Son" and "Disgraced Journalist Reveals Mafia Mother's Dark Secret" and "Rowan Vale's Shocking Family Connection."

Rowan watched the coverage from the safety of Kael's penthouse, feeling strangely detached. This was supposed to destroy me. Instead, it's making me stronger.

Kael's phone rang constantly—reporters, business associates, people wanting to know if the rumors were true. He handled each call with cold efficiency, never once wavering in his support.

"You should see this," Kael said, tossing Rowan his tablet.

Rowan scrolled through the comments, surprised by what he found. Support. Understanding. People who had been abandoned themselves, reaching out with their own stories.

"They're on your side," Kael observed.

"I didn't expect that." Rowan set down the tablet. "I thought this would end everything."

"It might have, if you'd done it alone." Kael moved closer, pulling Rowan into his arms. "But you're not alone. You have me."

You have me. The words settled in Rowan's chest like a promise. This dangerous, beautiful man is choosing me over everything else.

"Kael," Rowan whispered. "What happens when this is over? When Elena is gone and we don't need to pretend anymore?"

Kael's eyes darkened. "Then we decide if we want to keep pretending."

Rowan swallowed hard. "And if I don't want to pretend?"

Kael's smile was slow and dangerous. "Then we stop pretending."

The kiss that followed was desperate, hungry, months of tension finally breaking. They moved together like they'd been doing this forever—Kael's hands mapping every inch of Rowan's skin, Rowan's mouth finding every sensitive spot that made Kael gasp.

When Kael finally pushed inside him, Rowan cried out at the perfect stretch, the overwhelming fullness. This is real. This is mine. This is—

The sound of shattering glass cut through the moment.