Chapter Sixty Six

The most dangerous secrets were those that powerful individuals believed they had put to rest.

As Damian read the address on the access report one more time, his expression became more serious. Someone accessed the archive holding records for both families using the credentials of his deceased father, even though Victor Knight owned the storage facility.

There was more than just suspicion in this. It was deliberate.

"Have you confirmed that the building is still operating?" Damian asked his head of security.

"Indeed, sir," the man said. "The property has been active for years, but little movement has been documented. It is registered to a business that Victor manages."

"Someone is using it for a purpose."

"Should we inform the police?" The man asked.

"Not yet," Damian stated. "First, I'm going to look into what's inside. It's possible Victor has stored the original records there, and alerting him now would give him time to destroy them."

After they were done with the call, Damian took up his phone. Since their previous chat, Emily had never left his thoughts. Even if she wouldn't confess it, he could tell she was terrified. She also understood that he had good cause to question whether he could support her without allowing his reservations to separate them.

He decided it was thoughtful to call her, so he did.

After the second ring, Emily answered. "Have you discovered anything?" She asked.

"Yes," Damian responded. "A storage unit that Victor owns. Perhaps it contains information on your parents."

"Then we should head there," she said.

"Emily, it might not be secure," Damian responded.

"Waiting for Victor to pick his next target is not an option either."

For a brief time, Damian closed his eyes. He wanted to tell her that the prospect of her being hurt terrified him more than anything Victor could do to him. Instead, he chose words that he knew would make sense.

"I don't want you taking any unnecessary risks," Damian said.

"And I don't want you making decisions about which hazards I may take without consulting me."

Neither of them spoke for several seconds.

She wanted to be near Damian. He needed to trust her sufficiently for Emily to remain there.

"Meet me in Sophia's office," Damian eventually said. "Together, we'll decide what to do."

Emily said, "I'll be there."

Thomas Reed was seated in Sophia's office across from Emily, his hands resting on his knees. He had been marked by the years that had gone by. His face was fatigued from spending too long looking back, and his hair was grey.

Between them on the table was still the document he had brought with him.

Even though she had read her name on the cover several times, Emily was unable to open it.

"Why did you disappear after my parents passed away?" Emily asked again.

Thomas lowered his gaze and said, "I figured you would be in danger if I remained."

"You were supposed to be guarding my parents but you fled, knowing something was wrong."

Thomas said, "I was instructed to go that night." I thought I could come back before anything happened. Your parents were already dead when I understood what had happened.

The ancient sorrow rushed over Emily so violently that she had to lean against the table to steady herself.

"Who told you to go away?" she asked.

"The instruction was passed on by a go-between from your father's employer. I eventually learned that Ryan's father was the source of the command," Thomas said, not knowing that Ryan was standing by the door.

“Are you saying that my father organized their deaths?” Ryan asked as he stiffened.

"No," replied Thomas. 

"What I mean is that he allowed someone to act without the appropriate security. I don't know whether he understood what would happen,” Thomas added.

Ryan looked away. He had fought for his family for years, he was sure that its darkest mysteries had to do with personal and financial affairs. He must now accept the possibility that his father's decisions may have claimed the lives of two individuals.

"Why didn't you go to the police?" Sophia asked.

"I tried so hard to preserve the evidence," Thomas said. "But the first ledger disappeared, and those involved influenced the records. I was informed that if I persisted, Emily would become a victim."

Once again, Emily went through the document.

"What about this one?" she asked.

Thomas pushed it her way.

"It lists the firms your parents were considering. One of them was used to transfer money through accounts linked to Victor Knight. I kept the document because I thought the truth would someday be more essential than my fear."

As Emily lifted the cover, she saw that dates, copied transaction records, and many company names that Sophia had studied were included.

She then saw a handwritten line at the conclusion of the final page.

Victor Knight's personal storage facility was where the original ledger was relocated.

Sophia came closer. "This is the exact place Damian discovered."

“Your parents believed that this ledger would show Victor had orchestrated the financial crisis that destroyed Damian's father. They were trying to establish a link before they died,” Thomas responded.

Emily's chest tightened. The truth had been pursued by her parents, and that truth had touched Damian's family long before either of them realized how closely their lives were connected.

Ryan looked at Emily briefly and said, "What my father did may be illuminated if that book is still accessible."

"It's possible," Emily said. "However, I will not let you use this as another opportunity to ask for my forgiveness.

Her words were received by Ryan without protest. "I'm not asking you to," he said.

She hoped she could believe him. Without wanting anything in return, he wished she would see that he was finally making an effort to assist. They were at a loss on how to bridge the distance between them.

A few minutes later, Damian appeared. After reading Thomas's report, he decided that he would visit the facility that evening, with the support of security and without alerting Victor.

As they were getting ready to leave, Thomas Reed held his arm.

"There is something else you need to know," Thomas said.

Damian spun around.

Thomas's face was pale.

"Your father left a sealed statement there not long before he died, and the ledger was not the only item stored there."

Damian froze.

"What statement?"

Thomas swallowed.

"Information about who set him up, as well as the identity of the individual he thought had commanded Emily's parents' silence," Thomas said.

He stared straight into Damian's eyes and said, "Your father mentioned Victor Knight. However, he also mentioned someone else."

Thomas gave the last blow before Damian could even ask who.

"The second name was yours, Emily. "