chapter 105
Lucas's POV:
A sleepless night.
I watched as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting shadows across Tori's sleeping face.
The crunch of tires on gravel came from outside—Roman Pierce had arrived precisely on time.
As Grayson Enterprise's chief legal counsel, his punctuality was legendary.
I quietly left the bedroom, closing the door with practiced gentleness.
Roman stood in my foyer, his calculating gaze immediately noticing the extra coat hanging by the door.
"Alpha," he greeted with a respectful nod, his eyes briefly flickering to the stairs.
"We'll talk in my study," I said, my tone brooking no discussion.
Roman nodded. "Of course."
Once inside the mahogany-paneled room, I closed the heavy door behind us and moved behind my desk, not bothering with pleasantries.
"Have you uncovered everything?" I asked, my voice low and measured.
Roman placed his leather portfolio on the desk. "Everything that was available, yes."
I leaned back slightly in my chair, studying his expression. "And what's your assessment of what you found?"
Roman's face remained professionally neutral.
"I've reviewed all the trial transcripts," he said. "There are... inconsistencies that were never properly addressed."
"Explain," I demanded, leaning forward.
"Sullivan claims she was lured to the Morris estate by a friend." Roman shuffled through papers. "When questioned, this supposed friend denied everything completely."
I frowned, trying to recall what I knew of Tori's social circle. I wasn't aware she had any close friends except Morgan.
"Who?" I asked.
Roman met my eyes directly. "Fiona Price. "
"Fiona?" The name hit me like a physical blow. "Ethan's mate?"
"Yes," Roman nodded. "Fiona was brought in for questioning but denied everything vehemently. With no evidence beyond Sullivan's word, the claim was dismissed entirely."
Duke growled in my mind. The Price girl set her up.
"But why?" I asked aloud, though the pieces were already clicking into place.
"Jealousy, most likely," Roman suggested.
I nodded slowly, the scenario unfolding with brutal clarity in my mind.
Of course. Fiona had wanted Ethan for herself. If Tori and Ethan had remained together, their relationship might have continued, perhaps even led to mating. Ethan would never have become entangled with Fiona.
And I...
I stopped the thought before it could fully form.
"Alpha?" Roman prompted, noticing my silence.
"Continue," I ordered, pushing aside the unwelcome speculation. " And Noah Morris?"
"A known womanizer with multiple complaints of harassment. Nothing ever stuck—his family's influence saw to that." Roman's lip curled slightly. "It appears Fiona may have used his... proclivities... to remove Sullivan from the picture permanently."
My fingers tightened around the edge of my desk. "Is there any direct evidence linking Fiona to Morris?"
"Not yet," Roman admitted, running a hand through his hair in rare frustration. "We're digging through everything we can—phone records, social media archives, security footage from that period. The challenge is that much of the digital evidence from four years ago has been deleted or archived."
"And Noah Morris is dead," I added grimly.
"Precisely." Roman's expression hardened. "As for Fiona Price, she would never voluntarily incriminate herself, and we have no legal grounds to compel a new statement from her."
"So we're at a dead end?" I could feel my jaw tightening.
"I wouldn't say that," Roman replied carefully. "It's simply... challenging. "
"Find it," I ordered. "Whatever it takes."
Roman nodded, then collected his documents. "I'll continue the investigation and report back when I have more concrete evidence."
After Roman left, I sat in silence for several minutes, processing everything I had learned.
I reached for my secure line and dialed Ethan's number. He answered on the second ring.
"Uncle?" His voice sounded tense. "Is something wrong with Tori?"
Something in me bristled at his immediate concern for Tori—an irrational possessiveness.
I pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the matter at hand.
"We need to talk about Tori," I said, my voice deliberately neutral. "And Fiona."
There was a long pause. "What about them?" His tone had shifted to careful wariness.
"Don't play games with me, Ethan. Did you know that Fiona set Tori up four years ago? That she arranged the situation that sent Tori to Silver Fang?"
Another silence, then a heavy sigh. "Yes. I've known for some time."
"And yet you chose Fiona as your mate." I couldn't keep the coldness from my voice.
"Uncle, please," His voice steadied with resolve. "Let me handle Fiona myself. Don't interfere. Tori's suffering happened because of me, and I should be the one to deliver justice."
"And this is your grand plan for justice? To ostentatiously claim Fiona as your mate just for revenge?" I couldn't keep the incredulity from my voice.
"That has to be the most foolish approach I've ever heard. "
Ethan gave a bitter laugh. "Not all of us have your power or resources, Uncle. Some of us have to work with what little leverage we have. This is the only card I had to play."
The accusation stung more than I cared to admit.
"It may not be sophisticated," he continued, "but I want her to feel what Tori felt. The betrayal from someone she trusted completely. The experience of defending herself when no one believes her."
I ended the call without responding.
The Price family needed to be dealt with properly.
I reached for my phone again and dialed Jack. He answered immediately.
"Alpha."
"What's the latest on Hannah Sullivan?" I asked, my tone conversational but my intent anything but.
Jack cleared his throat. "She lost about a billion at the horse races last month. There was... tension between her and Alexander for a while. But they've reconciled recently. In fact, Alexander purchased a fifteen-carat diamond ring for her yesterday at auction."
"How touching," I said dryly. "Their bond truly seems unbreakable."
"It appears so, Alpha."
"I've heard Alexander still harbors fond memories of his first wife," I mused. "Arrange for a few women with similar attributes to cross his path. Similar style, similar scent... similar enough to stir old memories."
Jack's silence spoke volumes.
"And Jack? When Hannah's in one of her moods, make sure the racing stakes are... accessible to her. Higher limits, private tables. If her own funds run short, help her secure more. I understand the Price family has quite the impressive savings from their dealings with the Grayson family."
"Alpha, that would—" Jack's voice was tight.
"Is there a problem?" I asked softly.
"No, Alpha." I could almost hear the cold sweat forming on his brow. "It will be done."
"Good. That's all."