Chapter 18 - The Man in the Rain
Ryan appeared at our Manhattan townhouse at two in the morning.
He was soaked by rain.
No car.
No coat.
No arrogance.
Security called upstairs.
Julian wanted him turned away.
I didn’t.
“Bring him in.”
Ryan stumbled into the foyer.
There was blood near his temple.
Julian’s entire posture changed.
“Who did that?”
Ryan laughed weakly.
“Nice to know you still care.”
“I asked a question.”
“Vale security.”
My stomach tightened.
Ryan sank into a chair.
“They think I betrayed them.”
“Did you?” I asked.
He looked at me.
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because somebody used my old Whitmore access credentials at the construction site.”
Julian crossed his arms.
“You expect us to believe you had nothing to do with the fire?”
“I was in Connecticut with Adrian when it happened.”
“Convenient.”
“There are twelve witnesses.”
I studied him.
Ryan looked terrified.
Not caught.
Terrified.
“What happened tonight?” I asked.
Ryan pressed a handkerchief against his temple.
“I confronted Adrian. Told him someone was framing me. He said it didn’t matter.”
“Meaning?”
“He said whether I started the fire or not, everyone would believe I did.”
A sick understanding passed through me.
Ryan had been selected as the fall guy from the beginning.
He swallowed.
“I asked him what happens after the shareholder vote.”
Julian’s expression sharpened.
“And?”
Ryan laughed bitterly.
“He told me I should be grateful he gave me the fantasy.”
“The chairmanship.”
Ryan looked down.
“There was never going to be a chairmanship.”
Nobody spoke.
For the first time in his life, Ryan had finally experienced himself from the outside.
Used.
Promised status.
Discarded when convenient.
Exactly what he had done to me.
“I need protection,” he whispered.
Julian’s face became stone.
“You came to the wrong house.”
Ryan looked at me.
“Clare.”
The old instinct in me stirred.
The instinct to rescue.
To smooth over.
To save him from himself.
I killed it.
“I will not protect you from consequences you created.”
His face fell.
“But,” I continued, “if Adrian Vale committed crimes and is trying to frame you, we will help you tell the truth.”
Julian looked at me.
I held his gaze.
“This is not forgiveness.”
“I know.”
Ryan’s eyes filled.
“I have his files.”
Julian turned.
“What files?”
Ryan removed a small encrypted drive from his pocket.
“Adrian kept two sets of books on several acquisitions. Bribery payments. Offshore transfers. Payments to political consultants.”
Mark would have a heart attack.
“Why did you take it?” I asked.
Ryan smiled sadly.
“Because for once in my life, Clare, I recognized the moment before somebody threw me away.”
Then a red dot appeared on the wall behind him.
Julian saw it first.
“DOWN!”
May you like
He tackled me to the floor.
The townhouse window exploded.
