Inside the car.

Lemira sat in the passenger seat, her eyes locked anxiously on the laptop screen, completely unaware of what the evidence would entail.

The USB drive was nearly empty, containing only a single video file.

As Sebastian clicked play, the screen revealed Mrs. Amelia actively bribing Hale with stacks of cash. Every word of their arrangement was recorded crystal clear.

Judging by the background, the footage was taken in Hale's living room. There were even little girl's clothes and toys scattered on the sofa.

A triumphant smile spread across Sebastian's face. "Well, there's your smoking gun. The Sinclair family is finally going down for what they did."

Lemira felt a massive wave of relief. "We actually have it."

"Yeah, and we almost lost it. Who the hell managed to get there before us?"

She looked at him. "Did anyone else hear Hale mention the location? Could it have been Evelina?"

"She was still dangling out the window. There's no way she heard. The only people there were the two guards who came to escort him back, and a janitor cleaning the hall."

Lemira thought for a moment. "Then the leak definitely came from one of them."

Sebastian studied her face. "The Sinclairs have been suspiciously quiet lately. They were probably plotting this exact move."

Remembering her unpleasant run-in with them the night before, she knew he was

right.

"Their company is tanking. I assumed they were too busy putting out their own fires. I didn't think they'd have the resources to pull something like this."

She had underestimated them.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Sophia Sinclair has been going on endless blind dates lately. She's probably hunting for a new sugar daddy. If she found a powerful backer, pulling this off wouldn't be hard."

"That makes sense."

Lemira glanced out the window and noticed Orion was still standing on the curb, seemingly waiting for news.

Her eyes zeroed in on the sleeve of his dark shirt. The fabric looked unusually heavy, clinging to his arm as if it were wet.

Was he bleeding?

Without a second thought, she opened the door and walked toward him. He was holding a lit cigarette, the top buttons of his shirt undone, revealing the sharp line of his collarbone.

Looking bored, Orion brought the cigarette to his lips. When he heard the familiar sound of her footsteps, be paused and lowered his hand "What was on the drive?"

"Direct video evidence of Mrs. Amelia paying for the hit."

He nodded. "A crucial piece of evidence. No wonder they tried to steal it."

"Attorney Bennett and I think the Sinclairs orchestrated this. Thank God we stopped them."

At the mention of the lawyer's name, Orion's tongue pressed hard against the inside of his cheek I have my people keep a close watch on the Sinclairs. Keep that evidence safe."

"It's already backed up. Even if they manage to steal the physical drive now, it won't save them."

The crushing weight on her chest had finally lifted.

Her gaze drifted back to his arm. "You're hurt."

He stiffened, the hand holding the cigarette completely still. "It's just a scratch," he said, his voice a little strained.

"Let me see."

She gently took his arm and pulled the fabric back, revealing a deep, jagged gash. It was obviously a blade wound from the fight.

She frowned deeply. "You're bleeding this much, and you call it a scratch?"

At her proximity and blatant concern, his long fingers went rigid. The cigarette slipped from his grasp and hit the pavement.

He crushed it under his shoe, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I didn't feel it during the adrenaline rush. It stings a bit now."

"You need to get to a hospital and have this disinfected. It probably needs stitches." The heat of his skin radiated against her palm.

He looked down at her, his dark eyes unreadable. "Worried about me?"

She immediately dropped his arm. "You helped me out back there. It's the least I can do."