ALEX

"Report," I say to Ryan as I step into the Detention center where Leah is being held as she waits for trial which is the day after tomorrow.

Ryan falls into step with me as we walk, and he responds. "She hasn''t said a word. She keeps pleading the Fifth. Detectives can''t get anything out of her. She''s been stonewalling since the moment she was brought in."

I stop walking and turn to face him slowly, my eyes narrowing.

"What?"

Ryan stiffens, swallowing hard. He looks like he''s seen a damn ghost.

I stare at him, my jaw clenched so hard I''m shocked my teeth are not falling off.

"Ryan," I say with deadly calm, "you have ten seconds to exin what the hell you''re talking about."

He flinches slightly, but then his eyes meet mine, "It seems she has someone backing her. Otherwise, why would she be so confident and arrogant with all this evidence against her?"

I breathe in through my nose, slowly, carefully. Hoping it will calm me down.

It doesn''t.

It fucking makes me see red.

"She asked for herwyer, but the idiot didn''t even show up. But that didn''t seem

to bother her. She''s so sure she''ll walk out free. I was going to report it to you, but...," he trails off.

I understand why he didn''t. Luca''s word is as final as mine, so he obviously took it as my order.

I nod as I continue walking. We step through the security doors, my footsteps

echoing like gunshots on the tiles. When we reach the viewing room with the two- way mirror, I halt.

With my arms crossed, I watch the session unfold.

Inside, Leah is seated with a slouched posture, casually chewing gum like she''s waiting for a fucking nail appointment. The detective across from her looks exhausted."

"Did you threaten the doctor in charge that night, Leah?"

Leah pops her gum and shrugs. "Fifth."

"Did you steal a random baby and kill him to have him swapped with Rayen?" The detective tries again.

"Fifth." She smiles.

She fucking smiles and I feel my blood rushing to my ears.

The ss separating us feels like it''s the only thing saving her right now. My jaw locks, muscles ticking as I watch her lean back like this is a joke. Like she didn''t rip lives apart. Like she didn''t shatter Athena. Like she didn''t damn near ruin my son before he even had a chance at life.

She deceived me, stole from me, and touched what she shouldn''t have, and yet she wants to hide behind the Fifth like it''s some designer handbag.

The bitch is cocky. Smug. Delusional enough to believe she''s untouchable.

"Did you try to kill Athena three times and end up shooting Sloane?" He asks, and my heart stops. A picture of my cousin lying in bed as she fights for her life with no guarantee of her being able to walk again shes before me, and I lose it when she checks her nails before responding.

"I plead the fifth, detective."

I feel something dangerous w its way up my chest. Something old. Something violent. The kind of rage I haven''t unleashed in years not since the days I earned the reputation that made grown men piss themselves at my name.

Rage fills my head as I watch her lick her lips, chewing her gum like this is some casual fucking interview.

I don''t even realize I''ve moved until Ryan grips my arm. "Boss."

"Turn off the cameras," Imand.

The officer behind the monitors hesitates. He''s pale. I can see the fear dancing behind his eyes.fn831f Checktest chapters at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?/fn831f

Good.

He should be afraid.

"I... I can''t do that, sir. These are ongoing-"

I don''t take my eyes off Leah as I step forward. Slowly. Like a predator that''s finally caught up to the kill.

"Do you know what happens when you refuse a direct order from me?" I ask without blinking.

The officer swallows, reaching toward the console with a trembling hand.

Click.

The red light above the camera blinks out.

I hand Ryan my watch and my phone without a word and push the door open.

Leah doesn''t even look up at first. She''s still lounging like she''s on a beach chair, enjoying a vacation after ruining lives..

Then she sees me.

Her gum stops mid-chew, and I smile.

Her face pales so white she looks like a corpse, realizing it''s still breathing...

I cross the room in three strides and grab her by the throat, lifting her like she weighs nothing.

She gasps, her heels kicking at the air, her feet barely brushing the floor, before I m her hard against the wall.

The chair crashes to the ground behind her.

The detective jolts to his feet.

"Mr King-"

"Get the fuck out." I don''t even look at him. My voice alone is enough to freeze the blood in his veins.

He hesitates.

Sighs. And then leaves, the door shutting behind him with a heavy thud.

I turn my eyes back to Leah. Her lips part, but no soundes out.

I tighten my grip on her neck, knocking all the air out of her as she struggles to take in as much air as she can.

"You plead the fucking Fifth, huh?" I snarl, tightening my grip hard enough to make her eyes bulge and water.

"Let''s see how long that bullshit holds up when it''s not a cop across the table but me. Because you should know that I''ll end you if you don''t start fucking talking, trial or not"