Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
MEREDITH
T he security office's reception room felt too small for the tension filling it. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, harsh and unforgiving, highlighting every perfect highlight in Shannon's blonde hair, every crease in her expensive silk blouse. She sat down the row from me, arms crossed over her chest, refusing to meet my eyes. My palm still tingled from the slap, but the satisfaction had faded, leaving behind a hollow anger that churned in my gut.
Roman stood by the door like a dark sentinel, his presence both comforting and a reminder of how crazy my life had become in a matter of days. Through the frosted glass window, I could see the shadows of the security guards making their calls within the main office, explaining to our respective employers why we wouldn't be returning from our breaks. Their quiet murmurs filtered through the door, a steady backdrop to the suffocating silence between Shannon and me.
They'd waited ten minutes before taking our statements, taking each of us inside to be questioned one after the other, beginning with Shannon. I'd had to rein in my emotions as I'd explained what had happened and why I'd retaliated. At least the guards had appeared sympathetic to my pain.
"Did you know?" I finally asked, my voice strangely calm despite how my hands trembled in my lap. "That he was engaged?"
Shannon's jaw clenched, a muscle jumping beneath her perfect makeup. Her eyes remained fixed on the wall ahead, but I could see the slight tremor in her crossed arms, the way her perfectly manicured nails dug into her sleeves.
"I don't even care anymore," I continued, surprising myself with the truth of it. The words tasted like freedom on my tongue in a way. Logan was just a shadow of my past, and in the grand scheme of things, his betrayal was nothing now. He was nothing. "Logan showed exactly who he is. I just want to know if you knew."
"Six months." The words burst from her like she couldn't hold them in anymore, her composure cracking as she turned to glare at me, like I was somehow at fault. "We've been seeing each other for six months. He was going to end things with you. Promised me he'd leave you."
The revelation hit hard, and I swallowed as I let it sink in. Six months. Half a year of lies, of betrayal, while I'd been picking out wedding venues and planning our future. All those late nights at the office, the missed dinners, the business trips – how many had been with her?
I blinked, the emptiness now settling over me. So he'd been using me while screwing her. How hadn't I seen it?
No. This wasn't anything to do with me. This was on them. She'd even known about me, known he was engaged, and she'd continued seeing him. Sure, he was no saint, he was the one mostly at fault here, but she wasn't innocent either.
I shook my head at how crazy all of this was. I'd just learned my brother and most recent lover had murdered my father. They'd taken a life. An affair was the least of my worries right now.
The man.
I looked to Roman, knowing I needed to tell him. But whoever he had been, he'd be long gone by now. Besides, I didn't want Shannon knowing a single thing more about my life.
"Do you really want him?" I asked, watching Shannon's perfect mask crack further as I focused on what I could discuss. "A man who cheats? He'll just do the same thing to you." I let out a bitter laugh, knowing the phrase all too well. "'Once a cheater, always a cheater.' But if you want him, he's all yours."
Shannon's perfectly drawn brows pulled together, uncertainty flickering across her face for the first time since we'd come in here.
Good. She was no innocent other woman who didn't know. She deserved it if he turned around and did the same thing to her. He'd deserved what had happened to him too.
The door opened, and the security guard that had restrained me stepped back in. His name tag read 'Raymond' – not that I'd been in any state to notice earlier.
"Would either of you like to press charges?" His eyes landed on me first. "Ms. Cassaro, since Ms. Peters instigated the physical altercation?—"
"That's not—" Shannon started.
"We have it on camera, ma'am," Raymond cut her off firmly.
I looked at Shannon, really looked at her. The fancy clothes, the perfect makeup, the way she held herself like she was better than everyone else. I'd wanted to destroy her, now, I just felt tired, and I had more pressing matters to deal with.
"No," I said quietly. "I just want to head out for the day."
Raymond nodded. "In that case, you're free to go. But you best let your supervisor know that you wish to leave. I'm sure they'll allow it given the circumstances."
"Thanks." I rose and headed for the door, casting one last glance at Shannon, who now looked defeated and uneasy.
She had no sympathy from me.
Roman fell into step beside me as we headed toward the elevator.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
"Fine." The word felt hollow, my mind reeling about other things now, although the anger at what had happened still simmered at the back.
In the elevator, I turned to Roman. "There was something else. In the coffee shop, before Shannon showed up – a man approached me. He knew about my father, about what happened."
Roman's posture shifted instantly, his expression sharpening. "What did he say exactly?"
"He said they know what really happened to my father. That if no one responds to their demands, everyone will find out the truth." I checked my phone, the corner of my mouth quirking at the text from Sof that she was feeling human. "He said Gray and Leo would go down for what they did."
"I'll check the security feeds," he said, already pulling out his phone. "Did you recognize him?"
"He seemed familiar, but I couldn't place him. Then Shannon came in and..." I gestured vaguely at my still-stinging cheek.
Roman nodded grimly. "This is good information. I'll get onto it. you alert your supervisor that you wish to call out, and I'll take you. I'll wait by the elevator."
"Right, thanks." I nodded, the elevator dinging as we reached my floor. Roman made his call as I headed into the office.
The silence that fell as I walked in told me everything. Eyes followed me to my desk, and Chantelle, my closest work friend, appeared almost immediately.
"Is it true?" she whispered. "About Logan cheating? And being in the hospital?"
Sickness swam in my gut now, and I glanced around the open office area as I gathered my things. All these people who'd congratulated me on my engagement, who'd listened to me talk about wedding plans – now they'd know the truth.
"I need to talk to Greg," I said, heading for my boss's office. "I'm not feeling well after the incident downstairs. I should go home."
"Oh, right." She didn't say anything else as I headed straight for my boss's office, ignoring the eyes on me.
Thankfully, Greg was understanding and let me head out.
I met Roman by the elevator, where he was waiting like promised.
"Where would you like to go?" he asked once we'd stepped inside.
I sighed, letting my shoulders sag after the chaos of the day.
The question held more weight than it should have.
"All my stuff's in Lincoln Park now, right?" I finally asked, remembering Gray's text about moving everything. The thought of my life packed away in boxes made my chest tight.
"Yes, but Mr. Cassaro is occupied at the moment."
"Do you have a key?"
Roman nodded, already understanding where this was going.
"I want to get some things," I said. "Before heading back to Sofia's."
"Of course."
"Did you find anything on that man?" I asked, but he shook his head.
"We have someone going over the footage now. Mr. Donati has been made aware of the situation, we will get this sorted. You've had quite a day."
"Tell me about it," I muttered as I shot Sof a text saying I'd fill her in on the interesting office stuff once I was back at hers. If I even hinted at what had happened, I knew she'd be calling, and right now, I just wanted to deal with it all on my own.
The new place was modern, all pristine with large windows that let in streams of winter sunlight. Roman stayed outside at my request, though the tight set of his jaw told me he wasn't happy about it. Cardboard boxes filled the main living area like a cardboard maze, all still sealed with packing tape and untouched. It was evident someone had just dumped them here, the intention to unpack unclear. Gray was someone who was either on the ball immediately, or he'd take forever to do it if it wasn't deemed important.
I guessed unpacking was not important right now.
Gray. Thinking of him had my emotions in a knotted ball. He'd killed our father for me. Knowing him, that had been difficult for him to come to terms with as well. And Leo had said he'd never killed since then, so that was something, right?
Still, he'd lied to me, hidden it from me all these years. I wasn't sure if I could forgive him for that. Not yet anyway.
In what was clearly meant to be my room, I found my belongings neatly boxed and labeled in Gray's precise handwriting: 'Mer's Books', 'Winter Clothes', 'Photos'.
So he'd gone and collected my things himself. Either that or he'd sent people to do it. How had they known what was mine? Had anyone been home at the time? Gray did have a spare key from me for emergencies, although I wondered if he'd ever thought he'd need it for this.
I dug through the clothes boxes, not surprised at how they were just tossed in. At least care had been taken with my more breakable things at least, although I did also notice some extra things inside my 'Things' box that weren't mine. Like the fancy gaming headset and keyboard I'd bought Logan for Christmas, or the expensive bottle of wine I'd gotten on our anniversary, saying we'd pop it on our wedding day.
I scoffed, knowing they were both things Gray had known about, and my heart warmed. He'd snatched those things up deliberately most likely, as his own way of saying 'fuck you' to the man who'd broken my heart.
I sighed as I stared at the bottle of wine, my stomach roiling at the thought of alcohol. But I was definitely taking it back to Sof's. We'd pop it on a better day to celebrate the end of that relationship.
I was about to close up that box when something caught my eye, and I pulled out the ring box. I frowned, disbelieving it, but sure enough, inside was Logan's engagement ring I'd bought him.
I pulled out my phone, firing off a text to Gray, wondering how he'd obtained it. I wasn't ready to talk to him, not fully, but maybe we'd start with baby steps while I figured out how I felt.
Had he paid him a visit in the hospital and yanked it off? Or had the bastard removed it once I'd left him on the sidewalk?
I knew he was busy and a response wouldn't happen immediately, especially after I'd told him I needed space, so I dropped it back in the box and moved on.
I gathered some essentials, trying not to think about how my brother had packed up my life while I was falling apart. I needed to be grateful for the care he'd taken though. From a quick look, he'd grabbed everything important, all my documents and work related stuff, photos, sentimental things like the hoodie from college that I still wore to bed.
I was ready to head back out with the duffel bag I'd filled, but as I passed the office, something caught my eye. A box marked 'Records' sat open, what looked like medical files visible on the desk. Curiosity drew me in, even as something in my gut warned me away.
Whose were they?
I set my bag down as I saw the first file.
Meredith Perla Cassaro.
My hands trembled as I pulled out the first file, the paper feeling too thin, too fragile to hold such heavy memories. Memorial Hospital, dated when I was eleven. The list of injuries made my stomach turn: three cracked ribs, severe bruising, sprained wrist. The memory surfaced as I read – Dad's face twisted with rage over a broken crystal glass, his hands shoving me, the sickening feeling of falling down the stairs. The sound of my own screams echoing in my ears.
I'd accidentally knocked over his glass when trying to show him my report card I was excited about. I'd done so well, a straight A student, and I was positive he'd be proud. Instead, I'd wound up in the hospital with a supposed bicycle injury.
Another file. Age fifteen: concussion, broken finger, internal bruising. That time he'd caught me trying to call Gray while he was on a camping trip with friends. I'd just wanted to hear my brother's voice, to feel less alone as my dad drank. Dad had made sure I couldn't dial a phone for weeks after that.
The files dated back to when my mother passed, almost one every year.
File after file, each one triggered another memory like dominoes falling in my mind. Hospital visits Gray never knew about, injuries explained away with carefully crafted lies. 'She fell.' 'Sports accident.' 'Clumsy teenager.' The same doctor's name appeared on many files – had he known? Had he suspected but stayed silent? Had my father paid him off?
Gray clearly knew it all now. He'd gotten my records, seen the truth. I'd not even recalled these fully until now, not in this depth, but these records didn't lie.
My father's violence was documented in sterile medical terminology, each page another piece of my fractured childhood coming back to haunt me. Words like 'contusion' and 'fracture' couldn't capture the terror of those moments, the way he'd smile at the hospital staff while squeezing my arm in warning to stay quiet.
Tears slid down my cheeks as the memories overwhelmed me. All those years of pain, of hiding, of protecting a monster who'd never loved me. And in the end, Leo and Gray had done what I never could – they'd stopped him.
Forever.
I sobbed as I stuffed the files back into the box, hating the cruel father I'd had. Why had he been like that? Why had he broken me down?
And my brain had chosen to block it all out after he'd died, only recalling the lesser moments, the more normalized episodes. Although even then, my therapist had said he'd been extremely abusive. If only she'd known the full depth of it.
But he was a dead man. There was no more punishment for him, no authorities that could be called on him.
He'd paid the ultimate price, hand delivered by the two men who cared deeply for me.
By one who called me his.
Had Leo known all of this then? Had he learned it after? Did he even know the full extent?
No, he definitely would know with his connections, especially with his possessiveness of me. He knew everything about me.
"Fuck," I choked out as I wiped at my tears.
I wasn't crying for the sick bastard who'd done this. No, he didn't deserve this. I was crying for the little girl who'd so badly wanted a father. Who'd suffered so much, endured so much, and shielded him despite it all.
Karma had a way of working around our attempts to protect bad people though. And justice had found him in a way he'd least expected.
I cried for some time, over my lost childhood, over knowing what Leo and Gray had done was right. And over the fact that I truly believed that, despite my morals. I'd never have wished death upon anyone…
But what they'd done, it was a necessary evil. They'd eradicated a monster. One who probably would've put me in the grave if they hadn't. I knew what I'd been like, I would've still tried to do right by him until he'd killed me. The loyalty of a child knew no bounds sometimes. At least the love and protectiveness of a brother outdid it.
Gray had saved me with Leo. He'd done a painful thing, something that I'd struggled with. But how had it affected him? Knowing he'd murdered his own flesh and blood to save another? He was living with blood on his hands, and I knew him. I knew he'd still feel guilt at times.
Maybe, when I was ready and truly came to terms with it, I'd thank him. Maybe it would help ease his conscience. But for now, I needed to sort through all of this.
When my sobs finally died down, I used the tissues on the desk to clean myself up. At least this room was somewhat unpacked. I'd take what little wins I could. Although finding these files, I wasn't sure what I'd class that as.
I sat at the desk for a short while, silent and numb, staring at the box of my father's cruelty. It was only when I finally rose that recognition suddenly hit me. The man from the coffee shop – I knew him from before everything changed, before Gray and Leo became friends. He was one of Dad's old business partners from his finance days, before the Donati family entered our lives.
My hands shook as I pulled out my phone, debating whether to tell anyone. But first, I needed to be sure. I closed my eyes, trying to grasp the name that danced just out of reach. Mr. Samuels? Mr. Sanderman? No… Mr. Sullivan. Andrew Sullivan. That was the man. I remembered him now, coming over a few nights when I was young, although the memories were hazy and vague.
A quick internet search and I had his office number in ten minutes. Before I could talk myself out of it, I dialed.
"This is Sullivan Accounting." The voice. It was definitely the man from the coffee shop, I could almost smell the tobacco on his breath with the attempt to hide it with mint.
"Mr. Sullivan." I forced my voice to remain steady. "I want to know why you're blackmailing us. You said we, so who is ‘we’?"
A pause. "Miss Cassaro. I'm surprised you remember me." He honestly sounded shocked. Had he not thought I'd recall the man who'd come by a few times in my childhood? Then again, from what I could recall, I'd been sent to my room when he'd come. But it was because of that that I remembered. I'd always wondered who he was, and my father had answered me on one of the rare times he felt like being civil.
"I'm remembering a lot of things lately." I traced the edge of a medical file with my finger, my heart thundering. "You said you know the truth."
"I do. And they should pay up." His tone was sharp, but I heard the uneasiness. He'd not expected this. Perhaps there was no we. Just him. But saying ‘we’ would give anyone pause, enough to not attack him in a coffee shop at least.
Smart man if so.
"Why now?" I gripped the phone tighter. "After all these years?"
"That's none of your concern." The line went dead, and I stared at my phone, my mind racing. This wasn't just about money – the timing, the personal nature of it... there had to be more… right?
I snatched up my bag and headed for the front door, knowing Roman was the one likely to get through to both Leo and my brother quickly, since my brother hadn't yet responded to my text.
Then again, they'd probably go after Andrew immediately and deal with this, and probably not in a good way. I had no idea why he was blackmailing us, but he'd been around before the Donati were. Maybe it wasn't related to their business. Maybe this was more about saving his own skin until now, when he was needing the money. Maybe he'd kept quiet all these years for fear of the Donati family.
I had no idea what his motives were, and it wasn't like he'd shot at me or threatened me. He'd only threatened to reveal the truth.
No, I needed more answers before I threw him to the wolves.
"Roman?" I called out as soon as I stepped out the front door. I turned to lock it, jumping when I spun back to find Roman before me.
"Can you take me back to Sofia's? I need to talk to her about something."
He nodded, unaware of my new discovery. Then again, maybe they'd already have his identity from the video footage.
"Any news on that man yet?" I asked carefully as I slid into the passenger seat of his car.
"Nothing yet. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything, as per Mr. Donati's request."
Right, because Leo wanted me to only have the truth from here on out. And yet here I was, keeping something vital from him.
We'd just file it under something he'd find out once I knew the truth. I wasn't completely lying to him and hiding his entire life away. This was different.
I was potentially protecting an innocent man who just needed money or had a sick child or god knows what.
The ride back was silent, but my mind was anything but quiet. The pieces were there – I just had to figure out how they fit together.