Chapter Thirty
Dawn
Cassidy exhales, closing her laptop with a quiet snap. “Alright. Enough of this.”
I blink at her, barely processing the words. My mind is fogged from hours of searching—refreshing pages, dialing dead numbers, rereading old messages like maybe this time Luke will answer. I sit up straighter. “What?”
Cassidy stands, stretching her arms over her head, rolling the tension from her shoulders. “We need to get out of here. Get some air.”
I frown. “Cass, we don’t have time—”
“No arguments.” She points at me, then at Nikolai, who hasn’t moved from his spot at the counter since drinking a coffee over there earlier. “Both of you need a breather, and I need caffeine.”
Nikolai, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet, barely glances up from his phone. His fingers tap against the screen, but he isn’t really engaged. He’s been distant all morning—reading something, thinking about something, maybe.
When Cassidy turns her attention to him, her expression shifts slightly. “That means you too, big guy.”
He exhales, still not looking at her. “I’m fine.”
Cassidy rolls her eyes. “Sure, you are. Let’s go.”
I hesitate. It feels wrong to step away from this—like I’ll miss something important if I do.
But what am I missing? There’s nothing. Every lead is a dead end. Every call goes unanswered. Every trace of Luke’s presence is vanishing.
I curl my fingers into my lap, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling of helplessness.
Cassidy softens. “Come on, Dawn. Just for a little while. You need a break.”
I breathe in slowly through my nose. My stomach twists, but I force myself to stand. “Fine.”
Cassidy nods approvingly before turning to Nikolai again. “And you?”
Nikolai finally looks up from his phone. He studies us both for a beat before slipping the device into his pocket. His face is unreadable, but after a moment, he shrugs. “Where to?”
Cassidy lets a smile form on her lips. “Coffee first, then the beach.”
The moment we step outside, the warm afternoon air hits like a slap. It’s cloudy, but the sun fights to break through the gray. A slight breeze moves through the streets.
Cassidy tugs her bag around her shoulder, adjusting herself. “See? Fresh air. Feels good already.”
I don’t answer. It doesn’t feel good. It feels wrong. Like I shouldn’t be out here, walking around like my world isn’t cracking open.
Still, I follow her into her car, buckling into the passenger seat.
The drive is quiet. None of us feel much like humming along to the radio or talking. Nikolai sits in the back seat, phone in hand, scrolling through something.
I stare out the window, watching as the streets blur by. The city moves as if nothing’s changed. People going about their days, walking their dogs, sipping their overpriced beverages.
I lean my head on the window. It’s not fair how normal everything looks.
We pull into a small lot near the boardwalk. The area is lively, but not crowded—a row of shops, restaurants and cafes stretching along the wooden planks, the beach visible just beyond them. The scent of salty air mixes with fresh coffee and sweet foods.
Cassidy cuts the ending and glances at me. “Coffee first.”
I hesitate for a second, fingers gripping the strap of my bag. Maybe this will help. It won’t fix anything. It won’t bring me answers. But maybe it will be good to clear my head.
I inhale, letting the scent of the ocean fill my lungs. The air feels fresher here, less suffocating than Cassidy’s apartment, where I’ve been cycling through the same thoughts, the same dead ends. I unbuckle my seatbelt. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
The cafe is busy, the afternoon rush in full swing. Baristas move quickly behind the counter, filling orders as the hum of conversation and steaming espresso machines fills the space.
Cassidy taps her nails on the counter as she orders. “Three large, iced coffees, please. Cream and sugar.”
The barista nods, ringing her up, but before Cassidy can reach for her wallet, Nikolai pulls out his card and hands it over.
“I’ve got it.” His voice is casual.
Cassidy raises an eyebrow but doesn’t argue. She just smiles, grabbing straws for us.
“Thanks.” I murmur.
Nikolai just nods, slipping his card back into his wallet.
We take our drinks and step outside. The warmth of the afternoon air settles over my skin, the scent of salt and coffee melding together as we make our way to the beach.
The transition from the boardwalk to the beach is seamless—just a few steps down and we’re walking along the shoreline. The sand is warm as it grazes my feet in my sandals, the waves rolling in steady and calm.
Cassidy takes a slow sip of her drink, watching the water.
Nikolai pulls out his phone. I glance at him, but he barely looks at the screen before shoving it back into his pocket with a sharp exhale.
Cassidy notices. She tilts her head, her voice casual and calm. “Alright, what were you doing on that thing all morning?”
Nikolai doesn’t answer right away. His jaw shifts slightly, like he’s weighing his words. Then, finally, he exhales. “Trying to get information.”
Cass raises an eyebrow. “And?”
Nikolai runs a hand through his hair, gaze still fixed on the waves. “Nothing. I reached out to some of the execs—no real answers. Just corporate bullshit.”
That makes me turn to him. “What kind of bullshit?”
His eyes flick to mine before he looks away. “Deflections. Vague responses. Some didn’t answer at all.”
Cassidy returns her gaze in front of her, processing.
Nikolai’s fingers tighten slightly around his coffee cup. “I’m still locked out of certain files in the servers. Nothing I’d normally have trouble accessing.”
Cassidy whistles low under her breath. “Damn. They’re keeping secrets from their own heir?”
Nikolai’s jaw tightens. “My father knows about me and Dawn. That’s why I’m being cut out. Not as a warning, but as a verdict. He sees me as a liability.”
I press my lips together. “I’m sorry, Nikolai.”
His lips press together for a moment, as if debating whether to answer. “I don’t know.” He holds a slight pause before continuing. “I owe the company. It built me. There are certain things that are expected of me. Blackthorn is, and always has been, my future. My birthright.”
I watch him closely, my iced coffee suddenly forgotten in my hands.
He shakes his head slightly. “But…”
Cassidy hums. “But then you met Dawn.”
My insides seem to swirl.
Nikolai doesn’t react immediately. But then, he nods.
Something inside me pulls tight. I’m the reason he’s in this position. The mix of guilt and care flush inside of me at the thought.
I don’t say anything—I just reach out and take his hand.
He gives me a soft, forced smile and grips my hand tight.
Cassidy exhales, looking out toward the horizon. “You know, I used to think I could actually change things.”
I blink at her, thrown by the sudden shift. “What do you mean?”
She lights a cigarette and takes a slow drag, her lips twitching into something that isn’t quite a smile. “Back when I was still in investigative journalism. I thought if I uncovered the right scandal, if I published the right truth, I could actually make a difference.”
Nikolai watches her now, his dark eyes unreadable.
“What changed.” I ask.
Cassidy snorts, shaking her head. “Turns out, some people are untouchable.” She takes another drag, then tilts her head toward Nikolai. “You know exactly what I mean, don’t you?”
I expect him to dodge the question, but he doesn’t.
Instead, he exhales. “Blackthorn isn’t untouchable,” he says. “It’s just… strategic.”
Cassidy raises a brow. “Strategic?”
“Fear is a better tool than force.” He kicks a small rock into the surf. “You don’t have to control everything. Just the right people.”
Cassidy watches him carefully. “And how many of those ‘right people’ do you own?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Enough.”
The wind picks up, whipping through my hair. I sip my coffee, staring out. I don’t know how I feel about that answer. But I do know that the man standing next to me isn’t the same as the man currently running Blackthorn. And I let that comfort me slightly.
We stay out on the beach longer than we mean to, just talking. Breathing. Each of us trying to come up with what to do next without saying it. Before we realize it, the sun is starting to set.
The drive back to Cassidy’s apartment is quieter than before.
The sky has deepened into a twilight, a cool haze settling over the city. The streetlights flicker on as we pull into her lot, their glow casting elongated shadows against the pavement.
Cassidy kills the engine, sighing as she leans back against the seat. “Back to work.” She sighs.
I open the door, and the three of us make our way out of the car.
Cass unlocks the front door, tossing her keys onto the counter before immediately heading for the laptop. “You want the TV on?”
I shrug, distracted as I slip off my shoes. “Sure.”
The screen flickers to life, the dull hum of a news broadcast filling the space.
I sink into the couch, exhaustion tugging at my limbs. Cassidy settles onto the floor in front of her laptop, fingers already flying across the keys. Nikolai rubs a hand over his face. “I’m going to use the restroom.”
Neither of us respond, too caught up in our own heads. I barely hear the bathroom door click shut behind him.
For a moment, it feels normal.
Until I hear it.
“Governor-Elect Luke Carter under scrutiny as new allegations surface regarding foreign ties.”
I freeze. The words dig into my lungs, stomach plummeting. Cassidy’s fingers still.
On the screen, a well-groomed anchor speaks with calm detachment, as if he isn’t gutting my brother’s entire existence in real time.
“According to sources familiar with the matter, federal agencies had begun inquiry into Carter’s campaign finances, following concerns over undisclosed foreign contributions.”
The camera cuts to a panel of experts—men in expensive suits, speaking in controlled, measured tones. “While no official charges were filed, the mere suggestion of financial ties to foreign interests raises significant ethical and security concerns.” One of them says.
“If true, this would constitute a major breach of election integrity.” Another chimes in. “And depending on where the money originated, it could have posed a direct risk to national security.”
A risk to national security. The words land like a hammer.
They aren’t accusing him outright. They don’t have to. They’re laying the groundwork, twisting public perception against him.
The discussion continues, more carefully framed speculation.
- “Carter’s economic policies have raised eyebrows in certain circles—was this influence at play?”
- “If these claims hold weight, this would be unprecedented for an elected official.”
- “We may never know how deep this goes, but it’s something the public deserves answers on.”
The anchor leans forward, solemn now. “Of course, Governor-Elect Carter has denied any wrongdoing, and no formal allegations had been made at the time of his win. However—”
A banner flashes across the bottom of the screen.
brEAKING NEWS
I sit up straight. My stomach lurches. Cassidy stiffens beside me.
The anchor touches his earpiece, listening. His expression shifts into something practiced. “We have just received tragic breaking news out of L.A. county.”
The screen cuts to live footage. A familiar building, engulfed in flames. The shot is wide, a reporter standing in front of the blaze, voice raised over the chaos. “We are live at the scene of a devastating fire at the campaign office of Governor-Elect Luke Carter.”
Nausea coils within me. My breath halts entirely. But I can’t look away.
The camera zooms in—charred remains, embers glowing in the wreckage. Fire crews work to control the last of the flames.
And then, the words that hollow me out entirely.
“Authorities have confirmed that a body was discovered inside.”
I don’t even realize I’ve gripped the edge of the couch until my knuckles ache.
The reporter keeps talking, but I barely hear her. “…identified as Governor-Elect Luke Carter.”
The room spins.
No.
No, that’s not—
Cassidy gasps, hands flying to her mouth.
The bathroom door opens, and Nikolai steps out. The news plays on. The flames still smolder.
He sees the screen and stops cold in his tracks. His voice is low. “What is this?”
I barely breathe.
My throat tightens as I force the words out. “It’s Luke.”