Small Hands Novel Chapter 09

Small Hands Novel Chapter 09

Rhys arrived at Vesper headquarters within two hours

I’d never brought anyone outside my inner circle inside these walls. The fact that he was standing in my war room said everything about my trust Or my desperation.

Both.

He studied the evidence without theatrics. Wire transfers. Surveillance photos. Vivienne’s meetings with Crane.

“The money trail through my subsidiary is real,” he said. “But I didn’t authorize it.

“I know. I’ve had your communications monitored for two days.”

His gaze snapped to mine.

“I’m not apologizing,” I said. “But the surveillance confirmed you had no knowledge. Someone inside your company routed funds through your

accounts.”

“Vivienne.” His jaw clenched. “She still has board allies from before the divorce.”

“She’s framing you. If it works, my contracts collapse, and she positions a shell company to absorb them.”

“It’s not just business.” He was pacing-coiled, volatile. “She wants to punish me. For surviving.”

“This is personal.

He stopped. Looked at me. The wall behind his eyes cracked.

“She took Isla.” His voice was raw. “My daughter. When Vivienne left, Isla was two. She told the child I didn’t want her. Isla is six. I’ve held her

twice. She calls another man Dad.”

Something broke open in me. Different wound. Same depth.

“We’re going to stop Vivienne,” I said. “And you’re going to get Isla back.”

“Wren-

“This is what I do. I solve impossible problems with music and math and sheer bloody-mindedness.” I pulled up the tactical display. “Here’s the

plan.

Six days.

We fed Agent Crane false data-modified Vesper files embedded with tracking code. When he passed them to Vivienne, the code cracked her entire network open.

What we found was staggering. Vivienne hadn’t just targeted us. She’d built a shadow operation-bribing executives, manipulating streaming algorithms, funneling money through shell companies across five countries.

“Enough to put her away for years,” Frank said.

Chapter 9

“Enough to do more.” I looked at Rhys. “Enough to get Isla back

Hope-fragile, terrified-flickered across his face.

“How?”

“Her custody claim rests on stability. This evidence collapses it.”

“She’ll run-”

“She won’t. Jax’s trial starts next week. Biggest scandal in a decade. And Vivienne already booked a flight to LA.” I pulled up the booking. “She

wants a front-row seat to watch me fall. Instead, she walks into a trap.

Frank rose to leave. Paused at the door.

“Good to have you at full power, V.” He glanced at Rhys. “Both of you.”

When the door closed, Rhys crossed the room and pulled me against him.

I stiffened-old armor-then let myself lean in.

“You’re saving my family,” he said against my hair.

“I’m protecting mine.” I pulled back, met his eyes. “That’s what this is now. You, Isla, whatever we’re building-it’s mine. And I don’t let anyone take

what’s mine.”

He kissed me.

Not gentle. Not careful. A kiss that tasted like war and want and every song I’d never written about something good.

When we broke apart, breathless:

“Scotland, he murmured.

“After.”

“After.”

But his arms didn’t release me. And I didn’t ask them to.

Jane Austen