Chapter 2 - Fifteen Names Before Sunrise
At 4:17 a.m., Damon Blackwell stood in his private office, staring at fifteen photographs arranged across his desk.
Every man in those photographs had entered his mansion with Preston Caldwell.
And every one of them had lied about what happened upstairs.
Matteo Russo stood across from him, holding a tablet.
"We have eleven confirmed witnesses, seven separate security recordings, and the original guest-entry logs," Matteo said. "Preston's father has already called twice."
Damon didn't look up.
"Let him call."
"He's threatening to involve the governor."
"Then he can call the governor."
Matteo hesitated.
"There's something else."
He placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed Preston Caldwell standing beside a distinguished silver-haired man.
Senator Richard Caldwell.
But it was the woman standing behind them who caught Damon's attention.
Evelyn Bennett.
Kate's mother.
Damon picked up the photograph.
"Where did you get this?"
"An archived newspaper from nineteen years ago. The photograph was taken at a private fundraising event."
Damon studied Evelyn's face.
She looked younger, healthier, and strangely frightened.
"What was Kate's mother doing at a Caldwell fundraiser?"
"We don't know."
Damon's expression darkened.
"Find out."
Across the city, Kate lay in a private hospital room, staring at the cast covering her right arm.
Dr. Reyes had explained that the fracture required surgery. Her shoulder was badly bruised, but there was no permanent nerve damage.
Physically, she would recover.
Emotionally, Kate wasn't sure.
Every time she closed her eyes, she heard Preston laughing.
She remembered the other men blocking the doorway.
She remembered begging them to let her leave.
And she remembered the sound her arm made when Preston twisted it.
A quiet knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in."
Damon entered carrying a paper bag.
He looked different without his tailored black suit.
His sleeves were rolled to his elbows, and exhaustion shadowed his eyes.
"I brought breakfast."
Kate glanced at the bag.
"You didn't have to."
"I know."
He placed it on the table.
Inside were scrambled eggs, buttered toast, and a small container of strawberries.
Kate stared.
"How did you know?"
"Your employment file says you have a strawberry allergy."
She blinked.
"Then why bring strawberries?"
"Because your file also says you don't have one."
For the first time since the attack, Kate almost smiled.
Damon sat beside the bed.
"I wanted to ask you something."
Her shoulders tightened.
"About Preston?"
"About what happens next."
He leaned forward.
"Kate, I can provide legal representation, medical care, and protection. But I won't make decisions for you."
She looked at him carefully.
"Are you saying I have to testify?"
"No. I'm saying you get to choose."
Kate swallowed.
"And if I choose to testify?"
"Then we'll make sure you can do it safely."
She stared at her injured arm.
"People like Preston don't go to prison."
"Sometimes they do."
"Not when their fathers own half the judges in the state."
Damon's jaw tightened.
"Then we find a courtroom they don't own."
Kate looked up.
"Why are you really helping me?"
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he answered.
"Because I know what happens when powerful men believe nobody can stop them."
His voice held something she hadn't heard before.
Regret.
Before she could ask what he meant, his phone rang.
Matteo.
Damon answered.
"What?"
His expression changed.
"Where?"
A pause.
"Don't touch anything. I'm coming."
He stood.
Kate's stomach dropped.
"What happened?"
Damon looked at her.
"One of the men involved last night has been found dead."
The room went silent.
May you like
Then he added something that made her blood turn cold.
"And someone left your name beside the body."
