THE MAFIA BOSS BETRAYED HIS PREGNANT WIFE — BUT HE NEVER EXPECTED HER TO DESTROY HIS EMPIRE

Claire drove directly to the private hospital where her pregnancy had been monitored.

She did not call Adrian.

She called Rebecca Shaw.

Rebecca had been her father's attorney for twenty-three years.

At sixty-one, she had the kind of reputation that made corporate executives sit straighter when she entered a room.

She answered on the third ring.

"Claire?"

"I need you."

Something in Claire's voice made Rebecca stop asking ordinary questions.

"Where are you?"

"On my way to St. Catherine's."

"Are you hurt?"

"I don't think so."

"Is the baby moving?"

"Yes."

"Good. Tell me what happened."

Claire told her everything.

The kiss.

Marissa.

The forged proxy.

The medical petition.

The custody request.

By the time she finished, Rebecca had gone completely silent.

Then she said, "Listen carefully. Do not sign anything. Do not surrender those documents. And do not agree to see a physician selected by Adrian."

Claire swallowed.

"Rebecca, can he take my baby?"

"Not simply because he filed paperwork. But someone is trying to create a record against you, and we need to stop it."

Claire began crying.

She hated herself for it.

Not because crying was weakness.

Because she had spent the entire evening trying to remain composed, and now her body seemed to understand that she was finally somewhere safe enough to fall apart.

Rebecca's voice softened.

"Claire, your father prepared for something like this."

Claire went still.

"What?"

"Thomas left instructions concerning any attempt to remove you from control of Bennett Harbor."

"Why?"

"Because he never fully trusted the Vale family."

Claire gripped the steering wheel.

"Did he know something about Adrian?"

A pause.

"Meet me at the hospital. I'll explain."

By the time Claire arrived, her abdomen had begun tightening.

The nurse immediately brought her to labor and delivery.

Dr. Hannah Brooks examined her and ordered monitoring.

The baby's heartbeat remained reassuring.

Claire was not in active labor, but the physician wanted to observe her because of the contractions and her complicated pregnancy.

Rebecca arrived shortly afterward.

She carried a leather briefcase and wore a dark coat over what looked suspiciously like pajamas.

Claire almost laughed.

"You came straight from home."

"Obviously."

Rebecca sat beside her.

Then placed a sealed envelope on the bed.

Across the front, in her father's handwriting, were five words.

FOR CLAIRE, WHEN THEY COME.

Claire stared.

Her father had died four years ago.

She still remembered the smell of his office.

Coffee.

Leather.

Old paper.

He had always kept peppermints in the top drawer because Claire loved them as a child.

Now his handwriting lay in front of her.

She opened the envelope.

Inside was a letter.

My darling Claire,

If you're reading this, someone has decided that loving you gives them the right to control you.

I pray that person is not your husband.

Claire stopped.

Her eyes filled.

Rebecca reached for her hand.

"Keep reading."

Claire swallowed.

There are things I should have told you before I died. I believed I had more time.

Bennett Harbor Logistics is not merely a company. It is the last independent piece of a shipping network that certain men have spent decades trying to control.

If Adrian ever asks you to sign away your voting rights, refuse.

If anyone claims your judgment is impaired, demand an independent examination.

And if someone mentions Pier Nine, trust no one until you have spoken to Rebecca.

Claire looked up.

"Pier Nine."

Rebecca's expression changed.

"Who mentioned it?"

Claire showed her the anonymous message.

Rebecca read it twice.

Then closed her eyes.

"Oh, Thomas."

"What does it mean?"