I found my daughter crying in the kitchen, eating scraps from dirty plates while her husband smiled and said, “She deserves it.” I didn’t scream or argue. I took her by the hand, walked out with her, and called a lawyer. Hours later, we discovered a contract, eight months of unpaid work, and evidence that could completely destroy him.

Special Agent Reynolds stormed into the room with four heavily armed tactical agents. He was a tall, no-nonsense man with silver hair and sharp eyes.

“Vance, you better have what you promised,” Reynolds barked, lowering his weapon when he saw we were safe.

Robert handed over the red ledger, the forged contract, and the USB drive Sarah had just delivered. Reynolds opened the ledger, his eyes scanning the handwritten notes. A slow, dangerous smile crept across his face.

“I’ve been hunting Thorne for half a decade,” Reynolds muttered. “He always kept his hands clean. But this... this puts his direct orders on tape and his money in the book.”

“Damian just put out a local warrant for Chloe’s arrest for grand larceny,” Robert warned. “If the local PD finds her—”

“Local PD is locked out as of five minutes ago,” Reynolds interrupted. “I just declared this a federal RICO investigation. Chloe Prescott is now under federal witness protection. But we have a small window. Thorne’s moles in the police department will warn him the feds are involved soon.”

“So what do we do?” I asked, holding Chloe’s hand.

“We raid the restaurant tonight,” Reynolds declared. “But I need one more thing to make the arrest stick instantly without bail. We need Damian on a wire, admitting to the forgery right now. We need him to confess on tape.”

Reynolds turned to Chloe.

“Mrs. Prescott, I need you to call your husband.”

Chloe stared at the federal agent, her breath hitching. The thought of speaking to her abuser made her physically sick. She looked at me, her eyes filled with doubt.