Page 24 of Filthy Lies

She studies my face for a long moment, then nods as if coming to a decision. “No more half-truths between us, Vince. No more compartmentalizing your life to protect me.”

“Rowan—”

“That’s what got us here in the first place,” she interrupts. “You keeping secrets, me in the dark.” Her voice grows firmer, more insistent. “Tell me everything, Vince. All of it. No more protecting me from the truth.”

I hesitate. My first impulse is to shield her, to carry this burden alone. It’s what I’ve always done—compartmentalized my life, kept the darkness away from her as much as possible.

But that strategy failed spectacularly. My father used my silence against me. Used my desire to protect Rowan as a weapon.

And in that horrible room, Rowan proved she’s stronger than I ever gave her credit for.

“You deserve to know,” I agree finally. “Everything.”

I stand and move to the kitchen, returning with water for her. She drinks gratefully while I gather my thoughts.

“My father’s betrayal wasn’t spontaneous,” I begin. “He’s been undermining our legitimization efforts for months. The Costa Rica development, the shipping contracts—all of it was sabotaged on his orders.”

“I know. I found the evidence, remember?”

“Yes, but there’s more.” I pace the room, unable to sit still with these truths weighing on me. “When you were taken, it wasn’t just about the baby. It was about control. My father believed hecould use you to force me back in line. To abandon our plans for legitimacy and return to the old ways.”

“But the Solovyovs intervened.”

I nod. “They’ve been watching us for months. Waiting for an opportunity.” My fists clench at my sides. “They saw my father’s men take you and seized their chance.”

Sofiya stirs in Rowan’s arms, making small mewling sounds. Rowan coos to reassure her, and our daughter settles back to sleep.

“What about Grigor?” she asks quietly. “Does he know about me?”

There’s the question I’ve been dreading. “I don’t think so. But it’s only a matter of time. Especially now.”

“And when he finds out?”

“Best case scenario, he tries to use you as leverage against me. Worst case…”

Rowan’s jaw sets tight. “Worst case, he tries to take me. And Sofiya.” Her voice is steady, her eyes clear. No trace of the fear I expected.

“Yes.”

“So we’re caught between three powerful enemies. Your father. The Solovyovs. And my biological father, who doesn’t even know I exist yet.” She laughs, a brittle sound. “You should’ve told me I was marrying into a shitshow of a family, Vince.”

“I won’t let any of them touch you,” I vow. “Either of you.”

“I know that.” She looks down at Sofiya, then back at me. “But we can’t just hide forever. We need a plan.”

“I have one.”

“Well, I’m all ears.”

I sit beside her again, needing to be close for this. “First, we secure our position. This compound is unknown to anyone in my organization except me. We have supplies, security, everything we need to stay safe while you recover.”

“And then?”

“Then I eliminate the threats. One by one. I already have men tracking down everyone involved in your abduction. Within a week, none of them will be breathing.”

Rowan doesn’t flinch at my words. The old Rowan might have. The woman who walked into my office all those months ago, innocent and wide-eyed.

But this woman—this mother—simply nods.

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