Page 59 of Rampage

"I would sacrifice anything—everything—to keep you safe," I tell her, my voice rough with emotion. "My career, my freedom… my life if necessary."

"I know," she whispers, and the simple acknowledgment breaks something open inside me. "That's what terrifies me."

I pull her to me then, gathering her into my arms as I slide from the toilet seat to kneel on the floor with her. She comes willingly, melting against my chest as if she belongs there. Maybe she does.

"I won't do anything stupid," I promise against her hair. "But I need you to understand—seeing those photos, knowing what he did to you…" I swallow hard. "It changed something in me. Makes me capable of things I didn't think I was."

She pulls back just enough to look at me, her hands framing my face. "I understand darkness, Reid. I've lived with it. But you're not like him. Your anger comes from protection, not possession. From love, not control."

Love. The word hangs between us, neither of us ready to claim it directly but both acknowledging its presence.

"We do this the right way," I concede, pressing my forehead to hers. "But he pays. For everything."

"Yes," she agrees, her breath warm against my lips. "He pays."

A knock at the bathroom door breaks the moment. "Reid?" My father's voice. "Tiffany needs to speak with you both. She's found something."

Lily rises first, offering me her hand. I take it, allowing her to pull me to my feet though I'm twice her size. The symbolism isn't lost on me—this small, fierce woman lifting me from the depths of my rage.

We follow my father back to the conference room, now cleared of the destruction I caused. Tiffany sits at the remaining table, a laptop open before her, her expression grave.

"I've begun reviewing the digital content," she says without preamble. "Most of it is what we expected, photos and videos documenting the abuse." She turns the laptop slightly, the screen visible but angled away from Lily, protecting her from having to see the contents again.

"But I found something else. Something that explains why Frank was so desperate to silence Lily."

She clicks open a folder labeled "INSURANCE". Inside are dozens of files with dates and initials. She selects one at random, and a video begins playing.

The footage shows Frank's office, filmed from what appears to be a hidden camera. Frank sits behind his desk looking relaxed and confident as he speaks with a man in an expensive suit. The audio is clear, capturing every word.

"Judge Morris, I appreciate you taking the time," Frank says, his voice oily with deference. "I know your schedule is busy."

The man, Judge Morris, waves a dismissive hand. "You've been very generous to my campaign, Frank. The least I can do is hear you out."

Frank slides a folder across the desk. "I need a favor. A small legal matter regarding one of my foster girls."

The judge opens the folder, his expression changing as he reviews the contents. "These allegations are serious. The girl claims you…"

"All lies," Frank interrupts smoothly. "Troubled girl, history of mental health issues. But you know how these accusations can stick, even when proven false. I just need this to disappear."

Judge Morris frowns, though not in disapproval—more in calculation. "This would require significant… intervention on my part."

"Which I'm prepared to compensate for generously," Frank replies, opening a drawer and extracting an envelope. "Consider this a down payment on my continued support."

The judge takes the envelope, peeks inside, and nods with satisfaction. "I'll see what I can do. The case will never make it to trial."

Tiffany pauses the video, her expression grim. "There are dozens like this. Judges, police officers, social workers, even a state senator. Frank's been buying influence for years, documenting it all as insurance against anyone turning on him."

Lane lets out a low whistle. "The bastard's been blackmailing his own conspirators."

"It's brilliant, in a twisted way," Tiffany admits. "He has evidence of their corruption; they have incentive to protect him. A perfect symbiotic relationship of depravity."

I feel Lily trembling beside me and wrap my arm around her shoulders. "This is bigger than we thought," I murmur.

She looks up at me, her expression a complex mixture of vindication and horror. "It's a network. All these people… they helped him. They knew what he was doing to us."

"This changes our approach," Tiffany says, closing the laptop. "We're not just building a case against Frank anymore. We're looking at systematic corruption across multiple agencies. The FBI needs to be involved."

"No," Lane says immediately, his voice hard. "Law enforcement is compromised. Look at Jenkins. How many more are on Frank's payroll?"

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