Page 57 of Pack to the Wall

Ewan nodded, already reaching for his phone. "What about Empire Records?"

"They'll either distance themselves from this disaster or I'll buy them and burn them to the ground." The declaration wasn't hyperbole—Zev's family wealth made such threats entirely feasible.

"You're really going all in on this, aren't you?" There was something knowing in Ewan's voice.

Zev paused, his hand on the doorknob. "She's my Luna, Ewan. She's going to be the mother of my children." The declaration came naturally, his voice roughened with utter certainty. "I'll tear down the entire fucking entertainment industry if that's what it takes to keep her safe."

Zev stormed down the path to Chrissy's villa, the morning sun casting dappled patterns through the palm fronds overhead. The file in his hand felt like it weighed a ton, its contents more explosive than dynamite. His wolf prowled close to the surface, still agitated from the revelations that had come to light. After killing Marty, he'd expected to feel closure, but these new discoveries had reopened everything with a vengeance.

He didn't bother knocking. As Alpha and her mate, he had every right to burst in—though he tempered his entrance out of respect for Jim. The scent of coffee and pancakes hit his nose as he stepped through the door.

Chrissy looked up from where she sat across from her father at the small dining table, her hair piled messily atop her head, wearing a faded band t-shirt that slipped off one shoulder. The sight of her—safe, alive, and his—momentarily soothed the rage burning in his gut.

"Morning, sunshine," she said, her smile faltering as she took in his expression. "What's wrong? You look like you're about to shift and bite someone's head off."

"That's exactly what I wish I could do," Zev growled, tossing the file onto the table between their plates. "We found out who Marty really was."

Chrissy's father set down his coffee mug, suddenly alert. "What do you mean, 'who he really was'?"

Zev dragged a chair closer to Chrissy and sat down, taking her hand in his, his thumb absently stroking her pulse point as if reassuring himself of her heartbeat.

"His real name was Matthew Silas Rourke. He's been on the FBI's most wanted list for six years." Zev's voice came out rough, each word carrying the weight of suppressed fury. "For the murders of five women."

Chrissy's face drained of color. "What?"

"Five talented young women. All with dark hair and fair skin. All curvy and beautiful." His grip tightened on her hand. "All like you."

Jim let out a strangled sound, his face ashen. "Jesus Christ."

"He was grooming you, Chrissy. Isolating you from your father and controlling every aspect of your life." Zev's eyes burned with intensity. "You weren't just another client to him. You were his next victim." He paused, taking a steadying breath. "My guess, he was going to marry you and make a big spectacle out of it. Milk you for some more money and fame, painting himself as the doting husband and manager, and then…" Zev didn't need to finish his thought.

Chrissy swayed in her chair, and Zev's arm shot around her waist to steady her. "I think I'm going to be sick," she whispered.

"I should have been there," Jim muttered, his hands shaking. "I should have seen it?—"

"There's more," Zev cut in, gentling his voice as he looked back to Chrissy. "There's good news too."

He flipped open the file to the contract page, his finger landing on the signature line. "Your contract is with Martin J. Shriner—a man who doesn't legally exist. The entire thing is worthless. His company, his credentials, all of it was built on fraud."

Chrissy stared at the paper, her bright green eyes widening. "You mean...I'm free?"

"You're free," Zev confirmed, giving her a fierce smile. "Though I want our legal team to make absolutely certain there are no loose ends with Empire Records."

"Can you..." Chrissy bit her lip. "Can you and your team help me with that? I don't even know where to start."

Zev let out a low laugh that held more wolf than human. "I have a better idea." He leaned in, the possessive gleam in his eyes making her breath catch. "I'm buying Empire Records."

"You're what?" Chrissy and Jim exclaimed in unison.

"I'm a billionaire, remember?" Zev's voice held a predatory edge. "I'll acquire the label, rebrand it whatever name you want, and you and your father will be the first artists signed. On your terms, with contracts that respect your talent and autonomy."

Jim let out a disbelieving laugh. "You'd do that?"

"For my mate?" Zev's gaze never left Chrissy's face. "I'd burn down the entire industry and rebuild it from ashes if that's what she needed."

Chrissy shook her head, her expression cycling through shock, horror, relief, and disbelief. "I can't believe this. If Gerrididn't get me out when she did... if you hadn't..." Her voice broke.

"I didn't want to say this to make you feel even worse. But we found evidence just this morning that he was planning to take you on a 'honeymoon' in six months. You would have disappeared, just like the others." Zev pulled her closer, the wolf in him needing to feel her alive and safe. "The thought of what could have happened?—"

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