The Alliance of the Broken Ledger and the Blackwell Empire
“He didn’t trust banks,” I said. “He didn’t even trust his own office in the city.”
I looked out the window at the passing streetlights, their yellow glare reflecting in the wet puddles.
A sudden memory came back to me, clear and sharp.
“My childhood bedroom,” I said.
Roman glanced at me, his eyebrows drawing together.
“What about it?” he asked.
“He gave me a music box,” I said. “A week before he went into hiding.”
“A music box?” Roman asked.
“Yes,” I said. “He insisted I keep it with me, but I forgot it when I had to leave the house in a hurry.”
I remembered the heavy weight of the dark mahogany box.
“He told me never to let anyone else touch it,” I said. “He was so intense about it.”
“Your father was never a sentimental man, Lena,” Roman said, his voice quiet.
“Exactly,” I said. “And my mother died when I was very young, so he had no reason to keep her old things unless they served a purpose.”
Roman slowed the SUV down at a red light.