“The signatures on these authorizations,” Roman said, his eyes darkening.

“They are forged.”

“But they are forged with access to our private security keys.”

“Someone inside our inner circles has been bleeding us dry.”

“And they used your father’s flower business as the perfect screen,” Victor added.

The old patriarch leaned on his cane, a thin, knowing smile touching his lips.

“A clever trick,” Victor murmured.

“Flowers die quickly, their weight changes as they dry, and they are discarded without a second look.”

“They are the perfect vessel for moving unregistered cash through the city docks.”

I felt a cold chill run down my spine as the full picture began to form.

“My father didn’t just sell me to settle a gambling debt,” I said, realization hitting me like a physical blow.

“He sold me to keep this ledger from being found by Roman’s auditors.”

Roman stood up, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the desk and the wall behind it.

“He knew if I audited his accounts personally, I would find the leak,” Roman said.