“He’s hiding the cash from the Kingston Pike condo development in accounts under my name, Claire.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“The off-the-books stuff,” he said. “The cash bags from the subcontractors.”

My mother nodded quickly, gesturing for me to write it down on the notepad.

I grabbed the pen and scribbled *Kingston Pike – Cash accounts – Daniel’s name*.

“If the court audits those accounts, we both go down,” Daniel said. “But I have the ledgers. The real ones.”

“Give them to my lawyer,” I pleaded.

“No way,” he said. “Not yet. I need a guarantee I won’t end up in federal prison.”

“Daniel, please,” I said. “Grant is trying to take Nolan away from me.”

“Just keep your eyes open,” he said. “Grant knows you’re digging. He’s already talking to Preston Carroway about finding a way to buy you out.”

The line went dead with a sharp, hollow click.

I stared at the black screen of my phone.

“What did he say?” my mother asked, her hand resting on my arm.

“He confirmed it,” I said, my voice trembling. “He manages the cash transactions for the Kingston Pike project.”