“Thomas, I know you’re in there!”

Vale curled into himself, burying his face in his hands on the desk.

“She’s going to destroy me,” he whimpered.

Richard turned away from the window, his expression completely unbothered.

“She can’t touch you here,” Richard said.

He looked at me, his eyes softening just a fraction.

“Stay here with Nora and Vale,” Richard said.

“I will go down and deal with her.”

“No,” I said, my voice surprising me with its strength.

“I’m coming with you.”

Richard stared at me for a long second, assessing my resolve.

“Are you sure, Emily?” he asked.

“She has controlled my life through fear for five long years,” I said.

“I am not hiding from her anymore.”

Nora looked up from her computer screen, a small, approving smile on her face.

“Go,” Nora said.

“I’ll stay here with Vale and make sure he doesn’t try to bolt.”

“And I’ll keep working on that freeze order.”

I nodded, my heart pounding, but for the first time, it wasn’t just from fear.

It was from a burning desire for justice.