“The ledger,” Aries said, stepping closer.

“The complete list of every payment made to the city officials,” I said. “And the names of the men who tried to kill you.”

He took the wire from my hand.

His fingers brushed mine, his skin warm and slightly rough.

“This is what they were looking for,” he said.

“Yes,” I said. “They wanted to use it to destroy you.”

Killian stepped into the room, holding his phone.

“The tracer on the text message worked,” Killian said. “It came from a burner phone near the East River docks.”

“Who?” Aries asked.

“Marcus,” Killian said. “He was one of your uncle’s old guards.”

Aries did not look surprised.

“Take care of it,” Aries said.

“It is already done,” Killian said.

He left the room, closing the heavy oak door behind him.

Aries looked down at the silver wire in his hand, then back at me.

“You could have kept this,” he said. “You could have used it to buy your freedom.”

“I do not want that kind of freedom,” I said. “I want to do my work in peace.”