I walked over to Victor and knelt on the cold concrete a few feet away from him.

“You kept the ledger too, didn’t you?” I asked.

“The one my mother supposedly stole.”

Victor grimaced, his head strained back against the stone.

“In my coat,” he whispered.

“Inside pocket.”

I reached into his heavy leather jacket.

My fingers brushed against a small, hard object.

I pulled out a black, encrypted flash drive and a small leather-bound notebook.

I opened the notebook.

The pages were filled with names, dates, and payout amounts.

I recognized the names of several city inspectors, dock captains, and two of Lucian’s highest-ranking lieutenants.

This was the proof my mother had died trying to protect.

It cleared her name completely.

She had not been a thief.

She had been a witness.

“She trusted you, Victor,” I said.

“She thought you were protecting the family.”

“No one protects anyone in this city, girl,” Victor spat, though his voice shook.

“You play your part or you get crushed.”

“Your mother was weak.”

Bishop let out a sharp growl, his teeth pressing tighter against Victor’s wrist.