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“Sterling, I’m not letting you walk into that alone.”Her voice was steel.“You don’t get to shut me out.Not now.Not after everything.”

I exhaled sharply, torn between the urge to protect her and the undeniable truth that I didn’t want to face Violet alone.“Fine.But you let me handle her.”

She smirked.“I’ll be your silent, terrifying guard dog.”

Amalfi was nearly empty at this hour, the dim candles on each table flickering across the white linen tablecloths like ghosts.Violet sat at a corner table.She was impeccable as always in a Chanel suit.Her smile was just as vicious as her style.

“Sterling.”Violet’s gaze flicked over Ariel dismissively before settling on me.“I see you’ve brought your pet.How adorable.”

Ariel didn’t flinch.“Mrs.Nightfang.”

I pulled out a chair for Ariel before sitting across from Violet.“Cut the theatrics.What do you want?”

Violet’s fingers traced the rim of her wineglass.“Such hostility.I merely wanted to offer you a final chance to reconsider your public spectacle today.”She slid a manila envelope across the table.“Before you humiliate yourself.”

I didn’t touch it.“What’s in it?”

“Proof, that you’re just as complicit as the rest of us.Bank records from your early investments.All of it tied to our offshore accounts.The press will have a field day.”

Ariel’s knee pressed sharply against mine under the table, reminding me of what was at stake.I kept my voice even.“Those were before I cut ties.And you know I didn’t know where the money came from.”

Violet’s laugh was like shattering glass.“Oh, Sterling.Naivety isn’t an excuse.The world will see you as a hypocrite, denouncing us while profiting from our work.”Her eyes gleamed.“Unless you cancel the press conference.Walk away quietly.And come home.”

Ariel’s hand clenched around my wrist.“He is home.”

Violet’s smile faltered.“Excuse me?”

Ariel leaned forward, her gray eyes blazing.“You don’t get to blackmail him into being your puppet.Not anymore.”She tapped the envelope.“And if you’d done your homework, you’d know Sterling already submitted those records to the authorities weeks ago.Along with testimony about your operations.”

The color drained from Violet’s face.“You’re lying.”

I folded my arms.“It’ll be on the news soon.It’s all public now.”The lie came easily, but the flicker of doubt in Violet’s eyes told me Ariel’s bluff had landed.

Violet’s nostrils flared as her voice lowered to a hiss.“You ungrateful whelp.After everything I’ve done for this family—”

Ariel scoffed.“Done?You mean the trafficking?The smuggling?Or just the part where you sent Rafe to kill your own son?”

Violet’s chair screeched as she stood.“You have no idea what you’re dealing with, little girl.This family survives.It doesn’t bow to sentimentality or weakness.And if you think Sterling’s little rebellion will change that, you’re even more naive than he is.”

Ariel didn’t flinch.“We’re not afraid of you.”

Violet’s lips curled into a sneer.“You should be.”She turned to me, her voice dripping with venom.“You’ll regret this, Sterling.Mark my words.”

I stood.“I already do.I regret every second I wasted trying to please you.”

Violet turned to leave, but hesitated at the edge of the table.For a heartbeat, her rigid posture wavered and her fingers tightened around the strap of her purse.When she spoke again, her voice was quieter.“You were always the strongest of them, Sterling.Even as a child.Dean was too soft, and Rafe could never lead.But you had the teeth for it.”

A muscle in my jaw twitched.“Is that why you’re doing this?Because you’d rather destroy me than lose control?”

For a fraction of a second, her mask slipped.I saw it, the raw, desperate flicker in her eyes, the same look she’d had years ago when Dean walked out.Then it was gone, buried deep inside once again as the mask slipped back into place.“Enjoy your victory, Sterling.It won’t last.”She strode out of the restaurant without another glance at us, her bitter scent lingering like a curse.

Ariel exhaled sharply.“Well.That went about as well as expected.”

I reached for her hand.“You were magnificent.”

She smiled faintly.“I had a good coach.”

The press conference was held in the grand ballroom of the Hughes Hotel, the entire room filled with a sea of reporters.Cameras flashed as I stepped up to the podium with Ariel beside me.