The evidence Daniel left did not destroy Cormac Haverin overnight.

It did something more useful.

It gave investigators a trail.

Accounts were frozen.

Companies were searched.

Several of Haverin’s legitimate business partners walked away rather than risk being dragged into the investigation.

Rourke’s betrayal collapsed with them.

But Elias made another decision no one expected.

He called Bruno into his office.

“I’m closing the East Harbor operation.”

Bruno stared at him.

“That’s almost thirty percent of revenue.”

“I know.”

“You’ve run it for nine years.”

“I know.”

Bruno leaned back.

“Is this because of Adeline?”

“No.”

Bruno waited.

Elias sighed.

“Partly.”

“Thought so.”

“I’m restructuring everything that can survive legally.”

“That could take years.”

“Then start today.”

Bruno smiled faintly.

“Daniel Hayes really ruined you.”

Elias looked at the photograph he now kept on his desk.

“Apparently.”

Adeline entered without knocking.

“You wanted me?”

Bruno stood.

“I suddenly remember somewhere else I need to be.”

When he left, Adeline placed an envelope on Elias’s desk.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“My resignation.”

Elias looked up sharply.

“Why?”

“Ben’s treatment is working. I got offered a daytime position at a hotel.”

“You hate hotels.”

“How would you know?”

“You complained about hotel sheets for twenty minutes last Thursday.”

“They tuck them too tightly.”

“I remember.”

She smiled.

Then grew serious.

“I can’t stay here forever.”

“Why?”

“Because somewhere between you following me home and my brother calling you ‘the billionaire mafia guy,’ this stopped feeling like a normal job.”

“It was never a normal job.”

“Exactly.”

Elias stood.

Adeline looked at him.

The first time she had seen him outside her apartment, he had frightened her.

Now she noticed different things.

The exhaustion behind his eyes.

The scar near his jaw.

The tattoo curling above his collar.

The way he deliberately kept several feet between them whenever conversations became personal.

“What if I don't accept your resignation?” he asked.

“That isn't how resignations work.”

“I could increase your salary.”

“No.”

“Change your hours.”

“No.”

“Promote you.”

“To what?”

Elias considered.

“Executive Director of Preventing Elias Baron From Making Stupid Decisions.”

She laughed.

“That sounds exhausting.”

“Excellent benefits.”

“Still no.”

His smile faded.

“What do you want, Adeline?”

She looked at him for a long moment.

“To stop being your employee.”

Something shifted in his expression.

“And after that?”

“Maybe you could ask me to dinner.”

Elias froze.

Adeline raised an eyebrow.

“The terrifying Elias Baron has no response?”

“I’m considering whether this is a trap.”

“It is.”

“Dangerous?”

“Extremely.”

“What time?”

“Seven.”

“Tonight?”

“No. Three years from Thursday.”

He narrowed his eyes.

She smiled.

“Yes, tonight.”

Elias picked up her resignation.

He signed it.

“Seven.”

Adeline reached the doorway.

“Elias?”

“Yes?”

“Don't send a driver.”

“Why?”

“You followed me across Boston in a beat-up sedan. You can drive yourself to dinner.”

The door closed.

Bruno immediately appeared from the adjoining office.

“How much did you hear?” Elias asked.

“All of it.”

“Get out.”

Bruno grinned.

“Seven o’clock, boss.”

“Bruno.”

“I’m leaving.”

For once, Elias Baron was smiling when he told someone to get out of his office.

---