Chapter 5: The Fall

My chest tightened. All the old alliances were gone, swept out with the rest of us. No wonder David Grant hadn’t seemed worried—he knew he was untouchable.

The finance director’s voice cracked. “I tried to use the tax evasion to threaten Ethan, but he just told me to go ahead and report it. Luckily, the company’s former legal counsel warned me, or I’d be in jail by now.”

My hands trembled. For the first time, I felt truly alone.

The phone’s buzz felt like a cattle prod to my chest. Unknown number. My heart hammered. I knew the other shoe had dropped.

“Mr. Bailey, this is the Economic Crimes Unit. We have an extortion case and need your cooperation. Please come in.”

The voice was clipped, official. The world narrowed to a pinpoint.

I never expected David Grant and his son to be this ruthless.

The American Dream is supposed to be about second chances. But as I sat in the dark, waiting for the knock at my door, I realized—sometimes, there’s no coming back.