Chapter 11:THE BETRAYAL OF THE BOARD

Ivy's POV

Long after Griffin has departed, the Sebastian Rourke text remains ingrained in my memory. It's too late. She is aware. What is he trying to say? Is Griffin aware of the safe? What about Victor's caution? Or have I yet to discover something much worse?

My mind is racing with possibilities, each one more disturbing than the last, and I hardly get any sleep. Upon his eventual return in the wee hours of the morning, Griffin's face is a mask of anxiety and fatigue. He takes off his coat and goes directly to his study, closing the door behind him without acknowledging me.

I wait for his hushed voice to come through the door. Even though I can only hear bits and pieces of the conversation he's having on the phone, what I hear makes me shiver.

With a low, smoldering voice, Griffin declares, "They're turning against me." "What they think doesn't matter to me. I'll take care of it.

A pause. Next: "No, we follow the plan. No exceptions.

Leaning closer to the door, I struggle to hear more, my heart pounding.

With a stronger tone now, he yells, "Anyone who tries to cross me will regret it." "Assure me that nobody undercuts me and escapes unharmed."

I barely have time to get back to the living room before the door opens andthe call ends suddenly. Gryphon emerges, his face gloomy. His eyes narrow slightly as he freezes upon seeing me.

His voice is dangerously calm as he says, "Were you eavesdropping?"

I force myself to look into his eyes and shake my head. "No. I had trouble falling asleep.

He just looks at me for a moment, as ifhe's debating whether or not to trust me. He then brushes a hand across his face and lets out a sigh.

He says drowsily, "Go to bed, Ivy." "It's late."

"Griffin..." I pause, not knowing how to put what I need to express into words. "Is everything alright? You have been... aloof lately.

For a moment, I fear he might lash out as his jaw tightens. Then, though, he becomes slightly more approachable.

He says, "It's fine," but his voice is far from comforting. "Work's been... complicated. There is nothing to be concerned about.

I know it's useless, yet I still want to push him further. Pushing Griffin never works, because he only shares what he wants to share. Even though sleep is the last thing on my mind, I nod and head back upstairs.

I make the decision the next day that I can't wait for Griffin to come clean on his own. I'm in urgent need of answers. First, the safe. I get the combination Marissa gave me and access the concealed panel after confirming that Griffin has left for the workplace. As I put in the numbers, my hands shake: 4-2-1-9.

A USB drive, a little black notepad, and a stack of paperwork are seen when the safe clicks open. I reach for the notebook first and start turning the pages. Names, dates, and mysterious notes abound in it. I'm familiar with some of the names, like Marissa and Victor Kane, but not others.

Sebastian Rourke is one name that jumps out. Griffin has written two words next to it in strong, angular letters: Eliminate the threat.

My heart is pounding as I swallow forcefully. What does that signify? Does Griffin have a criminal record? Something hazardous?

My phone buzzes on the table before I can continue to think. Victor sent the text.

We must now see one another.

Victor is at a peaceful café on the outskirts of town when I discover him. When I get there, he's already waiting for me, his countenance unreadable, a cup of coffee in front of him. With tense nerves, I comply with his motion to sit.

Without introducing himself, he says, "I assume you've discovered something."

I slide the notepad across the table after taking it out of my backpack and nodding. Victor lifts it and uses his trained vision to turn the pages. He whistles softly as he gets to the page with Sebastian's name on it.

He murmurs, "This is worse than I thought."

"What does it signify?" I ask, hardly raising my voice above a whisper. "What is going on with Griffin?"

With a somber face, Victor reclines. "Ivy, your spouse is engaging in risky behavior. Sebastian Rourke is more than simply a name. He is a ghost that vanished following the explosion in Chicago. Griffin is attempting to tie up any loose ends if he is pursuing him. And it's never good news.

In an attempt to make sense of everything, I shake my head. However, why? What's the connection?

"That's what you need to know," Victor adds, tapping the notebook. But Ivy, watch out. Griffin won't think twice about defending himself if he believes you're going too far.

I reply, "He wouldn't hurt me," but it sounds vacuous.

Victor's face grows serious. "I'm not sure. You have no idea what people will do if they feel trapped.

When Griffin gets home that evening, I'm seated in the living room. His eyes flicker with something I can't quite put my finger on—guilt? His face is much more drawn than before. Fear? Fury?

"How was your job?" I attempt to sound informal as I ask.

He takes a while to respond. Rather, he pours a drink for himself and consumes it all at once. At last, he gives me a look.

His voice is flat as he replies, "The board is turning on me." "They believe I've been... irresponsible."

"Careless how?" I inquire thoughtfully.

He gives a headshake. "It is irrelevant. They are merely seeking a reason to eject me. However, they will regret it.

"How are you going to proceed?" My stomach roiling, I inquire.

A chilly smile curls Griffin's lips. "Whatever it takes."

His phone buzzes before I can answer. His face hardens as he looks at the television. He slams the door behind him and goes silently to his study.

My phone buzzes a few seconds later. Victor has texted me again.

Leave the house. Right now.

As I look at the message, my blood turns to ice. What is he aware of that I am not? And why does it feel like the walls are closing in on me all of a sudden?

Before I can make up my mind, I hear Griffin's frantic, low voice coming through the study door. This time, when he's on the phone, I hear a single word that chills me to the bone.

She is beginning to inquire. Take care of her if she approaches too closely.

I feel like the floor is tilting under me. Is he referring to me? And by "take care of it," what does he mean?

With my heart thumping in my chest, I pull away from the door. My phone buzzes once more, with an even shorter message this time:

RUN.