Beneath the Stars (Falling Stars #4) - A.L. Jackson Page 0,98

stepfather’s seedy empire, some of the captives had escaped. Others had been moved before the Feds had descended on the compound. I think it was safe to say we still didn’t know how deep it went or how many had been affected.

Dude was a fucking monster.

Fact he’d let one of his artists do the same to his own daughter and then covered it up? Doubted much the man even had a soul, though I hoped he did. Hoped even though he’d gotten off easy here, paying with his pathetic, disgusting life, he was receiving justice somewhere in the afterlife.

“I just want to make a difference in their lives. Help the only way I can.” She said the last so quietly that I wasn’t sure I’d heard her right.

Her confession.

Because that’s what it was.

My arms tightened around her as dread marched across my flesh. “What did you do, Maggie? Tell me what you did, and who hurt you. I’ll end it.”

Tonight.

I’d hunt down any fucker who would dare harm this girl.

Her head shook. “There wasn’t a lot of money left once his accounts were seized.”

“I heard that.”

Mylton Records had been dismantled.

That article a few days ago had talked like Maggie was some rich, spoiled heiress. I knew better. There’d been very little left. Not for her or her mother.

“But he was smart, Rhys. He kept enough hidden so no matter what, he could make his way back to his fortune.”

My blood sloshed. Heavy with dread. Not liking where she was going with this.

“I found it.” Her voice was a breath of fear and hope.

Shit, this girl had my heart thuddin’ in her fist. “What did you do?”

“I took it. And I’m going to use it for good.”

“Maggie.”

Her head shook. “Don’t try to talk me out of it or tell me it’s dangerous. I know the risk, and it’s worth it.”

“Someone hurt you,” I argued, words nothin’ but a plea when I shifted her on my lap so she was straddling me. Hand shaking, I carefully reached up and dragged down the loose tee she wore, exposing the bandage taped on her chest.

Right over the scar she already had.

I barely brushed my fingertips over it, pain leaching into my words when I looked from my fingers to her eyes.

“Someone hurt you.” My teeth ground when I reiterated the truth.

She gathered up my hand. “It was a threat. A warning. Nothing more. And I refuse to cower or give in. I…it’s my mother, Rhys.”

Anger squeezed my chest.

That crusty, nasty bitch.

“She’s trying to scare me into doing what she wants me to do,” Maggie rushed. “She did it for years, twisted everything about me into a lie. And I believed it, Rhys. I believed it. But no more. For the first time in my life, I’m taking a stand. I’m doing what’s right. And there is no one who can stop me. And I’m asking you…begging you…to stand by my side while I do it.”

Charcoal eyes filled with moisture.

With determination.

This sweet, amazing, beautiful girl.

“Baby.” It was a whisper. “Of course, I will stand with you. Fuck…not gonna let you out of my sight.”

The most tentative smile played across her delicate mouth, and she reached out and traced mine, those fingertips dancing across my lips. “Thank you.”

My nod was slight, and then I inhaled and pushed ahead.

“How much?” I dreaded asking it.

“Five million.”

“What the hell? Maggie.” I blinked through the outright shock. “Where is it?”

Guilt raced across her features. “Under my bed. In duffle bags.”

My mind raced back to the day I’d helped her bring in her things. She’d almost come out of her skin when I’d tried to take them from her.

“Maggie…that’s fucking…crazy.”

It was.

Reckless and foolish and the bravest thing I’d ever heard.

“Maybe, but it’s the right thing to do.”

“What are you doing with it?”

“Lily…Violet’s sister. She’s helping me find the women who need it most. So they can restart their lives. Their lives my father stole from them. This is owed to them, Rhys, and no, money can’t cover it or erase what’s been done, but it can give them something to rebuild on. Hope that’s been missing.”

“And you’re not telling your brother…”

“You know why, Rhys. You know he’d stop me. Intervene. And he’s already given too much. I can’t ask this of him, too.”

Overcome, I wound my arms around her and hugged her hard.

Probably too hard.

But she was hugging me just as tight.

And there was nothing between us.

No barriers.

No space.

All except for the glaring hole that roared inside. A violent echo that