Chapter 17 - Khloe Makes Her Choice
Thomas was alive.
His ankle was injured, nothing worse.
By choosing him instead of chasing Walsh, Damian lost Patrick.
He did not regret it.
Khloe arrived with Leo and Nicolas minutes later.
She saw Thomas sitting against a column.
Then Damian beside him.
Relief changed her entire face.
“You came back.”
Damian stood.
“I was instructed to.”
Khloe crossed the room.
This time neither stopped at the invisible line.
She wrapped her arms around him.
Damian held her.
Leo turned away politely.
Nicolas did not.
“Finally.”
Damian looked at him.
Nicolas raised both hands.
“I said nothing.”
Khloe laughed for the first time in days.
Then Margaret approached.
She held Vincent’s red ledger.
Bell had escaped without it.
“You chose Thomas,” she said.
Damian nodded.
“Your father waited thirty-seven minutes.”
“I know.”
“You didn’t.”
“No.”
Margaret gave him the ledger.
“Maybe that matters.”
“It does,” Khloe said.
Margaret looked at her granddaughter.
“What happens to me?”
Khloe’s smile disappeared.
“You tell investigators everything.”
Margaret nodded.
“And after that?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t forgive me?”
Khloe took a long breath.
“I love the grandmother I remember.”
Margaret began crying.
“But you hurt people. You hurt me.”
“I know.”
“I’m not going to pretend that disappears because you’re sorry.”
“I understand.”
“Someday I may forgive you.”
Margaret nodded.
“But that’s my choice.”
Thomas closed his eyes.
Proud.
The following morning, Margaret surrendered.
She provided records identifying Bell’s accounts and Walsh’s final properties.
Daniel Pierce also cooperated fully.
Charges against him remained possible for his role in detaining Khloe, but prosecutors considered his assistance.
Khloe returned to Damian’s office three days later.
Not to work.
To collect personal belongings.
Damian watched her put books into a box.
“You’re resigning.”
“Yes.”
His expression remained neutral.
Inside, he hated every syllable.
“Because of what happened?”
“Because I need to know who I am when I’m not cleaning up Russo problems.”
“That seems unfair.”
She smiled.
“I also clean up your scheduling.”
“Poorly.”
“You’d miss me in two hours.”
“I missed you after twelve minutes.”
Khloe stopped packing.
Damian realized what he had said.
Neither spoke.
Then she looked down.
“I need space.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“And you need to decide what Russo Logistics becomes after all this.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want to be your secretary forever.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“You’re agreeing too easily.”
“I’m trying something new.”
“What?”
“Respecting your decisions.”
She smiled softly.
“That sounds painful.”
“Extremely.”
She lifted the box.
Damian took it from her.
At the elevator, Khloe turned.
“You never finished what you were going to say before Pier Nine.”
“No.”
“Are you going to?”
“When you’re ready to hear it without feeling obligated to stay.”
Khloe studied him.
“That may be the most emotionally mature sentence you’ve ever spoken.”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
The elevator doors closed.
Damian stood alone.
Her desk was empty again.
But this time he knew where she was.
And she had left by choice.
That mattered.
Then Leo approached.
“We found Bell.”
“Where?”
“Connecticut.”
“And Walsh?”
“Bell says he knows.”
Damian looked toward the elevator.
Khloe deserved an ending.
May you like
So did the families in the ledger.
“Bring him in.”
