Chapter 8

Julian

I gently tuck Poppy into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin and placing another kiss on her forehead. Turning to leave, I glance back at her once more before softly closing the door behind me. I inhale, letting all my fury and rage ignite. My phone is out in seconds, and a quick message is sent to my uncle, followed by a text to Harper asking her to meet me here. Striding down the hall, each step is driven by a determined anger. Andrew will face the consequences of his actions.

I've known anger, felt the sting of loss, endured the ache of a broken heart. But this—this unimaginable fury surpasses them all.

Uncle Dan calls me back right away, and once I'm in my office, I tell him everything. There's no shock, no exhales of anger. My uncle is a mask, his emotions ever hidden. "Oliver Sinclair isn't an easy target, Jules," Uncle Dan warns.

"I'm a good shot," I snap. Oliver Sinclair is Andrew ' s father, the man most likely to win the presidential election. I ' ve seen his face plastered all over; I actually thought the guy wasn ' t bad. My poor judgment is a reminder never to trust a politician.

"A single bullet won't derail this train. You're going to need an army."

"Will you help me, or do I need to do this alone?" I challenge him. If he won't assist me, I know a few guys I can call. Former Delta Force, ready to drop everything to aid a brother. I would do the same for them, and I have done it before. Just like my brother Theo, I've done things that would shock my uncle. I've supported my brothers, embarking on missions of our own.

"That's a stupid question, and you know it. You don't back me into a corner, Julian. I'm always here to help, and this is exactly why I need you to listen to me."

He's right. "I'm sorry. I just want to keep Poppy safe. Andrew's still watching her, still invading her. All those cameras, all those years of monitoring her, are a continual violation," I reply. My chest feels tight. There is a rage inside of me that is foreign and feral.

"Listen, Julian, we need to approach this carefully. Any evidence from the assault at the party is a waste of time now. It falls into murky waters. These accusations against politicians often get dismissed and twisted to discredit the victim. It will backfire, especially against someone as revered as Sinclair," Uncle Dan explains.

"But it happened! He has to pay."

"I'm not saying it didn't happen, but look at history. Politicians get away with everything. A sexual assault claim against his son, not even him, will do nothing. Oliver practically has his foot in the White House already."

"So we just let Andrew slide?" My teeth are gritted. I ' ll never let that happen!

"No," he responds sharply. "We need to find another way to bring him down. Give me time to dig deeper. The cameras in her apartment will get Andrew a few years behind bars, but knowing his dad, that will likely only result in a slap on the wrist. I need to make sure it was even Andrew who had them installed. Are you sure it's not—"

I cut him off, "It's not him ," referring to the other man watching Poppy—the man Theo owed a favor to.

I feel like dirt. Poppy was honest with me, yet here I am, still lying. Covering up a secret that isn't even my own.

"I will tell her, but I can never find the right time. Now certainly isn't," I admit.

"Perfect timing doesn't exist. The stars don't align for us, Julian; we have to make plans, and eventually, we have to act before someone else does. I know you love her. I see it, and I hear it in your voice. Don't let Theo's mistake stain your relationship," My uncle replies, speaking like someone in the CIA.

I grab my shoulder, now healed from the injury, and rub it. "I won't. I'll tell her soon."

"I think our best bet is the senator's son Oliver wanted Andrew to kill. That's something that can't be as easily wiped away. But Julian, promise me you won't act rashly."

"I never act recklessly," I retort. My actions are driven by passion, not impulse.

"Julian," Uncle Dan scolds me, sounding more like my dad, "We have the power of the unknown on our side, but it's slipping away. If it was Andrew who placed those cameras, he is going to know they were found. This can work in our favor. Andrew's obsessed, and now his line is cut off. He's going to be desperate and desperate men fuck up. Don't you fuck up, Julian? Let Andrew trap himself."

"And what if you don ' t find anything to hang him with? What if he slips the snare? What then?"

"You see, Julian, that was a stupid question to put out into the open. That could be used and twisted against you. Leave this up to me," Uncle Dan hisses, then he ends the call.

He ' s right; lucky for me, I know his phone isn ' t tapped, but shouting out statements like that could backfire for me. Uncle Dan knows as well as I do the Sterling men won ' t let Andrew and his father get away with this, evidence or not. I just have to be smart if the case is the latter.