Chapter 8 - ASHFORD BLOOD
Nathan Cole survived.
That mattered because living men could testify.
Within forty-eight hours, federal investigators received records documenting the Cole family’s decades-long financial conspiracy, the murder of Dominic’s mother, and Nathan’s involvement in the recent attacks.
Dominic provided everything.
Even evidence that could damage his own businesses.
Carter stared at him.
“You understand what this may cost?”
“Yes.”
“Companies. Contracts. Possibly millions.”
Dominic looked through the glass doors where Isla and Marco were playing cards.
“I know what things cost now.”
Elias stood across the room.
The brothers had barely spoken since the church.
Fourteen years could not be repaired with one apology.
But neither had walked away.
“Mother wanted us to own it together,” Elias said.
Dominic looked at him.
“Then take half.”
Elias laughed bitterly.
“That simple?”
“No.”
Dominic poured two glasses of whiskey, then remembered his medication and pushed his away.
“It will probably be extremely complicated.”
Elias stared at the glass.
“I hated you.”
“I know.”
“I planned your death.”
“I noticed.”
A reluctant laugh escaped Elias.
Then disappeared.
“I took Marco.”
Dominic’s expression hardened.
“That I won’t forgive quickly.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“But he’s alive.”
“Yes.”
“And Isla believes people can become better than the worst thing they’ve done.”
Elias looked toward her.
“You trust her that much?”
“With my life.”
“You always were reckless.”
Dominic almost smiled.
That night, Isla changed his final bandage.
The wounds had become scars.
“Congratulations,” she said. “You’re officially no longer my patient.”
Dominic looked at the calendar.
Six weeks.
Exactly.
Isla realized it too.
Their eyes met.
“The contract is over,” he said.
“Yes.”
She folded the bandage carefully.
“So.”
“So.”
Dominic stood.
No monitors.
No stitches.
No medical reason for her to remain.
Isla suddenly hated the room.
“Marco and I can find somewhere tomorrow.”
Dominic’s face gave nothing away.
“If that’s what you want.”
She waited.
He said nothing else.
Annoyance sparked.
“That’s it?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
Isla looked away.
Dominic stepped closer.
“You made me promise that when six weeks ended, you could leave.”
“I know.”
“I won’t break that promise.”
“Even if I want you to?”
His breathing stopped.
Isla looked at him.
“You idiot.”
“Isla—”
“I’ve been waiting all day for you to ask.”
His expression softened.
“Dinner?”
She laughed.
“No.”
Dominic blinked.
“No?”
“I’m not waiting six weeks for dinner.”
She kissed him.
His hands settled at her waist carefully, as though some part of him still could not believe she was choosing him.
When they separated, he whispered, “Stay.”
“For dinner?”
“For tomorrow.”
Her eyes filled.
“And after tomorrow?”
“The day after that.”
“That’s a lot of days.”
“I’m greedy.”
She smiled.
“I noticed.”
A knock interrupted them.
Marco stood outside.
“Carter says we have a problem.”
Dominic sighed.
“Of course we do.”
Downstairs, Carter had news.
Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca Sloan had issued warrants against three Ashford executives.
But not Dominic.
The evidence Nathan provided had confirmed something unexpected: Dominic had spent years quietly removing criminal operations inherited from his father.
Not perfectly.
Not cleanly.
But consistently.
“He kept records,” Sloan explained when she arrived the following morning. “Evidence of everything he dismantled.”
Isla looked at Dominic.
“You were trying to make it legitimate.”
He shrugged.
“My father built an empire that required graves. I wanted one that required accountants.”
Marco whispered, “That’s actually kind of cool.”
Isla elbowed him.
Sloan’s expression remained serious.
“This does not erase every question surrounding Ashford companies. But Nathan Cole was responsible for the recent murders, bribery, and attacks. Elias’s cooperation corroborates it.”
Elias entered.
Dominic looked surprised.
“You’re testifying?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Elias looked at his brother.
“Because someone in this family should finally tell the truth.”
Months of investigations followed.
Dominic sold businesses tied to his father’s old operations.
He created independent oversight for Ashford Maritime.
Elias surrendered himself on kidnapping and conspiracy charges and cooperated fully.
Because of his cooperation, the outcome would eventually be less severe than Dominic expected, though consequences remained.
Healing, Isla discovered, was not the same thing as escaping consequences.
It was accepting them and still choosing what came next.
Then, three months after the hospital night that had changed everything, Isla received a letter.
Northwestern University.
Graduate nursing program.
Accepted.
She stared at it.
Dominic came home to find her crying at the kitchen counter.
His face went white.
“What happened?”
She handed him the letter.
He read it.
Then smiled.
“You got in.”
“I can’t afford it.”
“Isla.”
“No.”
He closed his mouth.
“I mean it. You are not buying my future.”
Dominic considered this.
“Can I celebrate your future?”
“Yes.”
“Dinner?”
She laughed.
“Yes.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then Marco entered.
“Are you guys getting married?”
They both froze.
Marco opened the refrigerator.
“Just asking.”
Dominic looked at Isla.
She pointed at him.
“Don’t.”
“I said nothing.”
“Your face said something.”
“My face is innocent.”
“Your face has allegedly ordered people thrown through windows.”
“Allegedly.”
Marco groaned.
“You two are exhausting.”
But later that night, Isla noticed Dominic standing alone on the balcony.
He held something small in his hand.
When she approached, he closed his fist.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing.”
“Dominic.”
“Nothing.”
She narrowed her eyes.
May you like
For the first time since she had known him, the Phantom King looked nervous.
And Isla suddenly had a very good idea what he was hiding.
