Chapter 300 · My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

Chapter 300

BRANDON'S POVThe early morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my private study, cutting through the thin veil of river fog hovering over the estate lawn.I sat behind the large mahogany desk, staring at the lit screen of my laptop as real-time security updates flickered across the display. Beside me, two cold, half-empty cups of black coffee sat untouched. The quiet hum of the house was a sharp contrast to the cold rage burning beneath my skin.Marcus stood near the door, his tablet in hand as he cross-referenced court filings, while Dominic leaned back against the edge of the bookshelf, his arms crossed over his chest. Dominic's expression was as sharp, unreadable, and dangerous as ever.Antonio was guarding Amelia’s door. Since the incident, he had chosen to stay right outside her door and with her at all times. I knew all my men had a soft spot for her and that calmed me down more than anything else."The city precinct finalized the paperwork late last night," Marcus reported, his fingers gliding over his screen. "Arthur Vance brought in three senior partners from his defense firm. They leveraged jurisdictional technicalities regarding the estate's outer property lines and posted a five-million-dollar cash bond. Julian was released into his father's personal custody."My jaw tightened, a cold, hard anger settling deep into my chest."I don't care how many millions Arthur Vance throws at the court system," I said, my voice dropping to a low, lethal baritone that made Marcus instantly look up. "Julian broke into my home. He bypassed security. He put a hand on my daughter. He isn't walking away from this.""Arthur knows that," Dominic interjected calmly, his dark eyes shifting toward me. "That's why he locked his son down the second they stepped through the gates. Private security is stationed around the entire Vance perimeter. Arthur is keeping Julian under 24/7 house arrest to prevent him from doing something foolish before the preliminary hearing.""House arrest isn't enough," I replied, standing up slowly from my chair and walking over to the wide window overlooking the driveway. "Arthur Vance has spent twenty years using his fortune, his name, and his political favors to mop up his son's messes. As long as Arthur has a single dollar left to buy off judges and prosecutors, Julian remains a threat to my family."I turned back to face Dominic, leaning forward and resting both hands flat against the polished wood of my desk."Is there anything we can use against Arthur directly?" I asked, looking Dominic straight in the eyes. "I want the Vance Group stripped bare. I want Arthur so buried in financial ruins and legal chaos that he won't have the time or the money to buy his son's freedom."Dominic let out a low, grim chuckle, reaching into his inner suit jacket. He pulled out a sleek, encrypted silver flash drive and set it lightly on the center of the desk between us."Arthur Vance isn't as clean as he pretends to be in front of the press," Dominic said smoothly. "My forensic team has been tracking the Vance Group's offshore routing accounts in the Caymans for the last six months. Arthur's been running a secondary ledger to cover up massive tax evasion, illegal shell company acquisitions, and insider trading."I picked up the small silver drive, feeling its weight between my fingers."Is it solid?""It's absolute," Dominic confirmed, leaning forward. "One leak to the federal regulators and the Securities Commission, and Arthur Vance won't just be fighting to keep his son out of prison. He'll be fighting to keep himself out of one. Their stock will plummet the second the bell rings."Before I could answer, the heavy double doors of the study swung open softly.Aria stepped into the room. She was wearing a thick, oversized cream sweater, her hair pulled back into a soft, loose bun. Though the faint shadows under her eyes proved she hadn't slept much after last night's terror, her step was steady, her head held high.I immediately pushed away from the desk, moving swiftly across the room to meet her halfway."You should still be resting," I murmured softly, taking both of her small, cold hands in mine. The violent tremor that had shaken her last night was completely gone, replaced by a quiet, steady warmth."I couldn't sleep," Aria said, her eyes meeting mine with a clear, unwavering resolve. She looked past my shoulder toward Marcus and Dominic, giving them a polite nod. "I heard your voices from the hallway.""We're handling it, Aria," I assured her, lifting one of her hands to press a light, lingering kiss against her knuckles. "Julian is locked in his father's house, but I am putting an end to the Vance family once and for all."Aria took a slow, deep breath, her fingers tightening securely around mine."I don't want to live in fear anymore, Brandon," she said, her voice ringing with a strength that made my chest tighten with pride. "I spent so long letting Julian and his family dictate my life, making me feel helpless, making me feel like I had to hide. I'm done hiding. Do whatever you have to do to protect our family."I stared down at her, a fierce wave of protective devotion washing through me. She wasn't the fragile, terrified woman they had tried so hard to break. She was standing firmly beside me, ready to face whatever storm came our way.I reached out, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her flush against my chest. I leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep, possessive kiss that carried all the unspoken promises of protection and love I had for her. She melted into my embrace, her small hand resting against my chest right over my racing heart.When I finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, her breathing light."Marcus," I commanded, my eyes remaining fixed on Aria's face."Yes, boss?""Send Dominic's files directly to the federal prosecutors and launch the takeover bid on the Vance Group the second the market opens," I said, my voice leaving zero room for doubt. "Let's burn the Vance Empire to the ground."

Chapter 300