“What’s on the video?” I press and take a look around the room.
“It’s a video of her parents.” His tone is sober. “Family secrets. And some truly fucked-up abuse.”
I sit back and take it in. “Is Ella in the videos?”
“No,” he says. “Not as far as I know, but that could change as we find out more.”
I have to take a minute to sit with that. Fucked-up abuse scars a person. Ella seems focused on James’s death as the cause of her spiraling, but clearly her trauma began earlier. It wasn’t a single moment that triggered her downfall. A chill runs down my spine as I’m reminded of what Kam said at the house. That she had a difficult life.
This must have been what he was talking about. That’s why he was drunk last night.
“What exactly is in the video? Did Kam see it?”
“Yeah. And he recognized it. He said it’s not the first time the video has been used as blackmail.”
“Did they pay last time?”
“Kam said the problem dissolved itself.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I ask even though I know. Cade shares a look with Silas and Damon looks down to the floor.
“The problem went away on its own and I believe it was buried ten feet under.”
Fuck.
“So it can’t be the same person?”
He shakes his head slowly.
My jailbird.
I want to be with her right now. I fight off a strong urge to get up and leave the table.
But as much as I want to hold her, I want to keep her safe even more. That starts here and now, at this table, with The Firm.
“Okay.” I look Cade in the eyes. “Let’s figure this out. Ella is depending on us.”