Chapter 8
Mark never got the weapon out.
My captain took it first.
Mark stared at me.
“You weren’t supposed to be down here.”
I almost smiled.
“Eleanor said the same thing about Richard.”
His eyes moved toward the tape recorder.
Fear.
Good.
Daniel whispered:
“Mark?”
His cousin looked away.
Another man Daniel didn’t know was part of the plan.
Richard laughed.
“Don’t act betrayed, son.”
Daniel turned.
“You recruited him?”
“I recruited competent people.”
That one hurt Daniel.
Richard intended it to.
Mark looked at me.
“This isn’t personal.”
“Lily was chained outside.”
“I didn’t know.”
Richard scoffed.
“Everyone says that once the child starts crying.”
I stared at Mark.
“What did Calder promise you?”
“Nothing.”
“Wrong answer.”
He swallowed.
“Security control.”
“After?”
He looked at Daniel.
My husband’s face changed.
“After what?”
Mark said nothing.
Richard smiled.
“Tell him.”
Mark looked miserable.
“After Daniel stepped aside.”
Daniel stared at his father.
“You said I would lead.”
Richard shrugged.
“You would have.”
“For how long?”
Silence.
Another tool discovering his expiration date.
Daniel laughed once.
Broken.
“You used me.”
Richard looked genuinely annoyed.
“Don’t become dramatic.”
“That’s your answer?”
“I gave you purpose.”
“You used my daughter.”
“Our family needed leverage.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
For the first time, anger aimed at Richard instead of me.
Too late to make him innocent.
But useful.
I looked at Mark.
“Why are Calder men coming?”
“To witness transition.”
“What transition?”
He stared at my signet ring.
“You stepping down.”
I laughed.
“Witnessed how?”
Silence.
Then Margaret whispered:
“They were going to make Emma kneel.”
Richard’s expression changed.
I turned.
Margaret continued.
“In the banquet room.”
Daniel whispered:
“Dad…”
Richard ignored him.
Margaret looked at me.
“They wanted the senior Hart capos watching.”
I understood.
Not kill me.
Break the image.
The secret head of Hart forced to surrender publicly while her daughter was held elsewhere.
Then Daniel would be presented as the man who restored order.
I looked at my husband.
He looked sick.
“Did you know?”
“Not that part.”
Richard laughed.
“You wanted power without learning what it costs.”
I stared at him.
“No.”
May you like
Then at Daniel.
“He wanted power without asking what it would cost Lily.”
