Chapter 15
Daniel asked Margaret one question.
“Would you have killed Claire?”
Margaret looked offended.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Removed her.”
“Forever?”
“If necessary.”
His face collapsed.
“You told me she would cool down.”
“She never cools down.”
Margaret looked at me.
“She wins.”
There.
The simplest motive of all.
Not legacy.
Not family.
She hated losing.
“You couldn’t control me.”
“No.”
“So you tried to control Lily.”
“She was easier.”
My hands curled.
Mark whispered:
“Jesus.”
Margaret looked at him.
“Don’t act shocked.”
He stared.
“She’s your granddaughter.”
“She’s Claire’s weapon.”
I stepped forward.
“She is a child.”
“She makes men obey you.”
“No.”
“She cries and guards move.”
“Yes.”
“She asks and you cancel meetings.”
“Yes.”
“She’s sick and the house stops.”
“Yes.”
Margaret laughed bitterly.
“You admit it.”
“I’m her mother.”
“That is weakness.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Priority.”
She stared.
Daniel sat down.
Maybe that word hurt him too.
Because he had chosen his mother’s approval over his daughter.
Mark looked at me.
“What do you want done?”
Margaret turned.
“You’re asking her?”
He didn’t even look at his mother.
“Yes.”
Her face changed.
One more piece of authority gone.
I looked around the room.
“No one disappears tonight.”
Margaret smiled faintly.
“Soft.”
I ignored her.
“Victor leaves under escort once every Price man leaves my property.”
Victor said nothing.
“Savannah remains protected until she chooses where she goes.”
Margaret scoffed.
“And Daniel?”
I looked at him.
“He stays away from Lily.”
His head lifted.
“Claire.”
“No.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“Then become someone she doesn’t hide from.”
Silence.
“And Margaret?”
Mark asked.
I looked at her.
She smiled.
Almost daring me.
“North house.”
Her face shifted.
Isolation.
No command.
No children.
No audience.
“For how long?”
She demanded.
May you like
“Until Lily can hear your name without hiding food.”
For the first time, Margaret looked genuinely afraid.
