Chapter 7 - THE DEAL
Mara showed Damon the photograph.
His expression turned lethal.
“Where was this taken?”
“Parking garage downtown.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
Damon immediately called someone.
Mara grabbed his wrist.
“No violence.”
He stared at her.
“I didn’t say violence.”
“You didn’t have to.”
He slowly lowered the phone.
Mara sat down.
“Bryce is working with Victor.”
“Probably for money.”
“Bryce would sell his own mother if somebody paid closing costs.”
Damon studied the image.
“Victor wants you gone.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re changing the boys.”
“That sounds ridiculous.”
“It isn’t.”
Damon looked toward the playroom.
“My sons used to scare everyone away.”
“And now?”
“Now they listen to you.”
Mara glanced through the doorway.
Jonah and Eli were building something with Lily.
Micah read nearby.
Noah had somehow taped a spoon to his forehead.
Damon continued.
“If you stay, they become harder to manipulate.”
Mara frowned.
“Manipulate for what?”
Damon did not answer.
Then Mara understood.
“The company.”
Cross Freight would eventually belong to the boys.
If something happened to Damon, whoever controlled the children could control the estate.
“Victor wants guardianship.”
Damon nodded.
Mara felt cold.
That night, Damon showed Mara Elise’s will.
If Damon died before the boys turned eighteen, custody would go to a named family trustee.
Victor Shaw.
Mara stared.
“Why would she do that?”
“She signed it before we knew what Victor was.”
“Can you change it?”
“My estate plan, yes.”
“The boys’ guardianship?”
“Court can still consider her wishes.”
Mara shook her head.
“This is bigger than some old ledger.”
“Yes.”
For once, he had no clever answer.
The next day, Mara attended a custody mediation with Bryce.
He arrived smiling.
“I heard there was a fire.”
Mara wanted to hit him again.
Instead she sat down.
Bryce leaned close.
“You should take my deal.”
“What deal?”
“Give me primary custody.”
Mara laughed.
“No.”
“You get weekends.”
“No.”
“And I drop the argument about Crossmoor.”
“No.”
Bryce’s smile disappeared.
“You don’t understand your situation.”
“I understand you’re scared.”
“Of what?”
“That I finally have something worth fighting with.”
He leaned back.
“You’re a nanny.”
“At least I work.”
His face tightened.
Then Mara saw it.
A small black device inside his briefcase.
Another burner phone.
Same model.
She waited until he left the room.
Then she photographed it.
That evening, Damon’s people traced the model’s purchase.
Six phones had been purchased in cash.
One store.
One buyer.
Security footage showed Victor.
May you like
But there was another person with him.
Ruth.
