Page 129

I suck in a breath when I get to both transactions.

She got paid two hundred million dollars to kill my father while knowing she would never see her children again?

“I thought I knew what an asshole she was,” I murmur, not looking away from the page. “Turns out she was worse than Jim.”

I feel Baron tense next to me.

“I’ll get right to the point, Mr. Barclay.” Fairway leans in closer. I frown when I see how coldly she’s looking at me.

Then the door bangs open.

“Don’t say anything.” Lord Alton strolls in, suit as perfectly tailored as his brother’s and niece’s, and stands right behind me.

“That’s all right,” Fairway says, leaning back and focusing on the new arrival. “I’m just going to state the facts as I see them right now.” Her eyes lower to me again. “You knew you were going to inherit everything, you knew that—in your own words—your stepmother was an asshole, so you contacted her anonymously and paid her to kill your father. You got custody of your brothers, three professional teams, and billions tied to a family trust in one afternoon. Easy.”

I can only stare at her.

Then I snort, I mean how can I not?

“You think I had two hundred million just lying around?” I’m the one leaning in now.

“Tucker—” Lord starts, but I wave him off.

“I have nothing to hide.” I keep my eyes on Fairway. “Your story’s nice but you forgot one tiny detail, really inconsequential.” Am I mocking her? Yes. Do I feel bad? No. She thinks I’m a fucking murderer, and I’m not.

“And what detail is that?” Preet asks, while Fairway just keeps staring.

“I am not a fucking psycho,” I deadpan. “Jim was eighty-fucking-one, his cholesterol was through the roof, he never exercised, he was going to die soon because he was never really healthy to begin with. I am neither crazy enough nor stupid enough to kill him when he was already going to die.

“And on top of that, I didn’t have two hundred million dollars just lying around before I gained access to the trust, which I’m sure my counsel and a judge can confirm to you both.”

“Can you prove it?” Fairway presses and I let out a breath. This woman.

I turn to Lord. “You can take over now.” Because I don’t need to prove anything. I know very little about the law, but I at least know that.

Lord does take over, beautifully lethal and composed.

“I’d like to see any evidence you have.”

“We’re not arresting him for a reason,” Preet says, like that means anything at all.

“So you’re only badgering him because he inherited what his father left him,” Lord points out mercilessly. “You can either show us evidence that he sent the money and those messages and get a warrant here in the next five seconds for his financial records, or you can let my client go. Now.”

Neither of them have anything to say to that. Lord taps my shoulder and as one we all stand.

“We’re leaving,” Lord declares. “If you want to ask my client any more questions, contact me first.” He hands them his card, and then we’re walking out.

Avery runs right into my chest in the lobby and doesn’t say a single word, just holds on.

I kiss the top of her hair.

“Let’s go home.”

22

SUNNY

The movements and sounds inside the house keep me sane up until they stop.