Chapter 5 - Patricia’s Last Move
Two nights later, Ethan was in his study when Raymond entered.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Patricia contacted Victor Dane.”
Ethan stood.
Victor controlled a rival organization operating through Galveston.
“How do you know?”
“One of our people saw them together.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“What does Patricia know?”
“Enough.”
Ethan immediately reached for his phone.
“Lock the estate.”
Raymond nodded.
Ethan stopped him.
“And nobody frightens the girls.”
“Understood.”
Ethan found Clara upstairs helping Avery and Sophie prepare for bed.
“Clara.”
She looked at his face.
“What happened?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“That expression means the opposite.”
He almost smiled.
“I need you to stay upstairs tonight.”
“Why?”
“Patricia.”
Clara’s smile disappeared.
“What did she do?”
“She spoke to someone she shouldn’t have.”
Sophie looked up from her stuffed rabbit.
“Is Patricia coming back?”
“No,” Ethan said immediately.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
He turned toward Clara.
“Keep them here.”
Clara followed him into the hallway.
“You can’t tell me half of something and expect me not to worry.”
“My world is dangerous.”
“I noticed.”
“Clara.”
“So is mine.”
Ethan frowned.
“What does that mean?”
She crossed her arms.
“You think rich men are the only people who know dangerous people?”
Despite everything, Ethan almost laughed.
Then Clara became serious.
“If Patricia is desperate, she may not come after you.”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“She’ll come after me.”
“Why?”
“Because she blames me.”
Ethan looked toward the bedroom.
Then back at Clara.
“You don’t leave this floor.”
“You’re very bossy.”
“I’m a crime boss.”
“That explains it.”
He stared at her.
Clara shrugged.
“You finally said it.”
Ethan almost answered when Raymond’s voice came through his earpiece.
“Boss. South gate.”
Ethan touched the receiver.
“What?”
“A vehicle approached, stopped, then left.”
“Plate?”
“Covered.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
Clara whispered, “Ethan.”
It was the first time she had used his first name.
He looked at her.
“Be careful.”
Something passed between them.
Brief.
Unexpected.
Then Ethan went downstairs.
Nothing happened that night.
That frightened him more.
The next morning, Raymond entered with an envelope.
“Delivered by courier.”
Inside were photographs.
Clara taking Avery to school.
Clara buying groceries.
Clara at a playground with Sophie.
One photograph had a message written across the back.
SHE ISN’T FAMILY.
Ethan’s face went cold.
Clara saw it.
“What is that?”
“Nothing.”
“Stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Deciding what I’m allowed to know.”
Ethan handed her the photograph.
Clara went pale.
“Victor?”
“You know the name?”
“Patricia mentioned him once.”
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
Ethan froze.
“Where?”
“Here.”
Clara pointed toward the study.
“She was on the phone. She said, ‘Victor can wait until Ethan signs everything.’”
Ethan stared at her.
“What everything?”
“I don’t know.”
But Ethan did.
The household restructuring documents.
The financial authorizations.
The permissions Patricia had buried between routine paperwork.
This had never been jealousy.
Patricia had wanted access.
Clara had simply become the one person inside the house observant enough to eventually expose her.
Ethan called Raymond.
“Find every document Patricia ever put in front of me.”
He looked at Clara.
May you like
“And this time, we read everything.”
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