Legacy (Steel Brothers Saga #14) - Helen Hardt Page 0,74
was masked. “You don’t want to do that,” he said.
“I assure you that I do.”
“No, you don’t.” He removed the black ski mask.
I’d dropped my flashlight when he first grabbed me, but now I knew why the voice was raspy but familiar.
George Steel stood in front of me.
My jaw dropped.
“It’s me, son.”
“You’re…dead.” Except the words didn’t come out. They floated around in my head, repeating themselves again and again.
“It’s me. I’m not dead.”
“But how…”
“It was time for me to step down, let you and your children run the Steel family. Besides…I can accomplish a lot more dead than alive.”
“You’re crazy,” I said, shaking my head. “A complete loon.”
He guffawed. “I’ve been called a lot worse.”
“But I have… I have all your money. Your assets.”
“You have all the Steel assets, son. Do you really think I didn’t hide a thing or two away over the years?”
“Enough to fake your death, apparently.”
“Your mother is better off without me. We both know that.”
“You didn’t have to be such a tyrant.”
“You’re right. I made a lot of mistakes, but I built Steel Acres legitimately, and I’ve left it in a good place. You have the chance to make it huge.”
“I plan to. I’ve already got major investments in place. I’m going to take it into nine figures. Maybe ten.”
“You can do it.”
“Why didn’t you do it?”
“I wasn’t the man for the job. You are.”
I shook my head. “This is nuts. Why would you pretend to die? The heart attack?”
“Son, money can buy just about anything.”
“You bought your own death?”
“In a manner of speaking. I’ll be of much more use this way. My legacy is in good hands with you.”
“I’m twenty-three.”
“You’re more of a man at twenty-three than most are at three times your age. You have a wife and a child. Something to live for.”
“You had that too.”
“I did. And I stayed around until I was sure you could handle everything.”
“Why not just walk away, then? Why orchestrate your own death? Or fake death? Or whatever the fuck it is you did?”
“Because, Brad, something’s going on. I haven’t been able to put my finger on it quite yet, but I know I’ll be better able to figure it out without anyone watching me.”
I gestured to the tarp-covered body in the corner. “Please tell me you had nothing to do with this.”
“I did not, of course. I’m not a killer, and even if I were, I certainly wouldn’t harm anyone who’s important to you or your wife.”
“So it is Patty, then.”
“It is. I’m sorry, son.”
“Damn. Why is she here? On our property?”
“My people recovered the body and brought her here at my instruction.”
“Wait… Your people?”
“A select few who are in on my little secret.”
“Who did this? Who’s behind this?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Is it related to Murphy’s murder?”
“I believe so.”
“Why? Why would anyone want to hurt two innocent people?”
“Because they’re important to you, Brad.”
“Me? Who— Oh, fuck.”
“I can’t be sure it’s her. She’s under constant supervision, and she’s heavily medicated.”
“Who else, then?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Whoever it is moves like a panther. Untraceable. Which is why I’m better off flying under the radar. I’m able to do that if everyone thinks I’m dead.”
“You really think I can keep this from Mom?”
“I’d think you’d be happy to.”
I sighed. He was right. My mother was happy now. She had a grandson to dote on, a new daughter-in-law, and her tyrant of a husband was finally gone.
“How do I get in touch with you?”
“You don’t. I’ll find you when I need to.”
“And…now?”
“It was time for you to know. Go home. Tend to your wife and son. Take care of your mother. Leave this to me.”
It was tempting. Really tempting. But—
“No way. I’m all-in now. Murph and Patty were my friends. I’ve already decided…”
“Decided what?”
“I can’t tell Daphne about this. I’m going to figure out a way to make it look like Patty left the country.”
“You think you can pull that off?”
“Didn’t you say it yourself? Money can buy just about anything?”
“I want better for you,” he said.
“Right. If you wanted better for me, you wouldn’t have pointed a gun at Dr. Pelletier’s head while I was standing right there.”
“I was making a point.”
“Yeah. The point that money can buy anything.”
“You missed that point, son. Money can buy just about anything. When money can’t get you what you want, a threat against someone’s life can. Life trumps money any day. It took me a while to learn that lesson.”