Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Right.” Albert clears his throat and leans forward. “Okay then, Kellen. I suppose you want to know about your father’s will?”
“That’s a good start.”
“Fortunately, it’s a simple matter. He left everything to your mother except for a few trusts established for some of the family. Your uncles, some cousins, and you.”
“He left me a trust?” I laugh sharply, shaking my head. “What a fucking bastard.”
“Ah, sorry?” Albert looks confused. “That’s a bad thing? It’s a fairly substantial fund. You won’t be filthy rich, but—”
“I haven’t taken a dime from my father since the day I walked out of this place seven years ago. Everything I have now, I have because I fought for it. Do you understand, Albert? I struggled and bled to get where I am today.”
“Right,” he says, clearing his throat. “Which is where, exactly?”
I grin at him and lean back in my chair, enjoying his discomfort. “How about we dispense with the formal bullshit, all right? Does that work for you?”
“Please,” he says, gesturing.
“I run one of the most successful mafia crews in the area and my strength’s growing every day. My father realized years ago that I’ll be a threat to the Hayle family sooner or later and he’s been doing everything he can to pull me back under his control. Bribes, extortion, even a few assassination attempts. Remember that stripper he sent for my birthday?”
Finn grunts and nods. “She tried to stab you in the dick.”
“I think she was aiming for my heart.”
“I distinctly remember the dick.”
“Either way.” I look back at Albert, eyes narrowed. “My father was a real piece of shit, but as it turns out, I might be worse. This trust fund is just another way he can try to control me from beyond the grave. Give me some money, make me complacent. And I’m guessing there are stipulations involved?”
“Ah,” Albert says, really sweating it now, the poor bastard. I know it isn’t his fault but I do enjoy watching him squirm. “Well, yes, there are, but—”
“I’m betting I won’t like them.”
“There’s only one, actually.” He takes a breath and lets it out. “You have to be married to get the money.”
I frown slightly, head tilted, studying him as my mind works in slow circles, trying to come to grips with what he just said. “Repeat that.”
“Married. To get the money. That’s the only stipulation. Doesn’t say to whom or by when, only that once you’re married, the cash is yours. And Kellen, before you decide to turn the trust away, I’ll remind you that your father is dead and there’s at least fifty million saved for you in discreet and profitable investments.”
Finn whistles. “Fifty million’s not bad, Kell.”
“Not bad at all,” I agree, nodding, and it’s a shame it’s all rotten. “But a wife?”
“You like women. A wife wouldn’t be so bad.”
I raise my eyebrows at him. “I like lots of women. As in, plural women, and sometimes plural women in the same night. In the same bed, at the same time. A wife is singular.”
“You’ll adapt. Open marriage. That sort of thing.”
I wave a hand. “I’m too old fashioned. I prefer to be single when I sleep around.”
“If I may?” Albert clears his throat, interrupting our banter, which is annoying. I find our banter charming and hilarious, but I gesture for him to continue anyway. “I know why you’re here. I think everyone does. You want control of the, ah, darker aspects of the family business.”
“I want control of everything,” I say quietly, feeling my blood simmer in my veins. “I was born to control Hayle Construction. I was bred to run the mafia. Struggle and rage are baked into my flesh and I’ll be damned if anyone else gets a piece of what’s mine.”
“In that case, you’ll need this money and the respectability a decent wife will bring. I know it’s dangerous to say, but Kellen, you don’t have a good reputation.”
I lean back, looking at Albert like a viper.
“The man’s right,” Finn says. “Your reputation is bleak.”
“Very bleak,” I agree.
“Bloody almost.”
“Bloody is a good way to describe my reputation.”
“But what I don’t get, Mr. Lawyer, is why marrying will help?” Finn’s inspecting his nails like he’s looking at something interesting.
Albert smiles uncertainly. “It’ll show that Kellen is willing to change. That he’s trying to play the game.”
“I could always just ask my mother to give me what I want, since my father left everything to her, and not to my shit-stain cousin.”
Albert nods and somehow looks even more uncomfortable, if that’s possible. “Yes, you could, but there’s a problem. Two years ago, when her illness began, she gave your cousin Hugh her power of attorney. And not just a limited power, but a very broad one, and it went into effect six months ago. In essence, Hugh controls everything and it’s my understanding that your mother is incapable of, ah, countermanding him at the moment.”