Jasmine sniffed haughtily. “Discussions aren’t conclusions. There is no negotiation on the matter. I want to extract the Fourth and Final Debt. That right is mine.”
“Jasmine, calm down. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied with the new arrangement.” Cut held out his hand. “Give me the contract, Hartwell. Let me see everything has been noted before we make it official.”
Marshall stole the paper from me and slid it up the table.
Cut caught it; he took his time reading, his eyes darting over fine print.
I breathed hard, suffering a crushing weight of grief and revulsion.
He’s dead.
But they’re not.
Why couldn’t Cut and Bonnie be dead instead of Jethro and Kestrel?
Because life is never fair and it’s up to me to carve out justice.
Jasmine remained rigid until Cut finally raised his eyes and shot the contract over the satin wood toward us. “I’m happy with that. The Fourth Debt will be repaid slightly differently to the rest, but that will be another discussion.” His eyes met his children’s. “In this case, three signatures will be required—Nila, Dan, and Jaz.”
He made it sound like a school permission slip for us all to go play happily together.
I snorted, rolling my eyes.
Cut gave me a stern look.
Samuel Cole, who hadn’t made a sound since I’d arrived, spoke up. “In that case, it is my duty to advise all of you that this new clause will be forever known as amendment 1-345-132.”
My eyes widened. How many amendments had there been to warrant such a crazy number?
Judging by the stacks of paperwork…a lot. Far too many. Was there anything left of the original contract?
Mr. Cole continued, “Due to the unfortunate deaths of the firstborn, Jethro Hawk…”
Pain slammed into me.
Agony tore out my heart.
Misery crumbled me into dust.
Jethro.
God, I wish you hadn’t left me.
I couldn’t sit up straight; howling winds of grief ripped me apart. I hunched into myself, holding my ribcage to keep from sobbing.
I managed to remain silent.
But Jasmine didn’t.
Her lip wobbled, tears streaking her cheeks. She cracked, but it didn’t last long. Sucking in a breath, she reached into the small satchel attached to her wheelchair and pulled out another handkerchief.
Bowing her head, she dabbed at her eyes.
My lips twisted in disgust. “I don’t buy your crocodile tears. Don’t bother putting on a show when I know you were part of this murder from the start.”
Her head shot upright. Our souls duelled, violence sparking between us.
Cole cleared his throat. “In natures of the firstborn perishing, the following may occur: The Debt Inheritance can be called null and void, leaving Ms. Weaver to propagate and provide a new heir for the payment at a later date, or, if both parties agree, a new heir instated. In the case of Jethro ‘Kite’ Hawk’s demise, the second in line, Angus ‘Kestrel’ Hawk also suffered an untimely end.”
God, how much longer can this nightmare continue?
I huddled further into my chair, a silent tear escaping. More swelled, wanting to river, but I refused to show my pain.
Jasmine blew her nose, her cheeks glittering with moisture.
I wanted to snatch each fake droplet and ram them down her lying throat.
Daniel smirked, showing no other emotion. “Guess that leaves me in a lucky place.”
Cole ignored him. “In this case, we’ve been asked to draft the following arrangement to protect both interests and move forward.” Placing a pair of silver-rimmed glasses on his nose, he picked up an identical copy of the contract. “On this day, the Debt Inheritance will be carried out by the remaining bloodlines of the Hawk family against the crimes committed by the Weavers. Jasmine Diamond Hawk will have sole custody and responsibility for Nila Weaver’s wellbeing until such a time as the Final Debt is claimed.”
Daniel squirmed in his chair. “What the fuck? But—”