Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 46461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Mr. Goldstein grinned, silent for a moment before responding. When he did, he tried to goad Thorn. “No need to be rude, Mr…”
“Thorn,” he said.
“Surely you have a last name.” When Thorn just stared at him, Mr. Goldstein cleared his throat and continued. “Well, it’s come to my attention that my late client’s daughter is residing here, likely under duress.”
“No one in this place is here under duress,” Thorn said.
“Why else would she be here? She’s the heiress to a fortune. Why would she want to live in a place like this?” Again, Thorn said nothing, just stared the man down. It was obvious Goldstein hadn’t seen me yet, and I was eager to keep it that way. “Well? Where is she?”
Thorn glanced back at Gideon. He leaned down to whisper to me. “Come on, baby. I’ve got you. I’m right here.” He urged me to stand and took up a place by my side and slightly in front of me.
“Ah! There she is. Emmanuell, come to me, and we’ll leave this place.”
“I’m not leaving, Mr. Goldstein.”
“Of course, you are. You’re coming home with me, and we’ll sort out your father’s will together.”
“There’s nothing to sort out,” I said softly. “I know exactly what Daddy wanted to do with his money.”
“Things have changed, my dear. Before he died, your father was putting together a charity he wanted to put everything into. He named me as managing partner of that company. I’ll take care of everything for you, Emmanuell. I just need you to withdraw your court motion to freeze the company’s assets.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” I said, taking comfort in Gideon’s hand at the small of my back.
“Of course, you can. Once you get out of this place, away from these people who are manipulating you, you’ll see how important it is.”
“No one here is manipulating me, Mr. Goldstein.”
“You’re lying to yourself if you don’t think they’re just after your money.” He looked at me with pity in his gaze. “Just like the other man you took up with the night your father died. Wasn’t he part of this club?”
There was a time not too long ago when I’d told myself the same thing. Now, I could see the truth of things. I looked back at Gideon and saw the man I loved with all my heart. The man who’d helped me get my babies safely into the world. Looking around the room, I saw his brothers. who’d given me a safe place to live. Who’d worked to find out what had happened to my father and what part one of their own had played. These were good men and women, and my life was so much better for being here with them.
“He was. I’m still not coming with you.” I put my chin up stubbornly. “You’re not my friend, Mr. Goldstein, and I sincerely doubt you were ever my father’s friend.”
“I was your father’s best friend. His confidant. He wanted everything to go to LimeLight Division. Just like your mother envisioned.”
“LimeLight was my mother’s project, but she wasn’t able to get it going like she wanted before she died.”
“I know. Your father and I worked to make it just like she wanted it. I had just filed the paperwork and was finishing the details when he was killed.” He spread his hands out in an innocent gesture. “I just want to see this to the end. To see your mother’s legacy brought to life.”
“Then leave it like it is,” I said. “I’ll finish it.”
He shook his head. “That’s not what your dad wanted, Emmanuell. He and I talked about this at length. He knew you weren’t ready to manage something this size.”
“Then why was my name on it?”
He paused for a moment, obviously unaware I knew anything about what he’d done. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, sweetheart. Your father wanted me to manage LimeLight Division. Your name was never mentioned. All his estate was to be liquidated into that charity.”
“No, it wasn’t,” I said. “And the paperwork you filed on LimeLight named me and my father as owners. Why would you do that? My father never talked to me about business.” I thought a moment, really looking at Goldstein. “You did it so when I never came forward to take control of the company, you could take control with no questions asked. Only, Devan didn’t do what he was supposed to do and kill me. He took me out of state, took any means I had of coming forward with a positive identity, then made it look like I was anywhere but New York. I was supposed to die…” My voice caught. “So you could cash in on my father. Did he not pay you enough? Why? Why would you do this?”
Goldstein glanced around at his associates. One of them stepped forward and whispered something into his ear. Goldstein smirked. “Come with me, my dear. I know you’re struggling right now, but once we settle this business with LimeLight, you’ll get your half of your father’s estate. The second I learned you’d been found, I set you up with an apartment and a new vehicle so you could take some time to get back on your feet. Once you’ve had time to process everything that’s happened, you’ll also see that none of this is what you believe. These people --” He indicated the men of Salvation’s Bane. “-- They’ve deceived you. I’ve known you all your life. You know I’d never harm your father. He was a good friend to me.”