ed on black velvet, was a passport, a driver' s license, and a set of cred

alm and steady. "Ethan Miller is about to die a tragi

lt heavy, official. Elias Vance. It fe

cident. The car is already at the marina. The boat is registered in your name. It wi

I looked at the items in th

nas," she said, her tone hardening. "Elias Va

offered purpose. A cold, sharp purpos

id. The words came

her lips. "Then let' s make sure Ethan M

en child, the one my parents adored, the one they rescued from a troubled home and showered with everything I, the

and gambling. When the auditors started closing in, the family held a

d my entire life, couldn't even look me in the eye. "Ethan, you're t

me. "Liam is not built for this kind of hardship. It would break him. You' v

ove I had always been starved for. They weren't asking me to save the com

th me. My eyes found my wife, Sarah. We had been marr

d, a thread of

candal. Think of our daughter, Mia. If you just... take responsibility, it can all

s, in the slight tremor of her hand as she reached for her wine gla

r uncle Liam. He bought her expensive gifts, took her to concerts, and told her s

ge contempt. "Dad, Uncle Liam said it was just a mistake. Why are you

wasn't just my daughter; she was their daughter, their creation. They had p

cold calculation in their eyes, something inside me broke. I

They weren't my family. They were a pack of wolves that had finis

e word tasting lik

n the room w

account Eleanor Vance had helped me set up years ago after I' d made a significant

scrolling through her phone, ignoring me.

out for a few

you going to sign the papers for my

ked at me and saw only an obstacle, an ATM. I didn' t fe

id quietly

es flashing with annoyance. "

said. "Liam promised.

way, leaving her sput

Sarah was in our bedroom.

er for a while," she said, not lookin

o blow over, Sara

lly constructed mask of sorrow. "Ethan, I d

arried. I found nothing. Only self-interest and a chilling capacity for b

n't want to. The thought of her

I'm making a public announcement

ly with interest. "What

e the room. "The whole family should be th