Page 30 of Last Chance

“Furious is a better description. He needed more money, although he never told me why when he pressured me to sell everything and split the proceeds evenly with him.”

Sawyer and Brent exchanged glances. “Does your brother have addictions, Janie?” Sawyer asked.

She stared. “Addictions?”

“Drugs or alcohol?”

“No, of course not.” Despite her vehement denial, she dropped her gaze.

“Are you sure?” Brent asked softly.

Her cheeks colored. “He left for Chile the day after his challenge was rejected. We talk little and certainly nothing about his habits.”

Sawyer frowned. “Although you’re not close, you visited him in Chile.”

Janie gave a small shrug. “He married a sweet woman three months ago. She’s been begging me to come visit them. I thought David knew she’d invited me. Turns out she didn’t tell him until I was on the doorstep. He wasn’t pleased. My brother spent the two weeks I was there at the office or trying to convince me to do what was right.”

Jerk. “How long has it been since your grandmother passed away?”

“Almost four years.”

“And he still needs money?”

“That’s what he told me.” Janie sighed. “He cranked up the pressure to boiling while I was there. It turns out that Maria, his wife, is pregnant. He says he needs money to prepare for the baby’s arrival.”

Brent hissed out a breath. “So David is using guilt to get you to change your mind about your grandmother’s property. Why didn’t you tell me, sugar? I would have talked to David.”

And forced him to back off, too. Sawyer’s boss didn’t put up with anything from his employees or anyone else. If something was wrong, he called attention to it, and this had warning signs stamped all over it.

“Brent, you have enough problems to deal with daily. This is nothing compared to the life-threatening emergencies you handle. I’ve held firm for the past three years. I’ll do as my grandmother wanted. Besides, David will receive more money in two years.”

“But not as much as he wants or says he deserves,” Sawyer murmured. “Right?”

Janie nodded.

“How much is he asking for?” Brent asked.

“Two million dollars.”

Sawyer’s head whipped toward hers. “Holy smoke, Janie.”

“I know babies are expensive, but no one should need that much money to decorate a room and buy clothes and diapers.” Brent scowled. “So, what does David really want the money for?”

“I don’t know.” She grimaced. “He never told me.”

“You went to Chile to repair the relationship with your brother?”

“And failed in spectacular fashion,” she said, her tone dry. “All he wanted was the money which I can’t give him according to the terms of Granny Irene’s will.”

“Will you go back to Chile?” Sawyer asked.

“I want to see my niece or nephew. This time, though, I’m going to stay in a nearby hotel. I don’t want to be in the way, and I need a place to retreat to when David continues to plead his case.”

He couldn’t help but admire her grit and courage. Most people would have thrown up their hands and walked away. Not Janie, though.

“Let me know when you plan to go back,” Brent said. “One of us will go with you.”

“Oh, but….”

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