Page 180 of Hidden Ties

Bradford started crying. “You killed my son.”

“No, I didn’t! Glory did.” Victoria had a crazed, faraway look on her face, as if it all made sense to her.

“Your wife also paid someone to kill Sage,” Kent enlightened him further. “There were unsuccessful attempts made on her life.”

Victoria didn’t deny the allegation, sitting silently under the condemning gaze of her husband.

“I’ll have a cashier’s check drawn up this afternoon in the amount you think Glory is owed,” Bradford said thickly. “I will also make sure that my wife gets the help she needs.”

Picking the documents up from the floor where they had fallen, Kent handed the legal papers back to Bradford.

“Jackal, text Mrs. Boward to come inside.”

“Done.” Jackal moved to take a seat one the chair Bradford had been sitting on.

Victoria’s hand moved to cover the slit where she had hidden her ring.

“You needed me, Mr. Bryant?” Mrs. Boward asked, coming down the step. “I brought my seal with me, as you requested.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you coming. I just need you to witness their signatures and place your seal.”

“Yes, sir. I’d be happy to.”

Bradford signed the documents first, then handed the pen to Victoria, showing her where to sign.

Victoria seemed about to refuse.

“Sign the papers, Victoria. You’ve cost me my son, my grandchildren, and any future ones I could have had. Sign the papers, or you’ll be signing our divorce papers.”

Victoria signed.

Kent took the documents from her, attached his own signature, then handed them to Mrs. Boward to attach her seal.

When she was done, Kent placed them back into the yellow envelope, then returned that to his briefcase. Giving the briefcase to Mrs. Boward, he instructed her to take it back to his office and told her he would be there shortly.

“We’ll be taking off now. I need to make a quick stop to get Sage a wedding present.” Kent moved to stand in front of Victoria, his shoes touching hers.

“Let me make one thing perfectly clear, just in case it’s still cloudy in your mind. Any further attempt to hurt Sage will be met with force. Do you get my meaning?”

Bradford and Victoria nodded with terror in their eyes.

“I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of the day. I don’t want to make you late for your appointment in case you still wish to go. Oh … by the way, Mrs. Ashwood, just as a matter of interest … do you happen to know your blood type? In case, God forbid, one of your grandchildren needs a transfusion.”

“I’m AB positive.”

Lucky bitch.

Giving her a curt nod, he walked toward Ice.

“I’m B positive,” Bradford supplied helpfully.

“Good for you.”

He drew shoulder to shoulder to Ice. “What’d you do with the maid?”

“She’s making us sandwiches,” Ice answered. “You want her to make you one, too?”

“No, I’m good.” He nodded his head at the couple on the couch. “You know what to do?”

---