Page 120 of Playing the Game
“I know you stayed in touch, then poof, you were gone. That happened about the same time Helena had Jack. If my math is adding up, I’d say these events link back to you relocating.”
“Impressive, son. Impressive.” She turns toward the opening of the field where we entered and smiles with pride.
I ignore it. “Your mobster husband caught you with my dad, didn’t he?”
“He suspected something, but he didn’t know for sure. If he had, I would be dead, and so would your father.”
“Then what happened?”
“My husband was pressuring me for information on why I would go to Paris or other places in Europe on a whim, so I had to find something I could give him. By luck, you had just fathered a child, which gave me an idea. The perfect plan was formed.”
“Why would your husband want to raise my son?”
“He has no children of his own. That is until now. We’ll adopt your son and make it legal. People we have ties to will arrange all the necessities. I don’t need to bother you with those nuances.”
I shake my head as my chest caves in. “The heir to the Efron fortune in exchange for your life. You plan on raising my son. When he’s old enough, he’ll take over for your husband.”
“Hunter, I’m doing this for your father too. I’m not as evil as you believe.”
I puff out a hiss. “Right. How is taking away my child not evil?”
“Do you want him?” She pegs me with a knowing stare.
I turn my head away and don’t respond.
“I didn’t think so. Now, let’s get to our alliance.” She steps out of the cornfield and leads us back to the patio. “You can see I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m trying to help you.”
I’m so far from being able to contain this mess I can’t see straight. “There is no alliance.”
“There will be, or you can say goodbye to your future.”
“How so?”
“Like I said, I’m not doing this to hurt you. I’m doing this to keep you alive. Give me your son, and when you and Jonah step down from your roles at Efron Worldwide, you’ll get him back.”
“Why then?” Right as I say it, I make the connection. “You want him to take over Efron Worldwide, and when that happens, your crime organization will have its hands back in the business.”
“Play my game, Hunter, and there won’t be any issues. Everyone you love will live a long life.” She steps onto the patio and faces me.
“Except you’re forgetting one important thing.”
“Which is?”
My heart pounds hard. “Isabella Carter. He’s her son too.”
My mother waves it off. “She’ll be taken care of, so stop worrying.”
“How am I not to be concerned about this? You’re telling me you’re taking my son to raise so he can learn the ins and outs of your mob.
“Then, once he’s old enough, he’s set up to take over the legacy my father made so he can destroy it. And if I refuse any of this, someone will die.”
“It could be worse news.” She pulls out a chair and sits.
My breath races as I stay standing and tower over her. “How so?”
“I could still be after your one true love.” Her hateful gaze connects with mine.
“What does Dorothy have to do with this situation? Why are you focused on her?”
