Page 74 of Wretched Heart
“You should know, Hugo, that I’m even better at putting someone under duress than Hunter.”
“I’m not too sure about that, brother,” I say. “You might have to prove it. Maybe Hugo can be the judge.”
Hugo twitches. “I want to sign, I really do, but as I explained to Hunter, I have obligations to other people. Barrett’s offer was far more generous, and it would have kept everyone happy.”
“Debatable,” I say.
“I’m talking aboutnotablepeople,” he tries.
“Again…”
Hugo bristles. He knows we’re talking about his sister. “Maddison would have been taken care of, either by Barrett, or by me. And she agreed to the marriage,” he insists. “I accept that not everyone else would have benefited. Our workers would have lost their jobs, but what job can be guaranteed these days? As a businessman, I’m sure you understand that.”
“I understand how ordinary, hard-working people end up being the ones who pay for the greed of corporate parasites,” Ash says. “We do business very differently, Hugo. Which is why you’re the one with crippling debts, and I’m the only thing standing between you and your day of reckoning with your debtors.”
“You don’t know who we’re dealing with,” Hugo persists. “I need more than a promise that you’ll keep them away.”
“I know exactly who we’re dealing with, I’ve probably dined out with a few of them. They’re the kind of people who have short tempers and long memories, much like myself,” Ash adds. “So, here’s what I’m proposing.” He taps his fingers on his knee and I know he’s still figuring out how to play this. Despite my threat in the car, the bastard still thinks Hugo’s fate is up for debate.
I cock my head so he notices, then hold his gaze. Ash doesn’t do expressions, but from the flare of his nostrils and the twitch of an eyebrow, I see enough to know I’m going to have to trust him.
“I’m feeling generous,” Ash says. “I’m going to draw up a second agreement. One where you sell this nice house to me at the same time you hand over your shares in the paper mill.”
My jaw locks as I try to keep my expression neutral.When he’d arrived two days ago, he wasn’t even convinced we should be buying the mill, and now he wants the house too? What the fuck?
“When the paperwork’s ready to sign,” Ash continues, “I’d like to invite you to stay with friends of ours in Las Vegas. Hunter’s spoken to them, and they’re amenable to a meeting. They’ve agreed to act as go-betweens and will negotiate a settlement with your mutual friends.”
“How can I trust that they’ll do it?”
“Trust doesn’t come into it. They don’t know you, and you don’t know them. It’s all going to be very transparent. You’ll be in a conference call where the terms will be agreed with your debtors. Once it’s concluded to everyone’s satisfaction, you’ll sign the house and the mill over to me, and I’ll make a payment to settle your debts. And when it’s all done, you can take advantage of all that Vegas has to offer to celebrate your good fortune. Compared to waking up one night with a gun pressed to your forehead, I’d say my offer is a good one. I promise it’ll be painless.”
“But the house… It’s my family’s legacy.”
“A house that will become your very own personal crypt, one way or another, if you don’t accept the fucking offer.”
I’m not sure if Hugo is aware, but he’s rocking back and forth. “When? When can we do it?”
“This is a time-limited offer. I want everything completed by the end of the week. No more delays. When our lawyers ask a question, you answer them within the hour or the deal’s off,” Ash warns. “Do everything right, and the next time we meet will be on Sunday in Vegas to sign the papers. I’ll send the location when all the arrangements have been made.”
“I…” His throat bobs. “OK then.”
And it’s that simple. An agreement has been reached and the meeting is technically over, but it’s over too soon. We need to wait for Mace to finish snooping. When Hugo makes a move to stand, I step forward. The last thing I want is to make small talk with the creep, but we need to stay put a little while longer.
A door handle rattles, and to my relief, Mace appears. “Maddie couldn’t decide what shoes she wanted to take,” he says. “But we’re all done now.”
“Where is she?” I ask.
“Right here,” Maddie calls out. “I didn’t know if Hugo would want to search my purse before I left.”
“No, he fucking wouldn’t,” I answer before Hugo has a chance.
“It’s nice doing business with you,” Hugo says, extending a hand to my brother as they stand.
Ash looks at it with undisguised disdain. “Just so we’re clear. We’re not doing this for you.”
“What happened with Hugo?” Mace asks as Ash drives us away in another dust storm.
“I’m meeting him in Vegas on Sunday,” Ash says. “Everything will be resolved then.”
