She’d reached the same stage I had. The stage where nothing else mattered but getting even, claiming justice.
There’s a point to this meeting.
My heart froze solid, finally understanding. “I won’t sign anything. I can assure you of that. You might as well pack up and piss off because I’ll tear apart anything you put in front of me.”
Jasmine growled; Cut merely chuckled. “I’m sure if you did that, you’d make Daniel a very happy man.”
Daniel draped an arm over me. “Oh, please, Weaver. Do it for me. You have my full permission to refuse the amendment and cut Jaz out of the updated terms.”
“Like hell she will.” Jasmine looped her fingers together in aggression. “You’ll sign, Nila. You’ll see.”
I didn’t reply, glaring at the table instead.
Marshall shuffled the paper. “All right, let’s carry on.” Pinching the top sheet from the newest looking tower, he pushed it toward me. “This is the latest amendment and requires your signature.”
My blood charged through overheated veins. “I told you—”
“Shut it.” Jasmine snatched the paper and stabbed the bottom where an empty box waited for my life to spill upon it. “Do it. It’s your only choice.”
Our eyes locked. Not only did I hate her for what she’d done and how much she’d tricked me, but I hated that she looked so much like him.
Jethro.
The shape of her nose. The curve of her cheekbones. She was the closest in appearance to him, and it hurt to hate someone who looked so much like the man I loved.
“I told you. I’m not signing anything.”
Jaz’s cheeks flushed. I wouldn’t put it past her to slap me. In fact, I wanted her to because then I’d have an excuse to fight with a girl in a wheelchair.
Could I kill her? Could I slide my blade into her heart all while knowing Jethro had cared for her?
He was tricked…same as me.
I would honour his memory by destroying yet another person who’d betrayed him.
Hartwell shifted in his chair. “You don’t know the terms yet. Listen before being hasty.”
Jasmine tore her eyes away from mine, glaring at the lawyer. “The terms being that I have full right to both Weavers, Nila and Vaughn. In return, Daniel can have the estate and all monetary wealth that comes from being heir.”
I flinched, shivering in the sudden arctic hatred she projected.
“That has been discussed, Ms. Jasmine. I feel you’ll be satisfied with the arrangements.”
Jasmine sniffed haughtily. “Discussions aren’t conclusions. There is no negotiation on the matter. I want to extract the Fourth and Final Debt. That right is mine.”
“Jasmine, calm down. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied with the new arrangement.” Cut held out his hand. “Give me the contract, Hartwell. Let me see everything has been noted before we make it official.”
Marshall stole the paper from me and slid it up the table.
Cut caught it; he took his time reading, his eyes darting over fine print.
I breathed hard, suffering a crushing weight of grief and revulsion.
He’s dead.
But they’re not.
Why couldn’t Cut and Bonnie be dead instead of Jethro and Kestrel?
Because life is never fair and it’s up to me to carve out justice.
Jasmine remained rigid until Cut finally raised his eyes and shot the contract over the satin wood toward us. “I’m happy with that. The Fourth Debt will be repaid slightly differently to the rest, but that will be another discussion.” His eyes met his children’s. “In this case, three signatures will be required—Nila, Dan, and Jaz.”
He made it sound like a school permission slip for us all to go play happily together.
I snorted, rolling my eyes.
Cut gave me a stern look.
Samuel Cole, who hadn’t made a sound since I’d arrived, spoke up. “In that case, it is my duty to advise all of you that this new clause will be forever known as amendment 1-345-132.”
My eyes widened. How many amendments had there been to warrant such a crazy number?
Judging by the stacks of paperwork…a lot. Far too many. Was there anything left of the original contract?
Mr. Cole continued, “Due to the unfortunate deaths of the firstborn, Jethro Hawk…”
Pain slammed into me.
Agony tore out my heart.
Misery crumbled me into dust.
Jethro.
God, I wish you hadn’t left me.
I couldn’t sit up straight; howling winds of grief ripped me apart. I hunched into myself, holding my ribcage to keep from sobbing.
I managed to remain silent.
But Jasmine didn’t.
Her lip wobbled, tears streaking her cheeks. She cracked, but it didn’t last long. Sucking in a breath, she reached into the small satchel attached to her wheelchair and pulled out another handkerchief.
Bowing her head, she dabbed at her eyes.
My lips twisted in disgust. “I don’t buy your crocodile tears. Don’t bother putting on a show when I know you were part of this murder from the start.”
Her head shot upright. Our souls duelled, violence sparking between us.
Cole cleared his throat. “In natures of the firstborn perishing, the following may occur: The Debt Inheritance can be called null and void, leaving Ms. Weaver to propagate and provide a new heir for the payment at a later date, or, if both parties agree, a new heir instated. In the case of Jethro ‘Kite’ Hawk’s demise, the second in line, Angus ‘Kestrel’ Hawk also suffered an untimely end.”
God, how much longer can this nightmare continue?
I huddled further into my chair, a silent tear escaping. More swelled, wanting to river, but I refused to show my pain.
Jasmine blew her nose, her cheeks glittering with moisture.
I wanted to snatch each fake droplet and ram them down her lying throat.
Daniel smirked, showing no other emotion. “Guess that leaves me in a lucky place.”
Cole ignored him. “In this case, we’ve been asked to draft the following arrangement to protect both interests and move forward.” Placing a pair of silver-rimmed glasses on his nose, he picked up an identical copy of the contract. “On this day, the Debt Inheritance will be carried out by the remaining bloodlines of the Hawk family against the crimes committed by the Weavers. Jasmine Diamond Hawk will have sole custody and responsibility for Nila Weaver’s wellbeing until such a time as the Final Debt is claimed.”
Daniel squirmed in his chair. “What the fuck? But—”
“Let him finish,” Bonnie ordered.
“Upon his thirtieth birthday, Daniel ‘Buzzard’ Hawk will gain the wealth and many estates associated with the Hawk empire and become the next undisputed heir to both the estate and future Debt Inheritance. It will be his responsibility to provide a firstborn son or the next generation will be exempt.”
I sagged, finding a smidgen of silver lining.
At least there would be no more Weavers from my bloodline to claim the debts from—and Daniel would be dead. I pitied my cousin’s family tree if the Hawks had another heir in mind, but I would never have children and Vaughn wouldn’t be stupid enough. He’d never let another one of our family go through what we had. The Hawks were screwed. They’d burned those bridges completely.
Cole carried on in his smooth voice. “The final note to be observed is the matter of who will carry out the Fourth Debt.”
The room tensed.
“Jasmine will oversee the Final Debt, but Bryan Hawk has overridden the request for the right of Fourth Debt and granted it to Mr. Daniel.”
Tension ricocheted out in a burst of savagery. “No way!” Jasmine glared at Cut. “Father, we agreed. You said she was mine. I’ve proven myself time and time again. Give her to me.”
Cut steepled his fingers, unruffled by her disorder. “There’s a method to why you won’t carry out the Fourth Debt, Jasmine.” His attention fell on Marshall. “Finish, please, then we can carry on to the next point on the agenda.”
The next point?
My God, what else could they discuss?
I’d just learned I was the property of Jasmine with loopholes for Daniel to hurt me.
Didn’t I have a say in any of this?
Daniel snickered, capturing my hand and tugging it into his lap. “Guess we have a date, after all, little Weaver.” Raising my hand to his mouth, he kissed the back of my knuckles. “Including the matter of finishing the Third Debt.”
I convulsed.
Cut chuckled. “Oh, yes. Unfinished business.” His eyes narrowed. “Don’t think we’ve forgotten about that, Nila. You don’t wear the tally mark yet because it wasn’t completed. We’ll get to that a bit later, though. Give you some time to adjust.”
My fingertip wearing Jethro’s initials itched. His mark still existed in this world while he didn’t. Would I continue to be marked in his name for debts extracted or would I wear DBH instead?
Steeling my heart, I scoffed. “Gee, thanks. So thoughtful of you.”
Daniel squeezed my hand. “Watch it.”
Every molecule wanted to extract myself from his slimy, grip.
Cole shuffled in his chair, barrelling through the air of hostility with a contemptuous look. “May I continue?”