Chapter 10
Leon Hale arrived at noon.
Not because I invited him.
Because he heard the wedding failed.
He entered the hotel library with the confidence of a man who still thought age outranked truth.
“Adrian.”
“Uncle.”
He looked at Daniel.
Then Catherine.
Then the envelope.
His face barely changed.
Experienced.
Dangerous.
“Victoria told you.”
“Yes.”
He sighed.
“She always was emotional.”
Interesting.
Everyone called the other person emotional when afraid of what they'd reveal.
“You knew Clara was mine.”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
My jaw tightened.
“Four years?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Leon sat.
“Because you were twenty-five.”
“And?”
“Building command.”
“So?”
“A child would've complicated succession.”
I almost laughed.
“She is my child.”
“Exactly.”
He said it as if that proved him.
“A leader with a secret daughter is vulnerable.”
“No.”
“A leader who loves her is.”
There.
His belief.
I stared.
“You thought love made me weak before I even knew her.”
“Yes.”
At least honest.
“Did you meet Elena?”
“Yes.”
“What did she ask?”
“For protection.”
“And?”
“I offered money.”
My hands curled.
“She wanted me.”
“She wanted access to you.”
“She had my daughter.”
“She had leverage.”
I stood.
“No.”
Leon stared.
“Elena didn't see Clara as leverage.”
“Everyone is leverage.”
Silence.
There.
Same worldview as Richard.
Children as pressure points.
No wonder they cooperated.
“What did you tell Elena?”
“That if she loved you, she'd stay away.”
My chest tightened.
He continued.
“She cried.”
I stared.
Leon smiled faintly.
“Very convincing.”
“Did you threaten Clara?”
“No.”
“Did Richard?”
He looked away.
There.
He knew.
“Did you stop him?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it worked.”
Silence.
My fist tightened.
Leon noticed.
“Hit me if you need.”
“No.”
That surprised him.
“You want me angry.”
He smiled.
“Angry men are predictable.”
“Maybe.”
I sat again.
“You kept Elena away.”
“Yes.”
“You let Daniel disappear.”
“Yes.”
Catherine gasped.
Leon glanced at her.
“Don't act shocked.”
She stared.
He continued.
“Daniel was interfering.”
I looked at him.
“Where's the north-corridor support coming from?”
He smiled.
“Now we talk business.”
“No.”
“What?”
“We're still talking family.”
His face hardened.
I continued.
“You used my family to create business leverage.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
I looked toward the suite where Clara slept.
“Not anymore.”
Leon stared.
Then smiled.
“You'll change your mind.”
“Why?”
“Because the north crews will not accept a man who chooses a child over expansion.”
I almost laughed.
“Let's ask.”
His face changed.
I picked up my phone.
One message.
Meeting.
Tonight.
All senior Hale capos.
No agenda.
Leon stood.
“You think they'll choose sentiment?”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I think they'll choose whether they want to be led by men who hide daughters, imprison fathers and lock children in walls.”
Silence.
May you like
His smile disappeared.
Good.
