Chapter 6
Silas came to the estate that evening.
I did not summon him.
He arrived because Opal had stopped answering.
Confidence.
Or arrogance.
Usually cousins.
He was sixty-eight.
Silver hair.
Perfect coat.
My father’s oldest adviser and the closest thing I had to an uncle after Dad died.
He looked at my bare left hand.
“No ring?”
“Interesting priority.”
Silas sighed.
“Troy was useful.”
There.
Not kind.
Not loyal.
Useful.
I placed Lila’s letter on the table.
His expression barely changed.
Enough.
“You knew Adrian Mercer was Bennett’s father.”
“Yes.”
“No denial?”
“Why bother?”
I stared.
“Why expose him now?”
Silas sat.
“Because you’re building a succession vacuum.”
I almost laughed.
“There is no succession.”
“That is the vacuum.”
Of course.
I had refused to name an heir.
Silas hated uncertainty.
Bennett’s adoption gave him one possible future.
My marriage to Troy gave another.
Mercer blood gave a third.
He wanted to force everything into the open so the old families could negotiate.
Negotiate.
About my son.
“Who contacted you?”
He smiled faintly.
“Elias Mercer.”
My pulse slowed.
“When?”
“Four months ago.”
Elias had learned Adrian might have left a child.
Did not know where.
Silas realized Bennett’s age matched.
Then saw an opportunity.
If Elias learned Bennett was his grandson, Mercer would want contact.
Caruso elders would panic.
The Drake marriage could be used as counterweight.
Suddenly Silas would be the man in the middle of three families.
Necessary again.
“You built a crisis to make yourself useful.”
His eyes hardened.
“I prevented one.”
“No.”
I leaned forward.
“You created the exact collision Lila spent her last breath avoiding.”
Silas dismissed that.
“Lila was a frightened girl.”
“She was Bennett’s mother.”
“And you are his adopted mother.”
There.
He meant lesser.
I heard it.
He wanted me to.
I smiled slightly.
Silas stopped.
“You made one mistake.”
“What?”
“You think biology automatically outranks the person who stayed.”
His expression changed.
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
One message.
MY NAME IS ELIAS MERCER. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE MY GRANDSON.
Silas smiled.
May you like
Too late.
The next family had already entered the room.
