“Leave the girl. Leave her mother. Go back to your office and let the trust handle the estate.”

“No,” Ethan said.

“Think about the shareholders, Ethan. Think about your legacy.”

“My legacy is in that hospital room,” Ethan said.

He did not look at me, but his hand came down and gripped mine. His palm was hot and dry.

“Then you are making a very expensive mistake,” Richard said.

“The board will meet tomorrow morning. If you are not there, I will start the leak.”

The call went silent.

Ethan slowly lowered the phone, his hand dropping to his side.

The screen remained lit for a few seconds, casting a pale blue glow over his knuckles.

The wind outside hit the window again, harder this time, making the glass groan against its seals.

“Evelyn,” Ethan said, his voice barely a whisper.

“I’m here,” I said.

“He’s going to use Brenner to take Lauren away from me.”

“He can’t do that,” I said, though I didn’t know if it was true.

“Brenner has the local police in his pocket on the south side,” Ethan said.