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"I've known for some time," he finally answered me, placing the envelope between us. "I learned from Garrett enough about you to put two and two together.”
“Then why the charade?” I asked, lowering my hands at the sound of the kitchen slowly coming alive again.
"I needed to take care of some things first before I approached you."
I didn’t move, nor paid any attention to the envelope, waiting to see what he would do next.
“The land you signed over gave Saul enough power to rise to second in command under me,” he revealed. “It has also provided the Veritas a healthy revenue stream." He nodded towards the envelope. “Please look.”
Warily, I pulled out a stack of papers—it was a transfer of deed ownership, in exchange for an exorbitant amount of money.
It was for the Greybone Estates; he was offering to sell me back my own land.
“This is an outrageous price,” I snarled.
He pulled up a shoulder. “And yet, it is my asking price." His gaze went to my finger, where I was wearing Saul’s ring. Discovered it in the cordgrass, finger still attached, when we’d gotten rid of all evidence of Saul and his men.
I waited for his reaction, ready to pull my gun again.
Officially—in the news, Saul and his men had disappeared in the flash flooding that had happened that night. However, the Veritas probably suspected the truth.
I’d been waiting for their retaliation ever since.
But, coming here tonight, I’d decided I wasn’t going to hide the truth; if Emerson or the Veritas wanted vengeance or payment for Saul, I would give it to them now. Fight my way out nail and tooth.
After staring at it for a moment, Emerson met my gaze once more. When he spoke, he surprised me, “The property will pay itself back, in time. Plus, you'll be receiving more land than what you sold us. There were many others we coerced into selling."
"This belongs to me," I growled.
"Not according to the deed I have in my safe."
I pressed my lips in a firm line, still waiting for the axe to fall. For him to bring up Saul.
"What's the catch?” I asked when he didn’t say anything more, knowing I would pay his asking price.
"The catch is, you swear an oath that you will never betray me. That I can trust you not to stab a knife in my back. You want to take me on, you do it to my face."
“And how do I know you aren't planning on killing me as soon as I pay you?"
“Ask any man in this kitchen," he nodded towards it, "I've grown up with them. They will tell you I'm a man of my word."
There was something different about him today. For the first time, I wondered about Emerson's background. Where had he come from? How did he manage to become the head of the Magnolia at such a young age if he'd grown up with Dominican line cooks and waitresses not from within the Magnolia, like most leaders in the Veritas?
“And why would I trust them?” I drawled.
"I guess if you won't take their word, you have no other choice then but to trust me."
"And Saul’s death?” I hedged carefully, deciding to address it outright.
"The amount I've requested for this property will suffice to satisfy my superiors. I'll take care of everything else.”
I frowned, studying him. Just like that? It was going to be that easy?
A thought struck me.
“You wanted him dead."
Emerson gave me a blank stare, not answering.
