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"You were worried about him killing you. You knew he was ambitious, that he wanted to replace you. As soon as you discovered my true identity, you sent me that note, knowing I would want revenge against Saul. You used me to get rid of him."
“Do we have a deal, Mr. Undergrove?” Emerson extended his hand.
Suddenly, I knew what was different about Emerson. Instead of the religious fanatic often seen at meetings, he was cool, calm, collected.
This was the true Emerson—the other one, an act for the Veritas.
Now I understood how he’d come to rise in the ranks so quickly.
He was ruthless, and played whatever role was necessary to get what he wanted.
“You do,” I said, shaking his hand. "I'll have my lawyer look at it, and then, I'll sign it."
"No," Emerson said. “This is a one-time offer, with no stipulations. The offer expires the minute I walk from this kitchen." When I didn't answer right away, he continued, nodding at the stack of papers, "It’s a fair offer. I don't think you've looked at it closely enough."
I read through it again, skimming it more carefully. At the end was a paragraph I hadn't noticed before, giving complete reassurance that the Veritas wouldn't seek retribution for the death of Saul, and that both I and Summer would be cleared of all responsibility.
I inhaled a sharp breath, and the weight that had been on my shoulders since Saul's death was lifted.
Even though Maxon had chosen our side, there hadn't been a single moment I wasn’t looking behind my back, waiting for them to come.
I immediately pulled my pen from my pocket, initialed, then signed each page. This assurance was worth much, much more, than what I was paying.
It gave us back our lives, all for a little cash.
I’d never felt more relieved, or such happiness in my life.
I could breathe and live and fuck and create a family with the woman that I loved.
"Very wise," Emerson said, adding his signature to mine on both copies, then handing me mine.
"I'll transfer the funds immediately."
He nodded, then paused, reaching towards a shelf. He pulled down a bottle of expensive whiskey, and two glasses.
“What’s this for?” I asked, not expecting some kind of celebration over this deal.
“For Lux,” he answered, surprising me. Saul’s men weren’t the only casualties of that night. He poured two glasses, passing one over to me. I took it, and he raised his, pausing for a moment.
Then, “She was beautiful, wasn’t she?” He looked…almost sentimental.
He didn’t wait for me to answer, “Ambitious too, though few knew it. Had big dreams that one,” he gestured his glass to me, “too bad she had to die.” Then he swallowed it down.
“To Lux,” I agreed, drinking mine.
We were silent for a long moment, and I realized that, once more, the world was a surprising place. I didn’t know as much as I thought I did.
Then, he turned to leave. “By the way," he finally said, almost to the back door, glancing back at me. "I would've gladly returned your land back to you for free—just to get that bastard out of my hair."
He grinned and, without another word, he walked out the door, closing it behind him with a finality that our business was done, for today.
I smiled at his back, shaking my head.
The ruthless bastard.
Him and his fucking twisted games.
CHAPTER 52
