The sight nearly broke him.
Aaron forced himself to breathe. MacFaris was clever, but he was also greedy. And greedy men always made mistakes.
He only needed one.
His eyes drifted across the study as he thought of an advantage he might exploit. The charter chest remained untouched beneath the corner table behind Edith’s chair.
Perfect.
The bastard had searched everywhere except where it mattered.
“I willnae sign anythin’ until she is released,” Aaron declared, straightening.
MacFaris let out a dry, humorless laugh as his expression darkened. “Ye think me a fool.”
“And ye underestimate how badly I will burn the ground beneath yer feet if ye harm her.”
The knife pressed closer against Edith’s throat. “Careful, Hallow.”
“Let her go.”
“Nay.” MacFaris’s smile vanished. “Nae until ye swear on her life that ye will sign the papers.”
There it was. The opening that Aaron had been waiting for.
He snorted dismissively. “Will ye truly accept the word of a man who has already dishonored ye twice?”
Something shifted in MacFaris’s expression, only for a heartbeat, but Aaron caught it. The first flicker of uncertainty since he had entered the room.
Greedy bastard.
“I keep the land deeds in the charter chest,” Aaron said evenly, glancing toward it. “’Tis why ye couldnae find them.”
MacFaris laughed, but he followed his gaze. Only briefly.
“Ye wish to waste me time.”
“Perhaps.” Aaron shrugged. “Or ye could leave Hallow empty-handed because of yer suspicion.”
MacFaris considered him long enough that Aaron wondered if he had pushed too hard. Then, finally, he broke.
“Fetch it.”
Aaron did not move. “I willnae.”
MacFaris’s patience snapped. He pressed the knife harder against Edith’s neck, and she whimpered against the gag.
“Fetch it,” he growled again.
Aaron slowly raised both hands, feigning surrender. He had the old bastard right where he wanted him. Now, he just needed to play his cards right.
“I will.” His voice rose slightly as he crossed the room without haste, glancing toward Edith to make sure the bastard did not hurt her.
He was closer now. Close enough that he could hear her heavy breathing.
He knelt before the charter chest and unlocked it, withdrawing the folded deeds before placing them neatly on the desk between them.
MacFaris was now facing Edith. He had turned around to look, and Aaron could almost smell his greed from where he knelt.
