Page 124 of Discretion at Its Finest

“…How much are we talking?”

“It’s appraised at around 11.4 billion. Frozen under federal review. Buried in hedge funds, shell companies, real estate that never broke ground. In six months, federal oversight withdraws. No one wants to touch a case this influential twenty years later. Once it unlocks, you’ll have access.”

“Such little faith in our country’s checks and balances.”

“I didn’t spend twenty years in federal custody just to come out empty-handed.”

He sighed.“You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Kaufman. But I don’t do charity work. A couple billion dollars simply wouldn’t be worth the hassle.”

“But spending years trying to get into the Russel circle is?”

“It’s all about strategy…”

“I think you’re smart enough to know that a successful legacy doesn’t come from whatever strategy you’re chasing now. The Russel empire is airtight. Private capital. Global subsidiaries. Government-shielded contracts. You need that kind of reach. That immunity carved into law. And desperation’s gotten you nowhere.”

“I’m sure this is the part where the Newman pity fund starts to look like the yellow brick road?”

“No amount I offer will ever be enough to buy you what you really want… but I’m offering you something better—a seat at their table. Your legacy won’t be built through headlines or offshore deals. And your son? He won’t inherit power through you. Not unless you change the game.”

“And how do you suppose I do that?”

“I want results. You want a future. And I’m the only one who can give you both. Find my son and keep eyes on him and Brielle… Get rid of Gregory, Cheryl and Marissa… And once every last leech tied to the Newman name is dead… I’ll hand you everything they left behind. The money. The assets. The shell companies. The legacy… And thegirl.”

He stilled on the other end.“You don’t mean—”

“You want a legacy and a seat at the table, don’t you? I’m handing it to you now. Keep tabs on Brielle. Her relationship to Killian, his relationship to thechild. Delilah is young—still moldable to be educated. Trained. Tailored to carry the Russel name. She’ll be tied to every dynasty—mine, yours, theirs. She’s not just a child. She’s leverage.”

“Anticipating Brielle staying with Killian long enough to secure my seat at the table… that’s a long shot. A fifteen-year-long one to be exact.”

“But it’s a shot I know you’re desperate enough to take.”

“…You’re the only man I know who can disappear for two decades and still own the board we’re all playing on.”

A smile threatened to pull at my lips. “Pleasure doing business with you,Lockwood.”

A deep chuckle sounded from him.

“Please, Reid… we’re practically family at this point. Call me Calvin.”

Chapter forty-eight

Genevieve

Waves rolled in beyond the glass doors.

I stepped out onto the balcony, the warm Pacific breeze brushing my hair back. The estate below glowed like something out of a dream. Manicured cliffs, infinity pools spilling over into the edge of the horizon, staff who never asked questions, never made eye contact, never broke the illusion that all of this was… freedom.

Despite its beauty… it was still a prison. A prison that reminded me every day of the decisions I made over twenty years ago. I could still hear the way my little boy called after me, his laughter I looked forward to in the morning, his little cranky voice he’d use when he was tired or frustrated.

I knew I wasn’t allowed contact. It wouldn’t have been acceptable. But as the years went on, and the restraints loosened, I still tried… and tried and tried. Letters I pleaded with Alexander to send, landline phones I prayed worked, messages that remained unsent. Every attempt had slipped into the void, the same way my life did when I vanished.

Gregory made sure of that. He intercepted most of my attempts… I’d only found out when Reid showed me a letter written with all kinds of threats for me to stop.

Reid wasn’t upset at me entirely, but we weren’t technically supposed to be alive to the world. He knew I was breaking every day as my decision was eating me alive, but he also knew I’d do it again for him.

I leaned against the railing, taking in the sun.

Would they hate me?