Page 101 of Lennox Lane

“No. I’m the best thing you ever tried to use and couldn’t keep.”

Jason’s face tightened. “The Ledger exists because of me.”

“The Ledger outgrew you.”

“I can remove you.”

Lennox laughed then, and the sound had done more damage than shouting would’ve. “From what?”

Jason’s eyes narrowed.

“The council keeps you near because of legacy,” Lennox said. “Not leverage. They remember what you were. They respect what I am.”

“You think they’ll choose you over me?”

“I know they already have.”

Jason’s hand flexed at his side.

Lennox reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “There’s nothing you can do better than me that would prove you’re the stronger asset.”

“You arrogant⁠—”

“One tap,” Lennox said.

Jason froze.

Lennox looked at him, thumb hovering over the screen. “That’s the difference between us. You keep people scared of what you might know. I know enough that I don’t need them scared. Just aware.”

He tapped the screen and suddenly Jason’s phone lit up on the table with alert after alert. His father grabbed it, his face draining of color as the notifications piled up. Every account he had was emptied with the press of a button from a phone,

Not stolen and not gone forever. Lennox had never needed to steal his father’s money. He’d only needed to move it somewhere untouchable long enough to prove the door had never been locked to him. Jason looked up slowly. Then he rushed him.

Security intercepted before Jason made contact, two men catching him by the arms and forcing him back. Jason fought like humiliation had made him young again. His face twisted, spit flying as he cursed Lennox, cursed the room, cursed everybody who’d chosen not to move in his favor.

Lennox watched without blinking, feeling nothing but joy as he showed Jason just how capable he was of ruining his life. A boy should’ve mourned the moment he stopped wanting his father’s approval. Lennox had only felt free.

“You think this makes you powerful?” Jason snarled as security held him.

“No.” Lennox slipped his phone back into his pocket. “It makes it clear that I can destroy you.”

“I made you.”

“You used me.” Lennox took one step closer. “Just like you used everybody else.”

Jason laughed bitterly, still fighting the hands restraining him. “You’re just like me.”

“No.” Lennox’s voice dropped. “The only thing you’re better at than me is mistreating people for your own gain. Down to the woman you vowed to love and protect.”

Jason’s face changed, but still there was no regret or remorse. Lennox leaned in enough that only his father and the men holding him could hear the next part. “Mielle needs protection from you.”

Lennox smiled, but it held nothing warm. “And now she has it.”

That was where he’d left him. Standing in the middle of his own failure. Lennox was done waiting for Jason to turn into a father at the last second and say something worth keeping. Some doors were only exits.

Lane stirred against him, causing the memory to dissolve. Lennox blinked down at her, the room returning slowly. Her room. Her bed. Morning pressing pale gold through the curtains. Lane’s warm body against his, her breath shifting as she came awake. His hand resumed its path over her back.

She made a soft sound and tucked closer, face turning into his chest like she hadn’t spent most of her waking life prepared to fight to survive. The ache in him sharpened knowing he was where she came to rest and be free. Lane was teaching him what to do with tenderness.