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“This man betrayed you,” Simon said, as if he genuinely needed her to understand. “He came to me with the information about your identity and your secret campaign to steal away my members.”
“I thought they were always free to leave,” she said.
“That’s PR nonsense. People need to stay and be grateful.” Simon’s careful facade crumpled. “End of story.”
“I don’t believe you about Roger.” She glanced around. “If he’s on your payroll, bring him out here. Let him tell me.”
“I would, but he is no longer with us.” Simon actually smiled as he said it. Looked at Todd and he joined in, too.
The color leached from her face. “You killed him.”
“He had an accident, but I can show you his files and the communications going back and forth between us.” Simon waved all the words off as soon as he said them. “But we have more pressing issues right now.”
Lindsey’s body visibly shook. “What?”
“Cleaning up your mess with Holt here.”
Holt had expected the threat. Knew it was coming and started the mental countdown to shoving hard against Todd as they wrestled for the gun. Holt had to hope any shot the other man got off would go wide.
This time she did step in front of him. “Do not touch him.”
Holt put his hands on her forearms and dragged her back against him. His mouth went to her hair and he whispered, “It’s going to be okay.”
Like that, some of the tension eased from her body.
“I do believe you’ve come to care for him. That’s a shame, really.” Simon spared Holt a glance but not a long one. “He is not who he says he is. I’m digging into that because I want to know who is meddling in my business. I like the idea of making Holt here an example and having him pay a steep price to persuade others not to.”
“He is my boyfriend.” Her voice rang out loud and clear with that one.
At any other time, Holt would have smiled. Now he had to hold it in and save it for later.
Simon shrugged. “I think we both know you could do better, Beth.”
“That’s not my name anymore.” She exhaled as she stared at her uncle in confusion. “But what happened to you? You were poor and angry. When did you become the leader? Or should I say how? I don’t doubt that you eliminated everyone in front of you.”
“Beth will always be who you are, just as this place is part of your legacy.” Simon skipped over most of her accusations and anger. He went right for one point and stuck there.
“I don’t want anything to do with New Foundations.”
“Of course you do.” Simon used his arm to gesture around him. “I’ve created this.”
Holt wondered if Simon knew he was pointing to a falling-down building in the middle of nowhere as the example for his success. To Holt, Simon’s bigger claim was those weapons. He sat on a pile of firepower, which did give him a certain status. Would also make him a target of other people in the business. Holt didn’t spare one second of pity for Simon on that score.
“If I end up with this place, I’ll turn it into a cat sanctuary or something.” She glared at Simon as if she dared him to contradict her.
Simon’s mouth fell into a straight line. “I will not dignify that.”
Holt thought the idea had potential. “I like it.”
The comment earned him a shove from behind by Todd. Holt had almost forgotten about the man and how he hovered. He clearly viewed himself as the second in command to Simon. It was a match made in hell as far as Holt could see.
“I’m going to make you a deal. It’s better than I’ve ever given anyone else.”
Lindsey shuddered. She looked ready to heave. “No.”
Simon talked right over her. Acted as if she’d never spoken and didn’t get to say her mind. “I will allow you to make it up to me for running away and leading your life in ways that do not follow the camp’s guidance.”
Her frustrated expression mirrored the anger in her voice. “Stop pretending as if I had a choice.”
Holt knew the story. The one thing the men in her family had never given her was a chance. They didn’t respect her or appreciate her. Holt vowed not to make her suffer from the same thing from him.
“You have a choice now.” Simon unclipped one of the guns from his belt and handed it to her.
She stared at his palm and the weapon but didn’t take it.
Holt didn’t have the patience for this. He jumped in while Lindsey stood there staring in stunned silence. “What is this about?”
Simon’s smile grew. “If Lindsey kills you, she gets to live.”
