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I didn’t put a lot of stock into my assistant’s reassurances.
“It’s either that, Ash, or Barney Madison is going to find the highest bidder for your baby. Is that what you want?”
Anger fused through me at the mention of Briar’s father.
“Barney Madison still needs to be dealt with,” I reminded her. “He still hasn’t paid his debt.”
“That’s your territory, isn’t it?” Rachel answered, heading toward the door.
She was right. Barney was my problem, but I wasn’t sure how to deal with him, either. Killing him might be the most efficient way of ensuring that he would not sell any more babies, but it didn’t get me paid, and it wouldn’t win me any points with Briar.
Not that I thought there was any way to get back in her good graces after this.
Chapter26
Briar
“What are you doing in here, Briar?” my father demanded, stalking toward me. Instinctively, I backed away, trembling.
“What is all this, Father?” I gasped, gesturing at the paperwork. “What does it mean?”
Scowling, he began to close up the file folders in front of me, but I stopped him, putting my body in front of him.
“It’s too late, Father. I’ve seen everything!” I told him, my voice quivering. “I know what this is!”
His jaw twitched in annoyance, his jowls jiggling.
“What do you think you know, Briar?” he grumbled. “You’re not a doctor.”
“I’m not an idiot, either! You sold the babies! All these babies and my sisters!”
He balked, confirming my suspicions, and my stomach flipped.
How could I have been so blind to what was happening under my nose like this?
“How much are you selling them for?” I demanded, barely able to comprehend the amounts on the ledger. “I can’t believe you would do this!”
“There are costs involved with re-homing children—” he began.
“Re-homing? They’re not stray dogs, Father. They’re infants, babies. These women come to you looking for help, and you pocket a profit from their desperation!”
Father looked around as if he worried someone might be listening.
“Keep your voice down, Briar. The windows are open, and you know how nosy the Fritzes are.”
“Good! The entire neighborhood should know what kind of man they live near!”
I snatched up the ledger and bolted back, throwing open the book.
“This is my mother!” I yelled, tears filling my eyes. “These are her children!”
“Briar…”
He advanced on me, and I backed away.
“Are you telling me that’s not true?”
He grunted and stopped, throwing up his hands as if in surrender, a grimace twisting his face like I was a petulant child.
