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“Yeah, I … I lied before,” she stammers, the first break in her tough act.
“What’s wrong, you realized being my niece wouldn’t get you a payday?”
She flinches. “I don’t want your stupid money.”
“No? Well, that would be a first. Tell me, how old are you, Violet?”
“Fifteen.”
“Fifteen,” he repeats, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Violet pulls her shoulders back. She seems to be clawing for confidence. “Yeah. Sixteen in January.”
Henry barks with laughter, but it’s a hollow sound. “Which meansIwould have been, what, sixteen when you were born?”
“Yeah? And your point is?” She glares at him. “You do know how babies happen, don’t you?”
He opens his mouth, but stalls. Whatever he was about to say was likely not appropriate for a fifteen-year-old’s ears. “None of the girlfriends I had during that time ever had a baby.”
“Obviously, one of them did because I’m standing here,” she counters.
“And what’s your mother’s name?” He goads her.
Violet bites her bottom lip. Either she doesn’t have an answer, or she doesn’t want to give one.
“I thought so.” Henry’s mood darkens, his relaxed pose fading as he pulls himself up. “Enough of this shit. How much is Crystal paying you?”
Confusion flickers in Violet’s eyes. “Who’s Crystal?”
“Your lovinggrandmother, according to you.” The title is bitter on his tongue. “Let me guess—she’s figured out it’ll be years before she sees a penny from Scott’s estate, if she ever does, so she’s back to trying to get money out of me any way she can.”
I hadn’t considered that Henry’s mother might be involved in this. Would she stoop to this level, though? I recall the conversation I overheard between her and Scott at William Wolf’s funeral, about a possible windfall that would make Henry look like a chump.
Yes, she would.
But that doesn’t explain the resemblance between these two.
“So, what’s her plan, Violet?” Henry asks.
Violet shakes her head.
“There’salwaysa plan with her.” He steps forward. “There was a plan when she and Scott were conspiring about that mine, when they nearlykilledme.”
Violet swallows. “I … I don’t know what you’re talking about—”
“For your sake, I fucking hope you don’t.” His anger reverberates through the foyer, so sudden that I startle.
“Henry,” I warn. Regardless of what game this girl is playing, she’s still onlya girl, and his fury with his mother is getting the better of him.
“I don’t know Crystal.” Violet blinks furiously against the well of tears forming. “I just wanted to meet my asshole father once, that’s all.” Her voice cracks with emotion.
Henry’s shoulders sink, his rage seeming to evaporate. “I’m sorry, Violet, but you have the wrong man.”
“Are you Henry Wolf?”
“Yes, but I amnotyour father.”
“Oh, yeah?” She digs into her backpack and pulls out a manila envelope, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Thissays you are!” She throws it at Henry’s feet and then spins on her heels and marches to the elevator to jab at the button. Sullivan must have sent the car back up to wait on our floor because it opens instantly and she’s gone.
