Chapter 10 - THE GODFATHER
William Hale arrived at the Whitaker estate smiling.
Nathan invited him.
That was the dangerous part.
Hale believed Nathan knew nothing.
Elena hated the plan.
“Noah stays with me.”
“Yes.”
“Far away.”
“Yes.”
“You don't improvise.”
Nathan looked offended.
“I never improvise.”
Elena stared.
“You chased a sniper.”
“That was different.”
“You fought a man on a cliff.”
“He started it.”
Elena almost smiled.
Nathan touched her face.
The gesture surprised both of them.
For months, Elena had been an employee.
Then an ally.
Then the person he trusted with his son.
Somewhere between the burning house and Grace's letter, something had changed.
Nathan lowered his hand.
“Sorry.”
Elena whispered, “I didn't say stop.”
They kissed.
Softly.
Briefly.
Then Noah shouted from the hallway.
“FINALLY.”
They jumped apart.
Noah grinned.
Nathan closed his eyes.
“Elena.”
“Yes?”
“Can we send him to boarding school?”
“No.”
“Worth asking.”
That evening, Hale arrived.
He hugged Nathan.
Called him son.
Asked about Noah.
Nathan smiled.
They drank whiskey.
Hale never noticed the recording device.
“You knew Grace found the files,” Nathan said.
Hale's smile faded.
“What?”
“Vanessa told me.”
A pause.
Then Hale laughed.
“Vanessa was unstable.”
“She named you.”
“A dying woman says many things.”
Nathan placed Grace's evidence on the table.
Hale stared.
“You know what my father did.”
“Yes.”
“You financed it.”
Hale's face changed.
The politician disappeared.
“You have no idea what we were building.”
“Children died.”
“Progress has costs.”
Nathan felt sick.
Hale stood.
“Your father understood.”
“My father was a monster.”
“And you inherited everything he built.”
Nathan stared.
Hale smiled.
“Give me the evidence.”
“No.”
“Then Noah dies.”
Nathan did not move.
Hale continued.
“Accidents are easy.”
The study door opened.
Elena entered.
Hale frowned.
Nathan smiled.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saying it clearly.”
Police entered behind Elena.
Federal agents.
Hale looked at the hidden camera.
His face emptied.
Nathan stood.
“My father taught me one useful thing.”
Hale was handcuffed.
Nathan looked at him.
“Never enter a negotiation without leverage.”
Hale was taken away.
Nathan exhaled.
Elena approached.
“It's over.”
Nathan looked at her.
“No.”
She frowned.
May you like
He looked toward the stairs.
“Not until Noah stops being afraid in his own home.”
