Robert scrambles to his feet, one hand pressed against his jaw. Blood seeps between his fingers and drips onto his expensive suit. He sways slightly, then grabs the back of his chair to steady himself.
I move back to stand beside Samantha, flexing my hand once. My knuckles throb, but it was worth it to see that smug expression wiped off his face.
“Sit down,” I tell him.
Robert drops into his chair like his legs gave out. He pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and presses it against his bleeding lip, eyes darting between Dad and me like he’s trying to calculate which one of us is more dangerous.
Smart money’s on Dad, but I’m the one who just hit him, so his confusion is understandable.
“Now,” I say, settling into the chair beside Samantha. “Let me explain exactly what’s going to happen, and I suggest you listen very carefully because this offer expires the moment you leave this room.”
Robert nods, the handkerchief still pressed to his mouth.
I pull out my tablet and swipe to the financial documents Davis compiled. Numbers, bank accounts, and debts organized by creditor. It’s a complete map of Robert’s financial destruction, laid out in excruciating detail.
“You owe approximately eight point three million dollars to various organizations,” I begin. “The Volkov operation accounts for four million of that. Then there’s the Chicago syndicate at two million, the Vegas crew at one point five million, and several smaller creditors making up the rest.”
Robert’s eyes widen as I list each debt, each name.
“We’ve contacted every single one of them,” I continue. “Explained that we have information about someone who’s been stealing from them. Someone who’s been playing bothsides, taking money from multiple organizations while feeding information to federal authorities.”
“I never—” Robert starts.
“Shut up,” I cut him off. “I’m not finished.”
He closes his mouth, the handkerchief dark with blood now.
“We told them we’d give them a name and location in exchange for writing off half your debts. They agreed. Very enthusiastically, actually. Seems like everyone’s been looking for a reason to hunt you down.”
I swipe to the next screen, showing transfer documents already prepared and waiting for signatures.
“Here’s your choice, Robert. Option one: You disappear. Quietly. Permanently. You sign documents transferring all of Mandy’s company holdings and assets back to Samantha. Everything you stole from her mother gets returned. Then you record a full confession explaining how you manipulated Samantha, how you lied about the Hales destroying Mandy’s company, and how you orchestrated this entire scheme.”
“And if I do that?” His voice comes out rough.
“We pay off half your debts,” Dad says. “Four million dollars. Enough to get the most dangerous people off your back. We also give you fifty thousand in cash and arrange transport to Mexico City. From there, you’re on your own.”
“That’s it?” Robert looks between us. “You just let me go?”
“You leave Colorado today,” I clarify. “You never contact Samantha again. You never mention this family to anyone. You don’t work with Volkov or any other organization targeting ouroperations. You disappear completely, and if you’re smart, you’ll stay disappeared.”
“And option two?” Robert asks, though I can see in his eyes he already knows.
I lean forward, making sure he sees exactly what’s in my expression. “We hand you over to Volkov right now. Along with evidence that you’ve been embezzling from them for three years. Wire transfers you thought you covered. Offshore accounts you thought they’d never find. We also inform the Chicago syndicate that you’ve been working with the feds, giving them information about their operations in exchange for immunity.”
“They’ll kill me,” Robert whispers.
“Yes,” I agree. “They will. Slowly. And when they’re done, whatever’s left of you will disappear into Lake Michigan or the mountains, and nobody will ever find your body.”
The room falls silent except for the crackle of the fireplace. Robert stares at the documents in front of him, the handkerchief forgotten now, blood drying on his chin.
“How do I know you won’t kill me anyway?” he finally asks. “Even if I take your deal?”
“You don’t,” Dad says simply. “But you know for certain what happens if you refuse.”
Robert’s hand shakes as he reaches for the pen lying on the table. He looks at Samantha one last time, maybe hoping to see some mercy or hesitation.
She stares back at him with cold eyes. “Sign the papers, Robert. Take the deal and get out of my life.”
