“I have it on good authority that five tenants moved out this week alone.”
Philip’s face was calm, but there was a storm in his gray eyes. Something was up. Charles hoped that the move-outs were in his favor.
Martin leaned across the table. The lines on his face deepening with distrust. “Charles, what does this have to do with anything?”
Charles threw his arms wide and grinned. “Everything, Martin. Everything.” He pointed at Martin. “You want to free Bella from that contract? Then we need to take down the Beast. And I’m not saying stop The Cove or put off Phase II. We need to go for Adam himself.” He gripped his hand into a tight fist for emphasis. “I say we strip him of his fortune and lay waste to his legacy.”
Martin stood up and glowered down at Charles. Charles lifted his chin. No man had the right to look down on him, especially not some aged lawyer who hadn’t made a mark on this city in his life. “I’ll have none of this, Charles. I’m not out to ruin a man’s life; I just want my daughter to be free to follow her heart.”
Charles surged from the booth. “I am her heart!” He felt the anger burn in his chest and used it to fuel his words. “And if it weren’t for that contract, she would have come crawling back to me weeks ago.”
“If you think being married to you would be any better than being chained to the Beast, then you’re delusional. I stayed out of your relationship before, but I won’t again. You’ll never have my blessing to marry Bella.”
Charles fumed. “I don’t need you, old man.” He leaned onto the table and glared at Philip. “And I don’t needyouto take him down, either. There are public records that will tell me what I need to know. And mark my words: the Beast will fall.”
He grabbed his briefcase, with the precious will from Duke Moreau inside. The father’s will that had made his son a billionaire would be the bullet that took him down.
Chapter Fourteen
Martin
Martin sank heavily onto the bench, his hand over his racing heart. He’d felt calm in the moment, telling Charles that he’d never have Bella—his daughter deserved so much better than that sniveling man. But now that the confrontation was over, he felt as if he’d sprinted from the Space Needle to Pike Place Market.
“Are you all right?” Philip scooted a glass of ice water across the table.
Martin took a sip, grateful for the kindness. “I’ll be fine. I just need to sit for a while.” He drank more, willing his heart to slow down. A trip back to the hospital wasn’t a pleasant thought. “Is it true? Is there a way to take down the Beast?”
Philip leaned back and eyed him warily. “Why do you ask?”
Martin watched the people hurrying past the large window. “I worked for Adam Moreau for three years. He’s driven and therefore successful. Selfish and hurried.” He drained the cup of water, his heart finally starting to slow but his mouth dry. “But I don’t think he’s evil.”
Philip threw one arm across the back of the booth. “I agree. My nephew was raised to be what he is today. I hope there is some of his mother left in him, but I supposed time will tell.”
Well, that was news. So Adam had family after all. Martin smiled softly. “He took Bella to the beach to build sandcastles.”
Philip blinked. Then he chortled. “Sandcastles were my sister’s specialty.”
“Should we warn him about Charles?” asked Martin. He had tried to visit Bella at the castle one day, only to be turned away at the gate. His name had been taken off the approved visitors list. David, the security guard who had let him through countless times before, was embarrassed to turn him away.
He hadn’t told Bella about the blockade. She would have worried. And he didn’t call up to the house to have Edward let him in. If the Beast was that angry with him, then he’d stay away and not give Adam a reason to take his anger out on Bella.
Even with all that, he didn’t wish on the Beast, or any man, what Charles had in mind.
Philip shook his head sadly. “I’ve tried several times to warn him; he won’t listen. But for Bella, I’ll try again.”
Martin’s stomach churned. Whatever Charles had in store for Adam Moreau would surely splash over to Bella. He rubbed at the soreness in his chest. “Perhaps you should take reinforcements.”
Philip’s eyebrows went up. “That’s a good idea.” His gaze dropped to where Martin’s hand moved in circles.
For Martin’s whole life, he’d not felt more than a pulse from his heart, but now, his heart hurt easily. Like a sore muscle, it griped at him for being overworked. The sensations were strange and unsettling.
Philip continued, “Don’t worry. Adam is a fighter. If anyone can watch his own back, it’s him.”
“I hope you’re right.”
The server appeared and asked if he could take their order. Philip offered to buy him lunch, and since his heart was still beating out of rhythm, Martin opted to stay for a while. When Bella checked in tonight, he’d do some digging and find out if all was well in The Cove.
Chapter Fifteen
