We cruised into a wealthier neighbourhood, high on the hill above the city with bigger houses behind tall gates.
Mila started again. “As things stand, the vote will shut down MH.”
I blinked out of my moping. “Do you know that for sure?”
Mila inclined her head. “Primrose and Wallace want it closed.”
“But wouldn’t Denise vote in line with Austin’s wishes? Surely that’s what his plan was in setting up that alternative vote—to keep it open, which…” I gazed between them. “That gives the power to you, doesn’t it?”
Kane took a heavy breath. “I’ll vote with Primrose. I sold her that right.”
I stared in shock but collected myself. If he’d done that, his back must’ve been against a wall. “Sorry, no judgement here, even if my face says the opposite.”
He didn’t smile. “I entered into a deal with her knowing exactly what I was doing. I won’t regret it. Even with all that fucking do-gooding.”
His words were harsh, but I got the sense that he admired the work Austin had done. That Mila had given us the tour of.
I had, too.
I remembered a tiny amount of it from when I’d been a child, though it hadn’t interested me then. It felt awful that those services would just shut down. For some reason, it was the horses on the hill that caught me in the throat. Trust me to cry over an animal in need.
Mila’s eyes shone, but no tears fell. “It’s almost certain. With three votes against, nothing can save the company.”
“Would we even want to?” I asked.
Her shoulders slumped. “I don’t know if it’s even redeemable anymore, but most of it was good. It made money, it supported charities, and it paid wages. We haven’t even talked about the hundreds of staff who are on hiatus. No pay since the doors closed, can’t claim benefits, some can’t find other work. I just… I find myself dreaming about taking it over. Making something good out of what was awful.”
There was passion in her voice. Something inside me wanted to stand up with her. I didn’t have the smallest idea how.
Kane nudged Mila with his foot. “Like I said, I won’t regret what I’ve done, but I’m sorry for my part in taking that dream away.”
Determination slid over her features. “Let’s make one thing clear. None of us need ever apologise for the shit situation our family put us into. We didn’t create it. We can only react.”
Why did that make me want to take charge so badly? I thought about Tyler’s description of something he admired in me. When I was in the club, managing the girls and fixing problems. I felt that same tug of usefulness now.
I posed a question. “Are we sure how Wallace will vote?”
Mila tilted her head. “He told me to vote out, same as him and Primrose. My assumption is he wants it all to be over so he can leave the country again.”
Kane drummed his fingers on the car’s doorframe. “He made that threat that anyone voting against the company would bewritten out of the will. I tried to forget ever meeting the man, but it stuck in my head.”
“Was he taunting you?” I asked.
“Probably, but he also said he was guessing, and no one could be sure until the will was read. If he votes with his ma, who is probably supporting him, I bet he’s panicked over that clause.”
I tapped my lip. “We could ask him.”
In the front seat, Tyler made a sound.
I smiled. “I mean someone other than me could.”
Mila stared at me. “That triggered a thought. How can the vote go ahead when the will hasn’t been heard? I was told they were dependent—one had to come before the other. Something must have changed. I would call the solicitors, but they’re compromised. Wallace isn’t a bad idea.”
She eyed Convict in the front seat. Like Tyler, he’d been present but as silent support.
“Have him come to the warehouse,” Convict said without her needing to phrase her question.
Mila twisted her lips. “Right into our clutches.”
