“I’m not hungry, but yes. Let’s get the hard stuff out of the way.”
I lead the way to Panther’s office before opening the door and gesturing Rain in.
She steps in, then stops.
I step in behind her and close the door.
The lawyer is wisely sitting in one of the chairs along the wall. Panther doesn’t host many people in his office, so I’m surprised to see the chairs. He must have brought them in for us.
I direct Rain to a chair, then pull a second one up next to it.
“Go ahead,” I tell the man.
“First off, would you like to be called Adam or by your road name, Ridge? I know Mustang preferred his road name.”
“My road name, please,” I tell him.
“I know this is a difficult day, but per your request, I waited as long as I could,” he tells me.
“You asked him to wait?” Rain looks up at me.
“I thought it best we get the funeral out of the way before we worried about any wills. You can continue. What does the will say?”
The man looks at me, annoyed, before looking at Rain with sympathy.
“Your father had many real estate holdings. He wished for them to be sold when he passed and the money be put in a trust. The home you live in is exempt from that for now, should you meet the conditions to become the executor of the trust. He also had a savings account with 1.3 million dollars in it and investment accounts with 1.5 million. His bikes will be yours to do with as you wish, except the 1939 Crocker V-Twin Motorcycle, which has been promised to Adam Harris should he complete his own tasks.”
Rain looks confused as she stares at the man. “Are you telling me that my father was a millionaire?”
“I’m telling you that he could have been, but he chose not to. He saved up this money ever since you were born. He wanted you to be taken care of,” the man tells her.
She looks relieved, which only makes the knot in my stomach grow.
“What does she have to do to get it?” I ask, getting to the point.
Mr. Cohen shifts in his seat, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Well, that is where it gets tricky. Your father put stipulations into the trust.”
Rain is looking uneasy again. “Can you just spit it out?”
“The whole estate will go to you, provided that you marry a man of his choosing. You have one month to do so, and you must remain married to the man for two years. During that time, you will be permitted to stay in the family home and pull a monthly stipend from the funds in the trust to take care of all preapproved expenses, such as utilities, gas, car insurance,medical insurance, and so forth. Any other requests for funds must be submitted in writing and will be reviewed by a panel that has his directives written down. Once you have completed this task and remained married for the duration, you will be added as the executor to the trust and will have full access to do as you please. At that time, should you wish, you will be able to get divorced as well.”
His words hit her like a bomb, and I can see the anger rising inside of Rain with every sentence.
“What the fuck? He knows I don’t agree with marriage. Why would he make this a stipulation?” she explodes.
“He expressed to me that he wanted you to be cared for. That he was concerned that you would leave this place and the people you have grown close to. He didn’t want that. He wants you to stay and see what Boulder can give you without him here,” the lawyer tells her.
She’s not hearing his words, though. She’s angry, and rightfully so.
“What mystery man does he want me to marry? Some asshole he met off the streets?”
I wince. “Well, actually…”
She turns to me, glaring daggers. “You? I am to marry you? Absolutely not. Keep the money. I don’t want it. I don’t want anything from that man.”
“Ma’am, if you don’t marry him, your father’s entire estate will go to charity. The family home will be sold, and you will only be permitted to take your own personal items from the home.”
She turns her glare back to the lawyer. “Then so be it. Fuck this, and fuck you, Ridge.”
