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“Why?” I asked. “We all know what happened. You paid Thomas, lied to the police, and stood beside me at the funeral. You didn’t give a shit about Caroline by then. You only cared about keeping our name out of the papers.”

Leonard stepped closer. “We protected this entire family from what you did.”

“And you’ve been profiting from me ever since,” I said.

“Don’t compare my business to your sick fucking habits.”

“Why not? Your competitors disappeared, and you took everything they left behind. You never complained when their deaths made you richer.”

“Those decisions had a purpose,” Leonard said.

“So do mine.”

Catherine shook her head. “No you’re fucking sick. You kill people because you enjoy it.”

I glanced at her. “And you clean it up because it benefits you.”

Leonard grabbed the front of my jacket and pulled me closer. “I clean it up because every body you leave behind puts all of us at risk.”

I lowered my eyes to his hand. “Let go of me.”

He shoved me back. “If Thomas gets fed up cleaning up after you, we are all screwed.”

“Then pay him more.”

Leonard slammed his fists on the mantel. “Jesus Christ, Richard. Money isn’t going to fix this. People inside the Collective are asking why he keeps calling in favors for you. Donors have heard the rumors. One more witness or one more body connected to your name, and Thomas won’t be able to stop what happens next.”

I adjusted my jacket. “Then he isn’t as useful as you claim.”

Leonard stepped into my space again. “No, you arrogant little bastard. Thomas isn’t the problem. You are.”

Catherine’s voice sliced in, cold as ice. “You’re a cancer in this family. Always have been.”

I met her stare. “And yet I’m still the only heir.”

Leonard exhaled and rubbed his face. “If you insist on believing you’re above consequences, then give people something respectable to see. Get married. Start a family. Focus on the company. Make yourself look stable before someone starts examining your private life.”

I let a small smile creep across my face. “Funny you say that. I’m already working on it.”

Catherine arched a sharp eyebrow. “Oh? And who is she? Better not be that cheap little hooker you’ve been parading around with.”

I froze for a second, shocked. “What the hell did you just say?”

Leonard waved it off like it was nothing. “You really think we don’t have eyes on you? We’ve seen you with her. Out in public like that. You better not embarrass the Kincaid name by getting linked to trash like her.”

The insult burned deep, not for the woman they mentioned, but because they thought they could control me, because they’d been spying. “You had me followed? Like I’m some kid you need to keep tabs on? Fuck you both for that. And no, I’m not talking about her. I’m talking about Samantha Whitmore.”

Leonard’s face changed, suspicion melting into grudging approval. “Samantha Whitmore. Now that’s more like it. Her father and I go way back. Good man. Solid family. I approve. But I’ll warn you, they’re not plugged into the same circles we are. That could bite you in the ass later.”

“Possibly, but I’m not too worried about that,” I said smoothly. “You’re both right. I’ve been careless. I’ll keep my distance from Thomas, stop attracting attention, and focus on Samantha and the company.”

Leonard studied me. “You mean that?”

“I do.”

The lie came easily. Leonard wanted to believe he could still control me, and I had given him enough to make that possible.

“I’ll do better,” I continued. “For the family.”