Free The Inheritance (Volume Three) by Zelda Reed Page A

Wheeler.”
    His hand tightens around mine. “I know who you are,” he says, his thumb caressing the back of my hand. “Julian’s girl. You are much prettier now that you’re older.”
    An unexpected anger flares inside of me. What the fuck did you just say? I bite down on my tongue.
    Lee stares at me, eyes slightly narrow, daring me to say something smart, to give him a reason to put a bullet in my skull.
    “Thank you,” I say.
    He releases my hand with a pleased smile.
    “Now.” He claps his hands together. “Let’s get down to business. You’re here about Neal, aren’t you?” He’s looking at me.
    “Yes,” I say, voice wavering slightly. Beneath the table, Alanis kicks my ankle. I clear my throat. “I’ve heard that you’re upset with him.”
    Lee’s mouth opens wide as he laughs, his eyes disappearing beneath the folds of his skin. Around him, his guards chuckle lightly.
    He slams his hand on the table. I jump.
    “Upset would be an understatement,” he says, grinning despite the redness that climbs up his throat. “Neal Dietrich attempted to publically humiliate me. As if he has the right.”
    “I understand but --”
    “You don’t understand,” Lee says.
    “Okay.”
    “Say it,” he says.
    “Say what?”
    “Say you don’t understand.”
    A large lump forms in my throat. “I don’t understand, but there must be a way for us to reconcile for what he’s done.”
    Lee lounges back in his chair. A small roll of fat pours over his belt, resembling the stomach of my father. If I were like Alanis but witty, I would point out that the two of them had something in common after all. A joke to break the thick tension in the room. But I’m not that sort of woman. I’m the sort who trembles beneath Lee’s gaze, my hands stuck beneath my thighs as I try to stop them from shaking.
    A slow smile spreads across his mouth, his wrists turn upwards on the table, palms to the ceiling. “Show me what you have,” he says, with the familiarity of a man who’s used to being bribed.
    From my purse I pull the signed papers, Neal’s neat signature running along the dotted line. A pinch of sickness turns in my stomach as I slide them over to Lee.
    I don’t care about his fingers staining the crisp white paper, sifting through the pages as he raises an impressed eyebrow. I care because it digs up a reality I would rather not face. Neal’s lied to me. Again.
    “This is a very generous offer,” he says, scanning every line. “And Neal’s ready to part with this? For what?”
    My eyebrows furrow. “For his life.”
    Lee chuckles. He folds the papers and places them in the inside of his jacket. “Some things aren’t worth giving up. But who am I to refuse such an offer?” A satisfied smile spreads across his mouth. He leans across the table. “What else do you have?”
    My eyes flicker towards Alanis, wrapped in her cool disposition.
    An amused smirk plays at Lee’s mouth.
    “What? You thought this was going to be enough?”
    “Of course not,” Alanis says.
    Lee’s head whips in her direction. Do I look like I was talking to you?
    “Caitlin’s willing to issue a very public apology, on behalf of Neal and her father.”
    Lee sits back in his chair. “You can speak for your father,” he says to me, “but you cannot speak for Neal. I know you know where he is.” I open my mouth to lie but Lee holds up his hand. “It would be better for all of us, if you didn’t lie.” He motions to his guard on the right. “I’ll accept your public apology, only if Neal is there to issue one himself.”
    “How do I know you aren’t going to kill him the second he steps in the room?” I ask.
    Alanis raises her eyebrow. She’s impressed.
    “There will be a significant amount of reporters there. As well as the evening news. Even I can’t get away with putting a bullet in someone on live television.” The guards around him laugh. Something tells me, he could get away with it if he tried.
    “Fine,”