Free Blood Finale (God Wars #5) by Connie Suttle Page B

disappeared for thousands of years because he and his father disagreed on just about everything .
    At least he's back, now , Merrill sighed mentally. The elevator dinged as we reached the tenth floor. Kathleen Rome, standing beside a shielded Kalenegar, stood there, waiting for us as the elevator doors opened. The surprise was this—Terry Johnston, Breanne's attorney, was also there, waiting.
    * * *
    "Yes, he left a third of his estate to each of you," the lawyer slid papers across his desk toward Kathleen, Jayson and Jamie, Jayson's brother. Jamie's wife, Laurel, fumed from a chair in a corner—Jamie left her there while he, his mother and brother tended to business.
    "But," the lawyer continued, "Mr. Rome set up a separate account and placed the profits from the sale of Torture in Texas in it. That account holds his name, as well as Breanne Hayworth's charity. As Ms. Hayworth couldn't respond personally, I contacted Mr. Johnston as her representative. That account is in the charity's name and it is now the sole holder of those funds."
    "How much?" Laurel stood and demanded.
    "Laurel, shush," Jamie snapped.
    "I just wanted to know," Laurel whined.
    "Half a billion, I believe," the Lawyer replied stiffly. Laurel huffed as she sat heavily in her chair, arms crossed angrily over her chest.
    I suppose one-and-a-half billion just isn't enough for her , Merrill offered dryly. That's what each of the three would get, when all was said and done. I wondered at the fact that Rome Sr. had even thought to put the money in the charity's name. The truth, however, was that he wouldn't have had a story, or his revenge against Joyce Christian, without Breanne's suffering.
    "I'll see that the money is placed in Ms. Hayworth's charity account," Terry nodded to the lawyer. "And I'd like to thank the Rome family on her behalf—this money will be used to help children across the globe."
    Laurel snorted at Terry's comment. I wanted to slap her for that.
    "Laurel, Breanne saved my life. Where were you when I had a heart attack?" Kathleen turned hard eyes on her daughter-in-law. Yes, Kalenegar had made her appear older again before bringing her to the attorney's offices. Once she was away from there, he'd allow her younger-looking self to manifest again.
    "Not worth it, Mom," Jayson placed a hand over his mother's. "Let it go."
    "You're right," Kathleen nodded. "At least James found his heart before he died."
    "Jayson, I can give you your job back," Jamie began.
    "Jamie, I've moved on," Jayson lifted a hand to hold his brother off. "Let somebody else have that slot. I don't need it anymore."
    "If that's what you want," Jamie sighed. "Are we done?" He turned to the lawyer.
    "Yes. I'll have the funds transferred in two weeks. Let me know if you have questions or problems." The attorney stood and extended his hand to Jamie first.
    * * *
    "I'll never understand what Jamie saw in her," Kathleen muttered as we watched the couple walk away with a driver and bodyguard in tow.
    "I'm surprised we didn't get ambushed by the enemy," I responded. "Not that I'm complaining," I added.
    "I'm just happy we got out of there unscathed," Jayson said. "Relatively speaking."
    "Pun?" Bill asked.
    "Yeah."
    "You made that lawyer nervous," Kathleen smiled at Bill. "He kept cutting his eyes toward you, and then he'd turn to Gavin and Merrill. I think he was sweating in that expensive suit."
    "You know why the enemy didn't show up at a lawyer's office, don't you?" Gavin said.
    "No, honey, why is that?" I turned to him—he'd remained silent and inscrutable during the meeting with the attorney.
    "Professional courtesy," Gavin said. All of us burst out laughing.
    * * *
    Gavin actually told a joke? Winkler sent. He was back in Texas, taking care of Packmaster duties. He'd been on standby, though, in case he was needed.
    Yeah. I don't know what's gotten into him.
    Don't make a big deal out of it—you'll scare it away. I like this Gavin much better, Winkler said.
    I think it's