Chapter 8 - Twenty-Five Million
Nathan stared at Robert.
“My father wrote the blackmail note?”
“No.”
Robert pointed.
“The writing underneath.”
Nathan zoomed in.
Beneath the typed demand was an old handwritten notation on the partnership agreement:
Release contingent upon final payment — J.M.
Robert’s face had gone pale.
“I haven’t seen that document in twenty-seven years.”
“Who sent the photo?”
“I don’t know.”
The number was untraceable through a basic search.
Margaret advised Nathan not to respond.
The demand arrived five minutes later.
TRANSFER $25,000,000 TO THE ACCOUNT PROVIDED WITHIN 48 HOURS. NO POLICE. NO LAWYERS.
Nathan almost laughed.
“They think I’m going to wire twenty-five million based on an old partnership dispute?”
Robert didn’t smile.
“You might.”
“Why?”
“Because if they file that agreement publicly before the release is found, Mercer Maritime’s lenders will ask questions.”
“Questions aren’t ownership.”
“No. But uncertainty can freeze transactions.”
Nathan understood.
Mercer Maritime was negotiating a major credit refinancing.
A title dispute affecting legacy terminal properties could delay it.
The blackmailer did not need to win.
Only create chaos.
Nathan said, “Did you destroy the release?”
Robert looked offended.
“No.”
“My mother thought you did.”
Pain flashed across Robert’s face.
“Your mother thought many things about me after James died.”
“Did you pressure her?”
“Yes.”
Nathan had not expected the admission.
“Why?”
“Because she wanted to sell the company.”
Nathan froze.
“Mom?”
“She was terrified after your father’s death. She wanted cash and safety. I told her if she sold, I would sue.”
“So you threatened her.”
“I protected what James and I built.”
“For yourself.”
“For you too.”
Nathan shook his head.
“Everyone says that right before explaining why they lied to me.”
Robert stood.
“You think your wife invented this? Bianca found cracks that were already here.”
“Help me close them.”
Robert hesitated.
Then said, “Find Denise Carter.”
“Who?”
“Your father’s bookkeeper.”
Nathan searched his memory.
“I remember her.”
“She handled partnership payments.”
“Where is she?”
“Last I heard, Vermont.”
Meanwhile, Bianca had moved into Julian’s penthouse in Manhattan.
Grant Holloway met her there.
“You panicked on the yacht.”
“I know.”
“You tried to touch the controls in front of police.”
“I know.”
Grant lowered his voice.
“Julian is furious.”
Bianca turned.
“Julian can survive being furious.”
“He may not survive default.”
Her expression tightened.
The marina project had become a disaster. Julian had secretly guaranteed portions of the debt personally.
If Vale Development collapsed, he could lose everything.
Bianca had spent her childhood watching Julian protect her after their father abandoned the family.
At fifteen, Julian worked nights while their mother battled addiction.
To Bianca, Julian had not merely been a brother.
He had been the person who stayed.
That loyalty had become a weapon.
“He promised nobody would get hurt,” Bianca said.
Grant looked at her.
“You tried to frame a nanny.”
“She was interfering.”
“You frightened Ava.”
Bianca’s voice broke.
“I didn’t touch her.”
“That distinction will sound terrible in court.”
Bianca looked away.
Grant continued.
“You need to decide whether you’re protecting yourself or Julian.”
“He protected me.”
“When you were fifteen.”
“He saved my life.”
“And now he’s destroying it.”
Bianca’s eyes filled.
“You don’t understand.”
Grant did.
That was why he looked worried.
Back in Boston, Sofia received a message from an unknown number.
LEAVE THE MERCERS. $200,000. NO QUESTIONS.
She showed Claire immediately.
Claire said, “Don’t answer.”
Sofia stared at the screen.
“I spent twelve years working for families who could replace me in a phone call. Two hundred thousand dollars is more than I’ve ever had.”
Claire studied her.
“Are you considering it?”
Sofia’s eyes flashed.
“I’m telling you why whoever sent it thinks I might.”
She forwarded the message to Nathan.
Minutes later, another arrived.
WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR SISTER.
Sofia went still.
Claire noticed.
“What sister?”
Sofia did not answer.
“Sofia?”
“My younger sister, Elena.”
“What about her?”
“She’s undocumented.”
Claire understood instantly.
The blackmail was not only financial.
Someone had researched everyone close to Ava.
Sofia’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered on speaker.
No voice.
Only breathing.
Then a distorted recording played.
Ava crying.
The audio from the yacht corridor.
Someone had copied the surveillance before Nathan secured it.
Sofia whispered, “Who has this?”
The recording stopped.
A male voice finally spoke.
“Take the money and disappear.”
Click.
Claire immediately called Nathan.
He answered from his car while driving north toward Vermont.
“What happened?”
After Claire explained, Nathan’s anger became fear.
The people behind Bianca were still moving.
Still watching.
Still gathering leverage.
And now they had chosen Sofia.
Nathan looked at the road ahead.
He had thought the camera saved them.
May you like
Instead, someone else had been watching through it too.
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