Page 142 of Tyler's Rule
“The orange coded files in Austin’s family vault,” Mila mumbled.
Primrose nodded. “He created that to keep tabs on who knew and who didn’t. They were helped by Austin’s business friends.”
It was my turn to cut in. That day when I’d seen Rhys Jacobs here, others had been so, too. “The trusted companies.”
“The same. All of them greedy and prepared to walk over any human decency to make an income. Once Austin was in it, he couldn’t get out.”
Mila stared then dropped her gaze to her hands. “He didn’t want to do it.”
“But he made that choice,” I said.
She wanted to make him innocent. He wasn’t. No one could claim that.
“He did. I hated him for it.” Primrose sat taller, colour returning to her cheeks. “They thought I buried him with gold because I cherished him. Instead, I sent him to his grave with the only thing he truly valued. Not human life. Not a moral way of living. Just the money he was willing to sacrifice anyone to get, and all because he couldn’t say no to a sob story.”
Mila breathed harder. “The gold-lined coffin.”
Primrose smiled. “I’d wondered if anyone knew.”
Mila’s gaze fixed on Primrose, the same twisted emotions playing over her features that I felt all through me. “Since meeting Dixie, it made sense why you held me at arm’s length. Austin’s world hurt her, but you didn’t want to give up on the idea of an heir.”
“Why would I? Able is dead, Wallace is, well, you’ve seen his lack of ambition. Kane is stubborn and too like his father. The two of you were my treasures. You still are.”
We shared a look.
I had exactly zero idea of what to feel.
It had been in this room that she’d chosen to reject me. Yet that was twisted now, the memories all skewing with her words. I pulled my gaze to the soft bedspread. To the dresser and the hairbrush that I remembered her using on me. I hadn’t imagined the love.
“Why did you call me here?” I finally managed to ask.
“Because you came back. That’s for a reason. I can only assume you mean to vote with your sister and try to save Marchant Haulage.”
I stiffened. Mila cherished that company. Or, at least the good side of it. We hadn’t talked about saving it, but I sensed how badly she wanted to. Mila shot me a glance filled with emotion.
A fleeting smile crossed Primrose’s face. “I like that you have connected. It must feel nice to have a sister. I always wished for one.”
“I don’t understand Austin’s will,” Mila said. “Why give votes to the people he did and not other family members who’d vote with him? Surely he knew Wallace was against it, or did you both hide the hate?”
Primrose sighed. “He did what he had to. The business is his alone, which meant his legal heirs have rights. Our sons and our grandchildren. If he chose anyone else, the legal mire couldtie up the business when you all challenged him. Remember his priority was always to keep it running.”
I couldn’t hold in a snap. “Seems the business was fucked anyway.”
“Don’t curse, child. It demeans you,” Primrose chided. “Let me move on to my offer. As you heard in the will reading, if you vote to close the company, you inherit nothing. That is no big tragedy. I have money. I can pay a reasonable amount to assuage the loss.”
Mila snorted. “Like you did Kane? And am I right in guessing that Wallace jumped ship? It sounded like it from his press conference outside the solicitor’s.”
Our grandmother tutted. “He is filled with fear, that boy. Kane and I will vote to purge the rot. You both will do the same. Wallace alone can claim the spoils of its shattered remains.”
“Why would we do that?” I asked. Not rough or cruel. Only curious now. Because I was certain more was going on than we understood. If there wasn’t, I’d have gone already. Looked elsewhere for the man I loved.
My belly crushed with worry for him.
Tyler was my future. With him at my side, I’d build a life at the warehouse. Help the ladies I loved to investigate the murders. Live a life of freedom.
Primrose centred her gaze on us. “Because,” she intoned, “the decay of Austin’s world will eat you alive if you don’t. I can’t and won’t see that happen to you. I would stand in front of my girls and protect you. I already have.”
“I don’t like how you protected Dixie,” Mila said.
