Chapter 12 - THE OFFER
Thomas wanted one thing.
The fortune.
But he wanted Mirabelle to give it to him willingly.
He invited her to an abandoned theater.
Ronan wanted to come.
Mirabelle refused.
"I'm going."
"Absolutely not."
"He has Kellen."
"Then I'll get him."
"If you go, he'll kill him."
Ronan stopped.
Mirabelle touched his hand.
"Trust me."
His eyes met hers.
"I do."
The theater was empty.
Thomas stood beneath the stage lights.
Kellen was tied to a chair.
Brandon stood beside him.
Thomas smiled.
"You're very brave."
Mirabelle walked forward.
"Let him go."
"First, the vault."
"I don't have access."
Thomas laughed.
"Your mother told you the truth?"
Mirabelle said nothing.
"Good."
He stepped closer.
"You were always the key."
He revealed a document.
A trust agreement.
The entire Hayes fortune was legally controlled by Mirabelle.
But there was one condition.
She had to marry Ronan Voss.
Thomas smiled.
"Your father made the deal."
Mirabelle stared.
"He wanted Ronan to inherit the empire."
"No."
Thomas laughed.
"Your father wanted Ronan to protect you until you were old enough to control it."
Brandon scoffed.
"And now?"
Thomas looked at Mirabelle.
"Now she signs it over to me."
Mirabelle glanced at Kellen.
His hands were tied.
But his eyes were alert.
He was signaling something.
The physics gesture they used when they were children.
Three taps.
Danger.
One tap.
Wait.
Three taps.
Mirabelle understood.
She deliberately dropped the document.
Thomas bent to pick it up.
Mirabelle kicked the chair.
Kellen rolled sideways.
A gunshot exploded.
The lights went out.
Ronan stormed through the theater doors.
His men followed.
Chaos erupted.
Brandon ran.
Thomas disappeared backstage.
Mirabelle freed Kellen.
Then she heard Ronan shout:
"DOWN!"
She dropped.
A bullet flew over her head.
Thomas stood above them.
Ronan fired.
Thomas escaped through a hidden door.
Mirabelle looked at Ronan.
"Why didn't you kill him?"
Ronan lowered his weapon.
"Because I want him alive."
"Why?"
"Because he knows who really ordered your father's death."
May you like
Ronan looked toward the darkness.
"And I think I finally know where we're going next."
