56. She Hunted for Answers #2
“Forged signatures ,” he corrected. “We paid a lot of money to have everything drawn up by one of the law firms with nice harbor views.”
Shocked that he’d casually admit his part in Liam’s scheme, my heart sank like lead. “You’re not the person I thought you were at all.”
“Gwen, you know where we started in this world. Look around these offices.” He held his arms wide.
“Do you think a couple of kids who’d given up waiting on their next meal could achieve a life like this without getting their hands dirty?
You learn early on that you starve…or…you even out the odds.
Maybe Liam and I would’ve made it anyway.
We were smart. We were prepared to work our asses off.
But we only got that first job because we had the right university on our resumes, wore the right suit for the job interview, and knew the right way to smile and pretend we were just like everyone else in the room. ”
His words hit that dark, hidden place where I could never truly escape where I’d come from. We shared the same history. I understood, but… “That doesn’t make it right.”
“Why is it wrong when poor people make these choices? Why are they punished when rich people like Toby’s father do the same thing— worse —and get away with it?”
“ I’d never do something like that.”
He nodded and, avoiding my eyes, quietly said, “You didn’t have to.”
The unspoken words were obvious. You didn’t have to because we did it for you . “I don’t owe you.”
“You don’t.”
“I won’t be involved in anything illegal. I won’t cover your tracks. Either of you.”
He waved the folder at me. “I’m trying to hand you evidence that could send me to jail. Do you think I’d ever ask you to cover my tracks?”
“You want me to turn a blind eye?”
“I want you to do the right thing—whatever that is. Take the folder. Read everything and decide for yourself. We knew this day would come. I’d just hoped you’d have longer with him before it was over.” He sighed. “He’s not okay, Gwen.”
“Is he involved in something he shouldn’t be?”
“He walked away from you all those years ago for a reason. I’d hoped he’d leave it behind once you were back in his life. He promised he would, but…” Smiling sadly, Elias held out the manila folder again.
Biting my lip, fingers trembling, I took it from him.
An uneasy silence settled between us. He nodded, encouraging me to open it.
I peeled back the corner and flipped through a few pages.
I doubted it was by chance that the ledger sat on the top.
He’d wanted me to see the earnings from the properties coming in and the donations going out—women’s shelters, rehab centers, kids’ outreach programs…
My brows furrowed as I scanned more entries. “Eli… what…” I flipped to another page. So many donations . “What is all this?”
His smile was shaky. “Liam’s screwed-up way of evening out the odds for other people like us.”
I closed the folder and pressed it to my chest. The anger that had kept me tossing and turning all night was replaced with confusion and—I hated to admit it—pride.
I took a deep breath. I’d always seen the world in black and white, right and wrong, and made decisions based on evidence.
But maybe, sometimes, there was a patch of gray.
Toby had shown me that people deserved second chances.
Maybe the answer wasn’t to walk away from this pair of delinquents, either.
I cocked my head. “You and my brother have come a long way. I reckon you’re in the category of men who are rich enough to make their problems disappear.”
Elias shrugged, but we both knew the answer was yes.
“So, forget the cops,” I said. “Your punishment for lying to me and scheming is…” My grin was pure evil. “Toby.”
Elias groaned. “Gwen, please—”
“Yeah, that’s right. Get prepared for all the male bonding you can handle. Gym dates. Lawn talk. He and his friend Zach are going rock climbing again in a couple of weeks, so you better start packing your lunchbox.”
“I think I’d rather the ‘nail my balls to the wall’ option,” Elias grumbled.
“It’ll be fun.”
“Sure. Right. Fun.” His expression brightened. “Perhaps you could let me off the hook in exchange for some valuable intel?”
“Such as…?”
“The whereabouts of your brother.”
“You drive a hard bargain.” I gave a firm nod. “Deal.”
“He’s currently working from the Pancake Palace down at Darling Harbor.”
I barked a laugh. “Seriously? Our favorite millionaire is ordering a classic stack surrounded by screaming kids and tourists?”
Elias only grinned. “When he stormed out of here this morning with his laptop, his exact words were that it was the only place that could repair the hole that had been pierced through his heart.”
“Dramatic.”
“That’s Liam for you.” Shaking his head, Elias collapsed into his chair. “He’s been in one hell of a damn mood the last few days. Someone stealing his KitKat from the lunchroom fridge was apparently the final straw. I hope you find him in better spirits.”
Me too.