Laura and Wyatt remain by the open archway connecting the living room to the foyer, giving Bill a pair of respectful nods as he joins us.
“Yet here I am, doing it,” he tells Margot. “I am disappointed in you, child. I thought you had a lick of sense left in you. I’m guessing Emmanuel’s departure rotted the rest of your brain. You’ve never fared well with abandonment.”
“This is kidnapping,” she reminds him, but I can tell that his words cut her deep. “Carter is on to you. He knows you’ve got Clara and Matty.”
“Momma, what’s happening?” my son asks.
“We’re going to be okay, honey,” I whisper and gently pat the top of his head. “Just keep quiet and let Momma handle this.”
“You’re past handling anything,” Bill says to me. “Laura here has prepared your parting gift. Just take it and leave. A driver is waiting outside to take you out of state.”
Laura smirks and holds up a black duffel bag. She opens it for me to see the wads of cash stashed inside. It only serves to roil my stomach and make me want to puke.
“I’m not taking your money. And I’m certainly not leaving my son behind,” I tell him. “Get that out of your delusional head.”
“Dad, please,” Margot insists. “For the love of God. Just let them go. The Feds are coming. Take the kidnapping charge off, at least.”
“I know the Feds are coming,” Bill snarls. “And I know Carter is in the loop. I figured that much the moment I caught you trying to sneak this stubborn woman and my grandson out of here. Keep your mouth shut, Margot, for once in your goddamn life, and do as you’re told. Otherwise, I will cut you out of the will entirely.”
“Screw the will, Dad. This is unconscionable.”
“You forget who I am,” Bill replies. “I always get what I want. No matter the cost. Don’t be part of that cost, Margot. You’re my daughter, but if you stand in my way?—”
“You’ll do what, Bill? Whack her over the head like you did my brother?” I cut in. “How’d that work out? Here we are, on the verge of an avoidable tragedy, and you still think you’re calling the shots. If Carter knows you have us, you bet yoursaggy old ass he’s on his way over here. Tell me you don’t know what that entails!”
The sound of heels click through the hallway, and my blood runs cold.
“Leave now, Clara, or I will make you leave,” Bill insists through gritted teeth. I know he can hear her coming, too.
“What the…” Margot mutters as she sees Elizabeth.
Elizabeth storms into the living room, her face and neck red from the tea burns. Her eyes are round and fiery with rage as she holds up the kitchen knife, eager to pick up where she left off.
“You fucking fat bitch!” she snarls as soon as she sees me.
“Elizabeth, what are you?—”
“Shut up, Bill!” she cuts him off. “This is personal!”
“Momma!” Matty screams, terrified as he jumps from the sofa and into my arms. “Momma, I’m scared!”
“Drop him and let’s finish this!” Elizabeth sneers.
Laura and Wyatt move to flank her, but Bill smirks and motions for them to stand back. Margot notices and steps in between us again.
“What the hell, Dad?” she asks, then looks at Elizabeth. “You need to put that knife down, Elizabeth. There’s a child here with us. Don’t do something stupid.”
“Your lawyer was shit!” Elizabeth cries out, giving Bill a sour sideways glance. “I can’t get Shiloh back. Not legally, anyway. And this bitch gets to keep her kid? That’s not right! That’s not happening!”
“Elizabeth, you need to calm down,” Bill replies, but he doesn’t sound concerned, only irritated. I think he wants to see how far she is willing to go.
But that only puts Matty, his grandson, at risk, too. I realize in this moment that it was always about control with both Bill and Elizabeth. They don’t really care about their blood. They just crave possession of it at any cost. And it turns my stomach inside out.
“Fuck this, I’m getting a kid, even if it’s not my Shiloh!” Elizabeth croaks and comes at us.
Margot is quick to react and blocks her. “He’s just a child!”
“Momma!” Matty cries out in my arms.
