Richard plastered on a smile. "Mr. Hartley, Secretary Cross, surely there's been some misunderstanding. Vera and I are father and daughter. Why would I ever hurt her or lock her up?"
He produced a document he'd clearly prepared in advance and held it out with both hands. "And Mr. Hartley, the Laine family has long wanted to work with you. This is our business proposal. We're willing to give up the majority of the profits. We only ask that you show us a little mercy."
Ethan didn't even glance at it. He let Riley take it from Richard's hands and drop it on the floor without looking at it once.
Richard's face went a dark, livid color. He wanted to rage and didn't dare. He turned and shot me a desperate look.
The meaning was plain enough: We're family. You have to help me.
I looked at the
