Chapter 13
Bruce Ford stood at the tall windows of his study, the morning light breaking weakly through the curtains. His eyes had drifted from the papers spread across his desk to the movement outside, where a knot of neighbors lingered near the gate. Their heads tilted upward, their voices carrying in hushed tones.
He frowned, moving closer. Then he saw it.
Pinned to the iron gate, sharp against the brick pillars, was a fresh legal notice. The bold letters were impossible to miss. Even from the study, the words cut through the distance.
A claim. A challenge.
His chest tightened as if someone had drawn the air out of the room. Alec had finally made his move.
Bruce’s hand twitched at his side, torn between yanking the notice down or letting it hang for all to see. His reflection in t
