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He shook his head as anger dried his eyes and hardened his heart. The two of them should be celebrating now, toasting each other on a yacht in the Gulf of Mexico. She deserved so much better than this—and she would have gotten it if not forthat over-clever lawyer who married her half sister. Michael should have killed the guy as soon as he became a problem. If Hez had died, Jess would still be alive. So would Tommy and Little Joe.
Michael’s blood pressure ticked higher at the memory of his nephews’ deaths. They had been good men—strong, tough, and loyal. Little Joe had even gotten a Punisher tattoo in honor of the uncle he idolized. Michael’s nickname grew out of his reputation as a crime boss with a ruthless sense of justice and honor. Little Joe had passed up opportunities in legitimate business to follow in his uncle’s footsteps. Guilt needled Michael as he remembered that. Should he have used his influence to set Little Joe on a different path?
He shook off the question. Little Joe lived and died as a proud Willard. The Legares bore ultimate responsibility for his death. The Legares and Hezekiah Webster.
Had Hez known about the bomb in his car? Probably. He’d spotted almost everything else, so he must have spotted that too. And he gave Jess his keys. Cold fury rose in Michael. Hez used the bomb intended for him to kill Jess. With her out of the way, he was able to take TGU for himself and his Legare wife. Michael’s hands balled into fists.
Still, Hez had his uses—for the moment. The information Michael fed to Hez through Martine had effectively turned the law enforcement focus onto Hornbrook. That took the heat off Michael and the remaining Willards, which was a relief. Having a single Willard spy in the Pelican Harbor Police Department was little protection against a multiagency, state-federal task force.
Martine had warned that giving Hez evidence againstHornbrook Finance might hand him enough ammunition to win the battle for TGU. It seemed she was right. Michael had fired two shots into Hez’s condo the night before the hearing to disrupt his final preparations and make sure he didn’t get any sleep, but even that hadn’t prevented him from somehow forcing James Hornbrook to completely surrender.
Still, that had been an acceptable loss. Michael didn’t mind letting TGU survive if he could destroy the Legares. In fact, having the university intact might make that task easier. The Legares would keep fluttering around the school like moths around an open flame, ready to be incinerated one by one. Just last night, they’d all been gathered at that party on the beach. Michael had noticed it as he drove by and pulled to the side of the road for a look. Even Pierre had been there.
Michael frowned. Pierre had been standing near Jess’s boy, Simon. Was that something to worry about? Michael had spotted at least one reporter at the event, so he pulled out his phone and hunted for coverage. One of the local news websites had a bunch of pictures—including one of Pierre with his arm around Simon with the caption “Three years after tragic death of his only grandchild, former TGU president Pierre Legare connects with newfound grandson, Simon Legare.”
Michael’s blood boiled. “That boy is a Willard!” he hissed through clenched teeth. He made the mistake of leaving Jess in Pierre’s clutches, but he wouldnotlet her son suffer the same fate. There would be no replacement for Ella Webster. “He ismygrandson!”
He looked toward Ella’s grave and noticed a new statuary grouping. He walked over for a closer look. The sculpture was exquisite—and infuriating. What made them think they couldjust take Simon? The presumption in that little stone family made him shake with rage.
Jess was barely cold in her grave and they were already stealing her son!
Michael wished he had a sledgehammer and could pound that statue into gravel.
His anger gradually cooled into icy resolve. He was going to take Simon away and make him into a true Willard. No one would stop it from happening. No one.
His gaze went to the smallest figure in the sculpture. What would happen if Hez and the Legares knew the truth about Ella’s fate? How would they react if they knew she had been murdered?