Page 103 of Before the Night Falls

Tyson thanked the detective. But just as he ended that call, his phone rang again.

His chest tightened when he saw the name on the screen.

Damon Kudlow. The casino developer who desperately wanted the property Tyson was building the school on.

With a grimace, he answered. “Stone.”

“Time’s running out.” Kudlow’s voice sounded smooth, practiced. “The tribal council votes next week. Without you there to charm them, I like my odds.”

Tyson gripped the railing until his knuckles whitened. “The school will be built, Kudlow. With or without me physically present.”

Kudlow chuckled. “Noble sentiment. But we both know how these things work. They need to see your face, your commitment. Otherwise, it’s just another empty promise from another outsider.”

Tyson’s jaw tightened so hard it ached.

The worst part was that Kudlow wasn’t entirely wrong. Tyson’s absence at this critical juncture could be disastrous for the project. Years of work, his grandmother’s dream—all of it hung in the balance.

“And these . . . incidents with your houseguest,” Kudlow continued. “Unfortunate timing, wouldn’t you say?”

Ice slid down Tyson’s spine. “What exactly are you implying?”

“Nothing at all. Just observing that with you distracted by Ms. Montgomery’s troubles, my proposal looks more attractive by the day.” His voice contained a smugness that only served to further irritate Tyson. “You have a nice day now.”

The call ended, leaving Tyson staring at the ocean, jaw still clenched and thoughts racing.

Could there be a connection between this casino and what had happened to Olivia? He’d considered it before but brushed off the idea. But now, maybe he should consider the idea more—and maybe even share it with Scarborough.

After all, the timing was suspicious. The escalation of threats against Oliviadidcoincide with the final phase of the school fundraising project.

As his thoughts wandered, Tyson stood motionless, watching the waves crash against the shore. Olivia sat on the beach watching them too.

She didn’t know it, but he always watched her when she was outside.

He wanted her to feel a sense of independence and privacy. But he also wanted to keep her safe.

However, how was he supposed to keep Olivia safe when they were facing someone this determined, this calculated?

* * *

Tyson waited until Olivia was back inside later that day.

She’d gone to her room and had said she was going to take a nap.

When he was sure she was safely in her room, he went back to his office and stared at the papers spread across the small desk. The numbers blurred before his eyes.

No matter how he calculated it, the result was the same.

Without his presence at the council meeting—without his ability to address concerns in person, to leverage his relationships—the school project would lose momentum.

With Frontier Resorts applying pressure, offering immediate economic benefits over long-term educational investment, that loss of momentum could be fatal.

He raked a hand through his hair and closed his eyes.

He needed to make a decision, and he had no time to waste.

His phone rang. It was Danuwoa from the tribe.

“The council’s wavering, Tyson.” Danuwoa’s voice sounded tight with concern. “Kudlow’s people are saying you’ve abandoned the project, that your fitness empire is more important than the community.”