Page 8 of Release

Mostly for the money, so he can take care of his mom. But also so he has the resources to seek revenge for his sister’s murder.

I study him closely and recognize the fire burning within him as one I see in my own mirror. Something tells me this boy, who’s nearly a man, is my future.

“If you’re serious about going to law school,” I tell him, “I meanreallyserious, I’ll help you prep. I can put you in contact with the right people, get you introductions, even get you in on the ground floor with some of the city and state’s biggest political juice.”

“How?”

“Are you in?” I ask.

He nods. “I want to be able todosomething. Tell me what I have to do, and I’ll do it.”

“Anything?”

“As long as you’re serious about helping me, yes. Anything.”

I smile. “You’re going to become a wunderkind in state politics. And I’m going to give you your most valuable piece of advice ever right now.”

“What’s that?”

“Listen, watch, and never let them see you watching them. Store every single bit of information that comes your way for future leverage. Also,alwaysassume someone else is watching and listening toyou.” I lift my phone and take a few more pictures.

When he starts to turn to look, I pull him up short with the same soft noise I use on Benjamin when he starts to move before I tell him to.

Declan freezes, waiting, watching me.

I can’t help it—I smile. “Good boy”

The sweet pink flush that fills his cheeks confirms I’m on the right path with him.

Someone with his inner fire can go places, accomplish great things, as long as he’s given the proper direction and focus. I can teach him everything he needs to know and open all manner of doors for him, but his pain fuels his furnace like a fusion reactor.Thatis what will carry him to success.

He’ll mostly make his own luck.

It’ll be a mutually beneficial relationship, don’t get me wrong.

Over the next couple of years, Declan and his mom become a fixture in my life as I take him under my wing and begin to groom him.

Not likethat, you creeps.

Well, nottotallylike that. The boy has a naturally submissive streak when it comes to me. Who am I to deny him that?

Besides, I stay strictly hands-off and keep things completely proper with him. When his mom dies, I keep a slight distance while shepherding him through everything, even taking care of the funeral expenses for him without telling him, and filing emancipated minor status paperwork for him so he can remain in their apartment and finish his senior year of high school there.

What he doesn’t know is the life insurance policy I told him his mother had, which took care of her funeral, was actually taken out and paid for byme. I’d hoped it’d never come into play, and that I could drop it after he graduated law school and passed the bar and was earning a living on his own. Unfortunately, I hated being right, in this case.

Sometimes, it sucks to be able to think ahead and prepare for things like this.

The only cold consolation it provides is that he’ll be able to go to law school even if he doesn’t land himself a scholarship.

I won’t let him abandon his dreams—of obtaining his law degree, or the darker one.

Of revenge.

We’re in this together, all the way.

Well after he’s graduated from high school, and after he’s turned eighteen, then I start planning when to make my pitch to him. Timing works out well in my favor, too. A couple of months after Declan turns eighteen, Benjamin is transferred to a parish out in California, where he’s originally from. Meaning our relationship comes to a natural and amicable conclusion, since I won’t change my mind about never getting married.

At the same time, Declan is renting a room from me between college semesters when he’s not living in the dorm. He works with me at the law firm as my clerk, and helping with George’s re-election campaign for the state Senate.

Seems like as good a time as any to take my boy’s education to the next level. Because Idolove him.

And knowing what I know about him, I know he’ll keep my secrets, just like he knows I’ll keep his.

Allof them.