Page 66 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set

“How many?”

“So far? Five.”

“Five?” I tip my head back and stare at the ceiling.

Five transport routes gone.

“Who’s the owner of Sea-Air again?” I ask.

“Frank Parcell,” she replies.

“Right. The asshole hears about me going to Montana and… what? Decides to finish us?”

I hear her frustrated sigh through the miles.

“He knows I’m sick. That’s not news at this point. I don’t know how he learned about your father’s will though.”

I think on it. “It’s got to be Ed.”

“From the dock?” Surprise laces Mom’s words.

I nod even though she can’t see me. “He was there when Shankle showed up. I can’t remember how much Shankle shared before we took off, but I do know he overheard that Jonathan Bridger died.”

“So he put two and two together.”

“I did leave within the month,” I remind her. “I doubt Ed did anything on purpose. He probably just mentioned my situation to Frank in passing. I mean, we’ve known him forever.”

Mom is quiet for a minute. “What are we going to do?”

“You’re not going to do anything. Not even worry,” I say.

She laughs.

Carly, Chance, and Miles are staring at me, concerned.

“Is your mom okay?” Carly whispers.

I put my hand over the phone. “She’s fine. The fucker we hired to fill in was a mole and stole our routes.”

“You’re not alone,” Mom says, apparently realizing I’m updating the others. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

I take my hand away. “It’s fine. It’s Chance, Miles, and Carly.”

“Who’s Carly?”

Yes, I hear the curiosity in her voice. The one that always comes out when a woman is involved, because that’s the key to her desire for grandchildren.

“You want to ask me that now?” I pose.

I need to get Mom back on track. She wants to know about the woman in my life when a sneaky bastard is taking advantage of her and stealing our business.

Mom sighs again. “It’s done. He’s fired. Obviously.”

“Obviously.”

“But without a pilot, no flights are going up now. I had to cancel the passengers for today, which means they got their money back and went to another company.”

“Sea-Air probably,” I grumble. “I can send you money to pay bills, but without routes—without a pilot—we’re doomed. I’d say hire another one but who knows who we can trust at this point.”