How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Jarrod's grip on his phone tightened instinctively.

His gaze was icy, and a cool, mocking smile curved at his lips. "Mr. Aldridge, you really do have your hands in everything, don't you?"

Of course Watts heard the threat in Jarrod's tone he wasn't exactly being subtle. With leverage like this, why not use it?

"Mr. Silverstein, you have to understand-business is about results. The process

is never clean for any of us. Besides, you're my senior in this game."

None of this had been part of the plan.

To be honest, when he first heard about it, anger had flared in him.

He couldn't even say exactly why.

After all, it had nothing to do with him-at least, that's what he told himself.

But then he remembered how they'd tried to get rid of that child, how the child's survival had become a bond between Elodie and Jarrod that refused to break. That silent fury swept over him all over again.

Still, he kept his cool.

And straightaway, he realized: the child Jarrod had fought so hard to save was, in a way, a hostage.

was stuck here, panicked

was wide open-a vulnerability

own.

By tomorrow, he'd have results-faster than Jarrod could

the moment

whatever he

over? Do you want the money, or do you want Elodie and your... child?" Watts was in no

was completely

Jarrod had schemed to keep that child, Watts understood perfectly well-Elodie and the child meant more

irony wasn't

Patricia. Now he played the devoted lover. It

pacing. Shadows flickered across his eyes. "How do I know you won't double-cross me once I give you what you

was worried that, after handing over everything from

anything

had other roles to

finger along the edge of his phone, voice cold and unreadable. "So what, you're

Watts raised an eyebrow.

whereabouts once, and yet Jarrod was already onto

it, give me two days-' take care of everything.

heard it loud