“The hell should I know?” Although Sebastian did. Ron, though, didn’t know about his biweekly pilgrimages to watch Ava.

But somehow, despite Sebastian’s caution and safeguards, Paul had found out. Either Paul or someone else had been following him.

“What time does Candice Jackson land, again? Ten?”

“Flight got delayed. Technical issues,” Ron replied. “She won’t land until sometime after one.”

“It keeps turning Paul’s way, doesn’t it? Son of a bitch has the luck of the devil. We should put people on her.”

“Candice? Why?”

“Maybe she knows something. If Paul finds out she’s back here, he might make a move on her.”

“Sounds reasonable,” Ron said. “You should get her to talk to Candice.”

“Faye?”

Ron nodded. “Be better if a woman does it. Broads like to confide in other broads.”

“She’s at dinner with the boyfriend.”

“I know. I just got word they’re getting ready to leave.”

“Anything out of the ordinary?” Sebastian knew Ron had bugged the table, and the hotel room.

“She is who she says she is.” Ron sighed, Sebastian catching the sweet odor of bourbon and cherries on his breath, wanting to inhale it.

“If Paul does, in fact, reach out—”

“He will,” Sebastian said.

“What then?”

“What do you mean?”

“What are you prepared to give him?”

“Whatever he wants.”

“The keys to the kingdom?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

“Donors?”

“Everything.”

“And then what?”

“Then I’ll get to know my daughter,” Sebastian said. “I plan on—”

“I was referring to Paul. After you offer him everything.” Ron licked his lips, his eyes suddenly looking glassy from booze. “What do you think makes him tick?”

“Money. And power.”

“Over you. Only you didn’t die. As long as you’re alive, you’re a liability. Now that he’s discovered your Achilles’ heel, he can torture you . . . indefinitely. You really think he’s going to give you her?”

“We will find her,” Sebastian said. We have to, he added privately. “I’ll take you home. You’re in no condition to drive.”

“I’m way out of your way.”

“You can stay at my place.” As Sebastian slid his hand into his jacket pocket to grab his car keys, Grace’s smiling face flashed through his mind.

I will find you no matter how much it costs, no matter what it takes.

“Day before Frank died,” Ron said, “you know what he said to me? He said when this was over, he was going to cash out, go to some island and drink, eat, and screw his brains out from sunrise to sunset, and hope he went out in the saddle.”

Sebastian couldn’t picture Frank saying those words, let alone living them. “Didn’t know you guys were that tight.”

“We were,” Ron said. “We were,” he said again, the loss finding his voice this time. “We talked about a lot of shit. Especially books.”

“Books?”

“Yeah, he was always giving them to me, encouraging me to read and, you know, broaden my mind.” His eyes filled and he sucked air sharply, blinking. “You’ve been real good to me, Sebastian. Made me a lot of money, more than I can spend in a lifetime. Hell, three lifetimes.”