Send the link to tonight’s video to Juanita Moore, her card is on the fridge. Do it now, quick, before the cops arrive. People are either going to hate me for what I did, or they’ll understand. I’m counting on you to make sure enough fall in the second category to help Gigi. Love on her for me, sis. Take care of my baby girl. I love you.

I turn the phone off and toss it to the floor.

Dethroning Atlanta’s Steak King. I can’t deny it is sweet, sweet revenge. With any luck the whole world will see how their favorite celebrity chef screwed a poor, single father out of the money he needed for his dying daughter. Now everybody will know that’s the kind of person Cam is, a man who values money and power above all else. Talk about going out in a blaze of glory.

It’s funny. When Tanya called to say that none other than Cam Lasky had moved in across the street, I couldn’t believe my stupid luck. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, isn’t that what they say? I told her to play dumb. I told her to ingratiate herself with his pretty wife, to make herself necessary in their lives, to keep her mouth closed while my brain stitched together this plan.

The other big surprise? That Cam was strapped for cash. He didn’t tell me that part when he pulled out of our deal, just that he had “other business matters that needed his full attention.” I didn’t find out he was dead broke until I sued him for damages, for funds his attorneys told mine he didn’t have. By then my money was long gone, cash I’d set aside for Gigi’s care but Cam assured me was a safe investment in him.

I turn to the dummy speaker, step right up to it and smile.

“This isn’t the way I wanted today to end, baby girl, I want you to know that. Maybe one day, after you get your lungs and a baby boy or girl of your own, you’ll find some understanding in that big heart of yours. But before you do any of that, take a little peek under the bread in the freezer, will you? I love you, Gigi. So much. Never forget that.”

I blow a kiss at the camera and turn away.

I didn’t come all this way without a backup plan, and a backup to the backup to the backup. Like I’m always telling Gigi, she’s getting those lungs if it’s the last thing I do. It’s time to pull the parachute cord.