“Firstly, I have checked out this Ashton Taylor, and he is trustworthy. Ex-American Army and now runs a high-end security business based in Chicago. I have just got off the phone with Remington, and his sources are saying the same as mine. We can trust him. Secondly, Chester is still safely in the US, and regardless of the prospect that he in theory could get a fake passport, Ashton’s team aren’t letting him out of their sights. Thirdly, we think you are just a steppingstone, and he is not actually interested in you. It turns out there was another man involved behind the scenes of your father’s financial collapse, and he was based in Chicago, looking after some of the American businesses. Your father was not a criminal but just a businessman who got too greedy and stepped over the line of safe investments. But his business associate in Chicago was not just greedy but dirty, laundering money for some underground crime bosses. And from what we can gather, Chester started piecing information together about this other man when he was in jail for all these years, and he is trying to track him down to finish the job he started with your father. And to get his parents’ money back, which is all he was trying to do when he found your father hiding out. Talking to Ashton, we aren’t sure he ever meant to murder your father, but it looks like he has never given up on wanting to get that money back.”

Trying to take in everything Sandon is saying, the only thing that computes is that he wants his money, and he is mentally unstable obviously.

“How much is it? I’ll give it to him so he goes away.” Yes, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll sell everything I have if I need to.

“No!” Felisha voices strongly.

“There is no way we are having any contact with him. And to be honest, that will only open you up to more danger.” Sandon reaches out and takes my hands in his, trying to get my attention. “We will protect you, Harper. I promise nothing will happen to you or your family. I need you to trust me, our team, and Remington and the Darby team. At the moment this is a very low-level threat, but of course, one we won’t ignore. Ashton is only coming to talk in person because he wants to share the intel he has, and sometimes it’s better not to put that sort of thing in an email.” He squeezes my hands again, which I’m too freaked out to notice, then he asks me one question. “Do you trust me?”

“I do, but to be honest, I’m pissed.” And scared, but I’m not admitting that out loud. I won’t give my fear any power.