“Well, I’m not sure they got the message, because I killed all three of them before they could murder her.”
She said nothing for a few seconds. “That would have required a great deal of skill.”
“I was fortunate to get us out of there alive.”
“So sheisalive. I am happy for you.”
Nash turned away from her. “Sure, thanks,” he said curtly. He was confused and frustrated and tired and not very hopeful about how this was all going to play out.
“Can I ask you a question?” he said.
“Of course.”
“Lord has your business. Why does he want you dead?”
“As I said, we have no way to know that Mr. Lord is behind this.”
“Who else?”
“My partners from the south perhaps?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you got them billions. They’ll be cheering you, not looking to kill you.”
“For some it’s not always about the money.”
“How about you? It can’t be about money. You sold your empire for zip.”
“You are wrong. I received myfreedom. That is worth more to me thanbillions.”
“Well now you’re running for your life,” he pointed out.
“As I said before, we will see what we will see.”
“I don’t understand you.”
“I can say the same about you,” she retorted.
“My motivations are pretty clear.”
“Not all of them, no,” she replied.
“Think what you want.”
Nash closed his eyes. His thoughts turned to Thura, who was almost certainly dead. All the man had been through, only to die like that.
I’d be dead, too, if Steers hadn’t ordered me to take her for a drive.
And she could have shot me out in the woods. But she didn’t. Even after she found out who I really was. The man she’d been looking for all that time.
Steers’s voice interrupted these thoughts. “I know what you must think, Walter, and all I can say is I’m sorry for everything you and your family have endured. If I could have, I would have made different choices.”
“Youcouldhave made different choices, Victoria. There was no one stopping you. You have to own this. Just you. Nobody else.”
Exhausted, he fell asleep.