The Bloodline She Burned novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: The Last Offer

Gabriel was wiping down the counter at eleven at night when the bell over the street door rang and Conrad Ellsworth came up the stairs.

He had two men with him.

One was the driver Gabriel remembered from Crown days, and the other was bigger and kept his hands in his coat.

The practice room was empty.

Roz had gone to the arena hotel with the others, because Ashfall played the grand final at noon.

Gabriel had stayed to lock up.

"Rook," Conrad said.

"You're not welcome here."

"I've been told that in better rooms." Conrad pulled out a chair at the nearest machine and sat down. "I'll be short. The board met this morning."

"I saw."

"I have until Friday to explain a wire from my private account to a broadcast technician."

"Then you'll have a busy week."

"I will have a short one, unless you help me."

Gabriel set down the cloth.

He kept his eyes on the old man's face, and he moved a hand an inch toward the cash drawer where the recorder lay under the receipts, red light on.

It had been on since the bell, and it sent everything to Roz's phone as it recorded, a thing he had set up the night of the gala and told no one.

He did not look at it.

"Two offers," Conrad said. "The first one you've heard. Your old office, your sister's whole career restored and paid back, a Crown seat that no board can touch."

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