Finch shot Dan a cold, using stare. "You''re the one who took them, aren''t you?"


    "Don''t even try to deny it. Lacey-she''s the one you brought back to use against me and Dad. Don''t tell me Susanna and Lacey didn''t disappear with your help."


    Finch was seething, fists clenched, jaw tight.


    All these years, his father had never looked at him this way, never doubted him like this.


    And now, all this suspicion-thanks to Dan and his games.


    Usually, Finch was the reckless, carefree one. But now, when he looked at Dan, there was a dangerous edge in his eyes.


    Dan met Finch''s re and let out a dryugh. "Me?"<fn61b0> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n FιndNovel</fn61b0>


    "If not you, then who? You''ve always had your eye on ck Gate. You''ve been itching to grab all the power from Dad for as long as I can remember!"


    "And what, you don''t want it?" Dan shot back, his voiceced with sarcasm.


    "I''m not as shameless as you," Finch hissed. "Even if I wanted it, I wouldn''t drag in outsiders."


    "The Quinns, the Schultzes-do you want to see ck Gate burn to the ground? Is that it?"


    "You just want to destroy it because Dad''s never going to hand it over to you. If you can''t have it, nobody can. That''s it, isn''t it?"


    Finch''s voice kept rising, his anger echoing through the study.


    But Dan just looked back at him, calm as ever, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.


    The angrier Finch got, the more Dan seemed to enjoy himself.


    "Let Susanna and Lacey go," Finch said, his voice desperate now. "I don''t even want ck Gate anymore, alright? Just let them go!"


    He was cracking under the pressure. With everything spiraling out of control, who''d want to inherit this mess? Whoever took over would get torn to shreds by the Quinns, the Schultzes, not to mention Hull...


    The prize they''d fought over for years now felt like a poisoned apple.


    Derek turned to Dan, his face grim. "You hear that? Your brother says you can have it."


    There was no time for pride now-things were too dangerous-so he had to go along with it, even though he couldn''t believe Dan would stoop so low.


    Dan gave a short, coldugh. "What now? I already announced Finch as the new boss."


    "What?" Finch almost exploded. "You''re handing it over now? Are you trying to get me killed, you bastard?"


    Derek''s scowl deepened. "How could you do something like this, Dan?"


    "Dan, this will destroy Finch-you know that," Adelle said, her voice heavy with disappointment, eyes full of hurt.


    Dan just lit up a Cuban cigar, took a leisurely drag, and shrugged. "Fine. Tell him to hand over the mother and daughter I''ve taken the fall for this long enough You''ve watched the show-hope you enjoyed it."  s


    He blew out a smoke ring, watching Finch out of the corner of his eye.


    In truth, he was convinced Finch had taken Lacey and her daughter.


    No-he was sure of it.


    Like Dan said, Yvonne had been after him for days, demanding to know where they were. Now Hull was involved, too.


    He''d shouldered the me for so long—and for the one person he despised the most. Well, not anymore.


    "You''re saying you''ve been taking the fall? Please. Everyone knows you''re the one who took them," Finch snapped.


    Dan snorted, "Leanne and Ivanna


    went aft


    Lacey''s daughter with


    blood in their eyes. Adelle, it was you


    who had Finch take them away


    wasn''t it?  s


    Adelle froze.


    Derek stared at her, eyes wide. She felt her heart clench at Dan''s usation.


    "What did he just say?" Derek demanded. "Ivanna and Leanne-what about them?"


    "They broke into Mr. Miguel''s house


    to get to Lacey''s daughter. No, wait-it was to grab her, use her as leverage against Lacey, right?" Dan said, turning to Finch. "You and Lacey have been at each other throats for weeks."  s