Two-thirds of tepeak Mines were gone. Westonville and Loutan Lake were aplete mess—if they didn''t hand the people over soon, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    Derek hurled his water ss at the floor. "You think I don''t know we need to hand them over immediately? The problem is-where the hell are they?"


    Shards of ss scattered, and a piece sliced right into Adelle''s shin.


    She hissed in pain, but Derek, still consumed by fury, didn''t even notice. Once upon a time, he would have rushed to her side if something like this happened. But this wasn''t once upon a time. This was now, and Derek was blind with rage. His voice was practically a growl. "Will someone finally tell me where are they?"


    It was obvious: not being able to find Susanna and Lacey for so long had driven Derek over the edge.


    He''d always been gentle and patient with Adelle. Not tonight. Tonight, she barely existed to him.


    Adelle''s eyes welled up as she looked at him. "Derek..."


    He was reallyshing out at her because of that woman and her daughter, wasn''t he? Of course he was.


    She''d always known it-Lacey was the real threat. The one who, by some stroke of luck, had gotten away all those years ago.


    Adelle stared at Derek, feeling like she couldn''t breathe, her eyes full of hurt but her lips sealed. She''d always used this look when Derek started to doubt her-a silent, wounded plea. It had always worked before. Derek would soften, apologize, wrap her in his arms.


    But tonight, power meant more to him than anything. This wasn''t a petty argument; this was ck Gate hanging by a thread.


    Derek rubbed his temples, his voice sharp. "Finch!"


    Finch flinched. "Dad, I swear, they''re not with me!"


    He was panicking now too.


    "Then where the hell are they?" Derek snapped, his tone icy.


    Tears spilled over in Adelle''s eyes. "They''re not with us, Derek. Why won''t you believe us?"


    Finch cut in, "It''s gotta be Dan."


    "Dan''s about to lose Pigeon Peak too!" Derek''s re was practically murderous.<fnf8ef> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel</fnf8ef>


    Finch was speechless.


    Adelle was too.


    Wait-Pigeon Peak was about to


    fall? Dan had fought like a lunatic to take that ce for himself. Adelle had spent years watching that mountain, dropping every hint She could to Derek that she wanted it f?r Finch. Derek, who''d always giver her whatever she wanted, had never budged on that. In the end, Dan had snatched it.  s


    Adelle hadn''t eaten for days over that betrayal.


    Now Finch was fuming. "That idiot! He finally gets his hands on something and can''t even hold it!"


    Derek said nothing, his eyes boring into Finch.


    Finch shifted ufortably. "Dad? Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Adelle saw it too, suddenly


    understanding. They still had their own holdings. If Susanna and Kacey would


    were with them, the enemacey


    have struck at their assets too.  s


    "Derek, you-?"


    Finch caught on. "If we had them, they''d being after what we''ve got, too."


    Adelle nodded, "Exactly."


    Derek had to admit they had a point.


    But it didn''t solve the problem.


    "Dad, about Dan-"


    "Enough. Get out of here!" Derek snapped. His head was


    and Dan''s name was thest thing he wanted to hear.


    to s


    Finch tried again. “But—”


    "I said get out!"


    Finch and Adelle exchanged a look and left. Derek''s temper had never been this bad-not ever before.