Corley''s meaning was simple: you took down the sons, now you have to deal with the father. And the father was going to be much harder to handle. He was telling Carlson to prepare for what came next.


    "...Right now, the Moore family''s biggest problem is figuring out how to bail out Fabian and Jay, so they won''t have time for revenge just yet. But once their father, Nash, realizes he''s exhausted every option and still can''t save his precious sons, all that rage is going to be aimed straight at your family."


    A cold weight settled in Carlson''s stomach. After a long moment, he looked up and asked, "Since Fabian and Jay have been arrested, is there any chance... the entire Moore family could be taken down with them?"


    Owen Reynolds was silent for a second before answering truthfully, "There''s no guarantee. The evidence we provided the police is more than enough to convict Fabian and Jay, but whether it''s enough to bring down Nash... that''s hard to say."


    What if the Moore family was careful to keep the father''s and sons'' dealings separate? What if Nash was a wily old fox who had been preparing for a day like this all along? There were too many variables. Not even Owen Reynolds could be certain.


    Carlson gave a bitter smile. He had thought that winning today would solve


    everything, that life could go back to normal. He was quickly learning that reality was far moreplicated.


    "You don''t need to overthink it," Corley said. "The Moores may throw their weight around in this vige, but in the town, the city, or the province, they''re nobodies."


    "Escaping Nash''s retaliation is both difficult and simple."


    Carlson frowned. "What do you mean, Mr. Sullivan?"


    "Move."


    The Moores were kings in their little vige, but that was the extent of


    their power. If the Smith family moved to the county seat or the city, Nash''s reach wouldn''t extend that far But if hey stayed, Nash would have a thousand ways to make their lives miserable. It might not be life-threatening, but constant


    harassment and verbal abuse would


    wear them down over time.


    "Besides," Corley continued, "your mother''s health requires medical care that this


    vige, and even the town, can''t provide. If you move to the city, the medical


    resources alone are a hundred times better than what you have here."


    Vel


    "And your sister is about to start high school right? It''s a blessing from heaven for a family in your circumstances to produce one. sess story like you. Can you guarantee your sister will have both your strength to persevere against the odds and your luck to break through?"


    "I''m not putting your sister down, I''m just making a point: instead of betting on


    lightning striking twice, it''s better to y the odds."


    "In the city, your sister will have a better educational environment and a much higher chance of getting into a good university."


    "Of course, this is all just my advice. The final decision is up to you."


    Carlson''s smile was strained. "I understand the logic..."


    He knew the city was a better option. Not only could they escape the Moores'' revenge, but his mother could get proper treatment and his sister could attend a good high school. But it all came down to one thing: money.


    To move to the city, they''d need to afford a ce to live. Even a small one-bedroom apartment would be a stretch. They could rent, but that cost money too. With his mother sick, the family''s only ie was what Carlson earned from part-time work and the harvest from their cherry orchard. If they moved to the city, how would his parents support And what would


    themselves? hard? The whole


    happen to the


    conflict with the Moores had started because they wanted to protect thatnd. If they left the vige now, wouldn''t that...?