Chapter 7 - THE FATHER NOLAN HAD HATED FOR TWENTY YEARS
Nolan Pierce had spent twenty years believing his father was a coward.
Richard Pierce had died eight years earlier from a stroke.
Nolan rarely spoke about him.
When he did, his voice became cold.
Now my father's recording suggested Richard had helped cover up the Ortega fire because Sebastian threatened Nolan.
The distinction did not make the cover-up acceptable.
But it changed the story.
Nolan sat alone in Ethan's kitchen.
He looked at the wall.
Not at any of us.
Finally, he spoke.
"I was nineteen."
I remained silent.
"Sebastian hated that my father planned to leave Pierce Meridian to me."
Gabriel leaned against the counter.
"What did he threaten?"
Nolan swallowed.
"I don't know."
Then Ethan said quietly:
"Maybe your father left something too."
Nolan looked at him.
My brother shrugged.
"Dads do weird things when they're scared."
That was probably the most accurate thing anyone had said all day.
Nolan returned to his father's private archive.
This time, he brought an independent attorney.
Not Sebastian's people.
Not Pierce North counsel.
His own.
Two days later, he called me.
"Claire."
"What did you find?"
"A letter."
My chest tightened.
"From your father?"
"Yes."
He sounded different.
Younger.
Broken.
I waited.
Nolan read:
Son, if Sebastian ever tries to acquire Ortega Leatherworks, stop him.
My stomach turned.
The letter continued:
The fire was not an accident.
I was weak.
I allowed Sebastian to convince me that exposing the truth would destroy you.
He told me Martin Vale had photographs connecting you to a killing you did not commit.
Nolan stopped reading.
I frowned.
"What killing?"
He closed his eyes.
"When I was nineteen, one of Sebastian's men died behind a nightclub."
"Did you kill him?"
"No."
I believed him before I understood why.
The answer came too fast.
Too tired.
Nolan continued.
"Sebastian told my father witnesses would say I did."
Gabriel muttered:
"Blackmail."
Nolan nodded.
Richard Pierce had hidden the Ortega report because Sebastian threatened to send his son to prison.
Cowardice.
Love.
Fear.
All tangled together.
Then the letter continued.
I thought I could contain him.
I was wrong.
Nolan's voice broke.
Thomas Bennett tried to make me tell the truth.
I failed him too.
I closed my eyes.
Dad had known Richard.
Had pushed him.
Had perhaps believed he could still do the right thing.
Nolan continued.
If Thomas ever comes to you, listen.
A silence followed.
My throat tightened.
He never got the chance.
Then Nolan whispered:
"There's a final page."
I waited.
His breathing changed.
Sebastian doesn't want Ortega for the brand.
We already knew that.
He wants the tunnel because it connects to Pier 19.
Gabriel frowned.
"Pier 19?"
Nolan went silent.
Then I heard something fall on his end.
"Nolan?"
He whispered:
"Pier 19 belongs to me."
My stomach tightened.
"And?"
His voice went cold.
"That's where Pierce North receives forty percent of our international freight."
The implications were enormous.
The Ortega tunnel wasn't just useful.
It was a hidden access route into Nolan's logistics empire.
Then his attorney spoke in the background.
Nolan went quiet.
"What happened?"
He returned to the phone.
"My attorney found a deed amendment."
"What deed?"
"Pier 19."
His voice became almost emotionless.
"Sebastian doesn't need to buy Ortega."
I swallowed.
"Why not?"
May you like
Nolan answered:
"Because according to this document, he already owns half my port."
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