Chapter 7 - Secrets of the Meridian
The fire in the study cracked loudly as Harlan poured two large glasses of bourbon. The storm outside had turned into a full blizzard, rattling the heavy glass panes of the mansion.
I sat wrapped in a thick wool blanket, still wearing the crimson gown, staring at the old photograph resting on the oak desk.
"Is it true?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the wind. "Did your family take everything from mine?"
Harlan sat across from me, his eyes filled with a heavy, ancient exhaustion. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"My father was a ruthless man, Rue," Harlan began slowly. "Thirty years ago, he built the foundations of the Voss enterprise by buying up downtown Detroit property through coercion. Your grandfather owned the Meridian Theater and the three city blocks surrounding it. He refused to sell."
I swallowed hard, listening to the dark history of my own bloodline.
"When your grandfather died under mysterious circumstances, the property went to your mother," Harlan continued. "She knew my father would come for her next. So she transferred the land rights into an untraceable trust, hid you in the foster system under a fake birth certificate, and vanished."
"And the land?"
"My father forged the deed," Harlan said bluntly, no emotion in his voice. "He built his empire on stolen dirt. When I took over the family business five years ago, I spent eighteen months tracking down the missing heir to sign over the legal dividends. But the records were wiped. I couldn't find you."
I stared at him in disbelief. "Until Vance found me."
"Vance didn't find you to help you," Harlan warned, his eyes flashing with fire. "He found your identity six months ago. He orchestrates Belle's kidnapping, dumps her at the Meridian garage, and ensures you walk past her path so he can expose your existence, void my family’s land rights, and destroy the Voss estate financially."
"So Belle... was just a pawn to him?" My voice shook with rage.
"Yes," Harlan whispered. He stood up, walking over to my chair. He dropped to one knee beside me, reaching out to take my trembling hands in his. "I didn't bring you here to trap you, Rue. I brought you here because the moment Vance realizes you won't work with him to destroy me, he will eliminate you."
"And what if I do?" I asked softly, searching his cold grey eyes. "What if I take my land back and ruin you?"
May you like
Harlan didn't flinch. He lifted my hand to his lips, placing a slow, gentle kiss against my knuckles.
"Then I will give you the keys to the city myself," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. "Everything I own is yours if it keeps you and Belle safe."
