I began to speak, but Scott cut me off.
“I know it’s not what you wanted, but you know it’s the right thing to do. Hand the company over, and I’ll take care of Anton and all the rest. You’ll stay on in an advisory position, and when this is all over, I can find a new place for you in the organization.”
“Just, give up.”
“It’s not ‘giving up’—it’s putting your family first.”
”How is it ‘putting my family first’ if you’re still in harm’s way? It’s simply passing the problem from one of us to another.”
“Right, but at least the one of us in danger is the one that doesn’t have a kid to worry about—one that can’t afford to lose another parent.”
I didn’t know what to say. Was Scott truly being this thoughtful, willing to put himself in danger for the sake of me and my family?
“That’s kind of you to say. But the idea of losing a brother—”
“You won’t lose me. I’ll handle all of this, and make sure me and you and Willa are all safe and sound on the other side.”
“I don’t know. There has to be another way.”
“How about this. You have a long flight ahead of you,” he said. “Think it over. We’ll talk when you’re back. All right?”
“Fine.”
“Good. Talk soon.”
The call ended, and I was alone again.
I had a hell of a lot to think about. And I hated to admit it, but I still didn’t know what to make of Scott’s offer. Did he really mean what he’d said? A darker part of me, a cynical part, wondered if he was working some angle.
But as much as I wanted to shake it, I couldn’t stop thinking about revenge.
Someone had to pay for what had happened.
I was determined to figure out who.