Page 136 of Perfect Liar

“Same goes for me,” Joe Turner added.

Will gave them a slight nod, then he leaned forward to make eye contact with Mary.

“Mum, what questions do you have for me?”

Pride twinkled in her honey-colored eyes.

“Did you meet with the ministers this week?” she asked.

“Yes. I saw the prime minster as well, and I made my terms clear. If the government can’t put an end to this, the prime minster will have no choice but to allow me to eliminate the threats to my family without prosecution.”

“How do you know he will? What leverage do you have to make such demands?” Robert asked.

Will let out a dark chuckle.

“You forget who your sister married then? As far as the government is concerned, I’m merely an extension of my father. But fuck that…the prime minister understands I’ll break him financially. Ethan and I worked hard to pull in his assets—not because we needed his fortune, but because I knew this day would come.”

Thomas leaned back, put his hands behind his head.

“Good. You have more than one card to play. And with that, how do we come away from our response to the London attack?”

“The ministers exercised influence with Scotland Yard and also pressured the director general to keep the case out of the National Counter Terrorism Office. They ran with the media’s assumptions and covered it up.”

He paused, looked at his mother as her chin dropped. He softened his tone.

“I’m sorry, Mum. I will find him.”

Ethan.

Mary pushed out a heavy breath, then she patted my arm.

“Are they all right with the fact that Ellie’s here?”

Will nodded and exchanged a small, perceptive smile with her. Their quiet exchange, his hand holding mine, her hand on my arm, it all caused my heart to flip wildly.

Uncle Robert shifted in his seat.

“What about Ellie’s claim and yours?”

“She hasn’t made a claim, so stop signaling that dangerous fucking idea.”

Robert frowned.

“What about yours…the earldom?”

“I’ll let everyone know when I’ve made a decision.”

My head spun with so much to take in. I thanked God for Will, for his wisdom, his strength, for the stability he gave me.

Robert decided to push his luck with Will.

“You’re rather curt, William.”

“Listen, Robert. Move past your disapproval. It hurts my mother, not me, so knock it the fuck off. I’ve said all I’m going to say—the rest is our personal business. Elle and I will choose what we want and how we’ll move forward, and you’ll know when it happens.”

His uncle nodded and looked down at his hands.

Will checked his watch as he stood and offered me his hand.