Devil's Bargain

His father.

“Who was protecting him from your mother? I saw her closet overflowing with clothes they couldn’t afford. And look at this house. Look at the state of things.”

“No matter what you want to believe, he loved her.”

“Oh, I have no doubt of that. She made a fool of an old man. My question is did she ever love him? Love his name? Love his family?”

“You chose to leave. Remember that.”

“It wasn’t that simple and you know it,” I say, releasing him, shoving him backward. “But you know what? It doesn’t matter. I own fifty-one percent of the company and the estate is effectively bankrupt. You’ll sign the papers and the house will be mine in a matter of hours. I’ve won, brother. So fuck you.”

“Ever hear the term cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face? Not sure I’d call what you did winning.”

“You can pack your things and get the hell out as soon as the papers are signed,” I say.

He grins, adjusts the cuffs of his shirt, his attention to them as he replies. “You tell your nephew he’s got no home, then.”

“You mean your bastard—”

“Hawk!” Benjamin interjects.

Fuck.

I turn away, grit my teeth.

“What in God’s name has come over you?” Benjamin asks.

He’s right. The child is what? Four? He’s not to blame. Not to be hated.

As if on cue, the door flies open and we all turn to find a boy—my nephew I know from first sight—charge inside. He’s got a toy train in his hand and runs directly to Declan who catches him and lifts him into the air.

“I found it! I told you it was under the bed and no one would trip over it.”

Declan cradles him, smiles at him in a way I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile. It’s like his entire face softens.

He takes the toy train from his son’s hand.

The boy spots me from the corner of his eye, a stranger, and turns his full attention to me. His eyebrows furrow together and it’s like looking into a mirror when I see his blue and green eyes.

But for all the innocence inside his, I know the opposite fills mine.

“Who’s that?” he asks, pointing so his finger is inches from my face.

Declan’s face hardens when he turns his gaze to mine. “That is your Uncle Hawk,” he says, setting the boy down. “Meet your nephew, brother. James Declan Scott.”

James steps toward me and holds out his hand like a little gentleman.

“How do you do?” he asks. “I didn’t think you were real.”

God. Can I feel like more of an asshole?

I crouch down, take the boy’s small hand in mine. “Nice to meet you, James. I can assure you I am very real.”

“You don’t talk like us.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Do you fly hawks too?” he asks. “Like Grandpa? He said you did. He said you were good at it.”

He said that?

My father was a falconer. I had just begun learning the sport when the shit hit the fan so many years ago.

“No, James. Not anymore,” I say, straightening. I look at my grandfather. “I’m tired. Let’s get this done.”

“Go find Alice, James. Help her with lunch,” my brother says.

James rolls his eyes. “Alice is so boring.”

I can’t help but grin.

“Go on,” Declan says. “We’ll eat together. Make sure she bakes her shortbread.”

At that, the boy smiles then turns back to me. “Nice to meet you, Uncle Hawk,” he says before walking out. Declan closes the door behind him and turns to me.

“Why don’t you let him know he’ll need to vacate his home? Maybe you can do that after lunch,” Declan says.

“Sit down. Both of you,” Benjamin says.

We remain standing, glaring, until Declan finally moves, knocking my shoulder when he walks past me to take his seat.

“Declan!” my grandfather’s tone is chastisement enough. “You’re not boys anymore for Christ’s sake! You’re men. Declan, you’re a father. And whether either of you like it or not, you are family and just about the only family you have left.”

Like hell.

Declan and I both take a seat.

I’m tired and meeting James like that, I was unprepared.

I want this done. I want to get out of this room. This house. Clear my head in the crisp Highland air.

Benjamin nods, turns to the attorney. “Michael, let’s go over the will,” he says, and Michael takes over, explaining the will that leaves everything, as expected, to Declan. Including the debt of the house.

That’s where I come in. Because without me and without my money, this place will turn into a pile of rocks and the family distillery which went public under Ann’s ridiculous advisement, is now under my control. And that, too, I will drive into the ground.

I want to gloat but then I remember why I’m here. I think about my father. About him in the ground. I think about the little boy who calls me uncle. Who didn’t believe I was real. I don’t know the first thing about him.