Targeted (Firebrand Book 1) by Sandra Robbins Page B

great job with the company since Richard died. She has a head for business, and she wants her son taken care of in the future.”
    William’s words rankled in Ash’s heart, and he bit back the first retort that came to mind. It wouldn’t be good to get into what he really thought with William today. He nodded and took a deep breath. “Lainey said you wanted to see me.”
    “I did. I have something for you.” He opened his briefcase and pulled out a sealed manila envelope. He stared at it for a moment before he looked back at Ash. “A few weeks before Richard died, he called and asked me to come over. He knew he didn’t have long left. His body was wracked with cancer, and he was in a lot of pain. I thought he might want me to make some changes to his will.”
    For a moment Ash thought his heart must have stopped. He heard William’s words, but he couldn’t respond. He swallowed and forced himself to speak. “And did he?”
    William shook his head. “No. He had left everything to Max, and Lainey was to be the executor of the estate. She has complete control until Max reaches twenty-one.”
    “Then what did he want?”
    William held up the envelope. “He wanted to give this to me. He said I was to keep it safe, and it wasn’t to be opened by anyone but you. He didn’t even want Lainey to know he had left it for you.”
    Ash stared at the envelope in William’s hand and frowned. “What is it?”
    “I have no idea,” William said. “I’ve done as Richard wished. I’ve kept it locked away in case you decided to come home one day.” He held it out to Ash. “All I know is that Richard felt it was important for you to have whatever is inside.”
    Ash took the envelope in his hand and studied the shaky writing on the front. For My Brother Ash.
    His eyes glazed over with tears. Richard had been thinking about him in the weeks before his death. Maybe he wanted to ask his brother’s forgiveness for betraying him and marrying the woman he’d loved. He dismissed the thought right away. Richard had loved Lainey from the first time Ash brought her home, and he’d waited for the time when Ash had left for training to make his move. He’d taken advantage of the situation and stabbed his brother in the back to win the girl they both loved. He could never forgive that.
    He exhaled and glanced back at William. “Thanks for keeping it for me all these years. I have no idea what he could have wanted to tell me.”
    William frowned, glanced at the envelope once more, then reached for his overcoat that lay on the sofa. “Well, I’ve done what Richard asked. If you need my help with anything, let me know.”
    Ash shook hands with William once more and stuck the envelope under his arm. “It was good seeing you again. Where’s your car?”
    “It’s parked in front of the house.”
    “I’ll watch out the window as you drive back to the gate, and I’ll open it from the control panel in here.”
    William shrugged into his overcoat and picked up his briefcase. “I’m glad you decided to come home, Ash. Don’t stay away so long in the future.”
    Ash smiled. “I’ll try to visit more often. I want to spend more time with Max.”
    “Richard would like that,” William said.
    Ash didn’t reply but gave a curt nod. He watched as he’d said and released the gate when William drove up to it, then closed it when he’d driven through. Ash waited until the car disappeared from sight before he turned around. Lainey stood at the den door.
    “What did William want?” she asked.
    Ash pressed his arm tighter against his body as if to hide the envelope he held and shrugged. “Nothing important. He was surprised I was home after so long.” Just then the grandfather clock in the hall chimed the half hour, and Ash gave a start. “I can’t believe it’s already eight thirty. I need to get out to the training center if I’m going to get back here in time to get to the school.”
    He pushed past her and hurried up the