Page 35 of Unlocking Hope

“Nathan already told me you don’t know about my plan.”

Nathan’s alive?They hadn’t heard from him since the night Bryson showed up to the house. Bryson continued to run the family business and work for the CIA. The board had voted Bryson’s father out of the company, and he had cut ties with his mom and dad. He’d come to visit a few times, and each time he’d looked more tired than he had the last time. When he wasn’t running a mission or a billion-dollar oil business, he was looking for Nathan. Brock had put out feelers, and it was like he had dropped off the face of the earth.

“I will repeat again—why are you here?” Zoey asked while she slowly slid her chair to the side. She needed her gun; it was her only way out of the situation.

“When my oldest son turned me over to the feds, they took my money. Luckily, I’ve had leverage over my youngest for years. But now, I need money. Nathan can’t get it without Bryson finding him. So I’ve come to get money from my middle child.”

Cole had done well flipping houses, but far less than the Walker family was used to. “How much?”

“A billion dollars.”

This lady must be on crack. No way Cole has a billion dollars lying around. If he did, he would’ve told her. “Not sure where you think he will find that much money.”

Cindy smirked. “Next week, my son turns thirty-five, and he gains access to his trust fund. All he’s going to need to do is sign it over to me. Then I’m gone. He never has to see me again.”

Zoey was trying to wrap her head around the fact that Cole had a huge trust fund coming, but she still didn’t understand why Cindy needed her. “What do you want me to do?”

“You’re my leverage.” She stood and kept the gun trained on Zoey. “Now move.”

She reached for her purse.

“Stop, you don’t need your things. Let’s go.”

Zoey cursed inwardly. It wasn’t only the gun she wanted. After the night at the warehouse, she’d thrown a tracker in her purse, just in case something happened.

Cole’s mother came around Zoey and pushed the gun into her back. “Move.”

It was lunchtime, and the office was empty as they walked toward the exit. No one saw her leave, and she wondered how long it would be before someone noticed she was missing. A black town car was parked outside, and Cindy shoved her into the car then climbed in behind her. Suddenly, Zoey felt the prick in her neck.

“Don’t fight it.”

She barely heard the words before things felt slower. Her hands felt like weights, and she was losing the battle to stay conscious. Her last thought was of Cole.

Cole

Cole leanedback in his office chair.Another interview down.He and Ian had been on the hunt for another project manager for two weeks now, nobody had fit what they were looking for. He reached up and tugged on his tie. He hated wearing the thing, and he disliked coming into the office even more.

Ian looked up from the file in his hand and threw it on his desk, along with the files for the other five people they’d interviewed. He glanced at his clock—it was almost one in the afternoon, and he still had four more interviews to sit through. But they wanted someone who would fit with them.

He pulled his cell from his desk drawer, and he couldn’t help but smile when he read Zoey’s text about passing her exams. He’d had no doubt she would pass. He replied quickly:I knew you could do it.He would take her out for a nice dinner to celebrate.

Cole knew she liked working at the technology firm, but once a week, they helped at different shelters. She had met so many people who needed help, and each time, she jotted down notes of where they were. Next month, they were meeting with Kat and Antonio.

Cole hated that is mother and father were out of jail and going to every function under the moon. Bryson was still working on finding Nathan. He liked talking to his older brother, even if he was a grouch most of the time.

“I’m so sick of doing interviews,” Ian said.

“We will find someone.” Cole didn’t know if he believed the words.

“This next one was sent over from Brock. Jason, just got out of the military last week,” Ian said, not looking up from the resume.

“I know, and I hope he works out. He was highly decorated but didn’t put why he was discharged.”

“Brock wouldn’t have recommended him if he didn’t trust him.”

Bella knocked on the door and brought Jason in. He was the first candidate who’d actually worn a suit to the interview. It didn’t matter what the job was—Cole expected everyone to dress professionally or at least put on a clean shirt for the interview.

An hour later, Cole was excited. This kid was hungry and ready to get to work. Cole looked over to Ian, and he smiled. They were both on the same page. He was about to offer him the job when Bryson charged into the office. Bella was right behind him, a worried look on her face. Bryson was dressed in a black suit, his tie loose around his neck and his hair a mess from running his hands through it.

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