Page 140 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

Maddie screwed her face up. “That fucking bitch.”

“She doesn’t know who this is. She doesn’t realise what this is.” Cole stated.

Maddie shook her head. “Fuck.” She muttered suddenly on her feet. “It doesn’t involve you.”

“That’s not what you said to Richard. You said it was because of me.” Cole said.

“You heard that?” Maddie said. “You’ve known all this time?”

“Yeah I heard the last of it.” Cole said. “So tell me what’s going on.”

“I can’t.” Maddie muttered.

“Does it have anything to do with the bomb?” Brandon asked her and her jaw literally dropped.

“Of course it doesn’t. Alfred isn’t into shit like that.”

“Disaster trading is big money.” Brandon stated.

“No. He’s a lot of things but that’s not him. Besides you’re then assuming I told him, that I was involved and I wasn’t. I’m not involved.” Maddie said quickly.

“If it’s not to do with the bomb then what the hell is it about?” Cole asked.

“Shut up.” She said throwing her hands up and kneading her forehead in frustration.

“Maddie we can help.” Brandon said.

“No you fucking can’t.” She stated. “You can’t do anything.” She said quietly.

“How is he blackmailing you?” Brandon asked.

She shook her head. “Can you just let it go? Please?”

“Why? We can help.” Cole said.

“No you fucking can’t. Don’t you get it? If I do anything. If I say anything then he will go after you. He will bring down Black Industries. BlackWater. The whole fucking shebang.” She shouted before she could stop herself. She was on her feet, though she didn’t remember standing up.

“How?” Cole asked.

“By crashing the market. Pulling the money.” Brandon said and Maddie nodded. “That’s why you asked me about it all those weeks ago.” He added.

“Yes.” Maddie said sitting back down. “He pretended to be a client. He tricked me into meeting him and then he blackmailed me over Cole.”

“What does he want?” Cole asked.

“I don’t know.” She said feeling suddenly so drained so exhausted but also a tiny bit relieved. “He just keeps saying that I’m his daughter and he wants to have a relationship with me.”

“Do you believe him?” Cole asked.

She shrugged. “He’s got PI’s on me.” She muttered. “They knew when we were at Norton Park, when I was in Kent, they’re watching every god damn move I make.”

Cole snarled and if anything that made her feel better to hear his anger, his response.

“We could just put one of our Agents on it. Dig up some dirt…” Brandon said.

“It won’t work.” Maddie said. “What’s worse than what he did to my mother and look how he dealt with that? He doesn’t care. He just throws money at anything or anyone that comes against him. Besides it wouldn’t stop him from doing what he’s threatening too.”

“So what do you want to do? Just let him continue?” Cole asked.

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