Chapter 8 - The Cousin at the Door
Z
Marcus Rourke arrived on a Sunday afternoon.
He wore a navy suit and an easy smile, carrying an expensive toy train for Noah.
Marin recognized him from the photographs in Gideon's study. He had the same dark hair and sharp features as his cousin, but his eyes held none of Gideon's restraint.
“Marin Holloway,” Marcus said, offering his hand. “I've heard so much about you.”
“Then you know I'm a painter, not a member of the family.”
“Not officially.”
Gideon appeared behind her.
“Marcus.”
The cousins exchanged a look that made the room seem smaller.
Marcus crouched in front of Noah and presented the train.
“Remember me, little man?”
Noah moved closer to Marin.
Marcus's smile tightened.
“Still shy?”
“Leave him alone,” Gideon said.
“Of course. I'm only being friendly.”
Marin noticed a tiny black device attached beneath the train's battery compartment. It looked like a tracking unit.
She said nothing.
After Marcus left, she removed the device and placed it on the kitchen table.
Gideon stared at it.
“Where did you get this?”
“His gift.”
Freddy examined it and swore under his breath.
Marcus had not merely wanted to know where Noah went. He had wanted access to the estate's private security network.
Gideon ordered an investigation.
But Marin saw the anger gathering in his face and placed a hand on his arm.
“Don't do anything reckless.”
“He put a tracker in my son's toy.”
“And if you react exactly as he expects, he wins.”
Gideon closed his eyes.
She was right. Marcus wanted an excuse to portray Gideon as unstable, a grieving father unfit to manage the family business.
Instead of retaliating, Gideon turned the device over to federal investigators already examining suspicious activity at the port.
The decision cost him several contracts and angered members of his organization.
It also denied Marcus the confrontation he wanted.
That night, Noah asked Marin a question while she tucked him in.
“Bad man coming back?”
She sat beside him.
“Some people make bad choices. That doesn't mean we have to let them hurt us.”
“Dad scared?”
Marin considered the question.
“Sometimes.”
Noah looked toward the doorway, where Gideon stood listening.
“Me too,” Noah whispered.
Gideon came into the room and knelt beside his son.
“Then we'll be scared together,” he said. “But we won't face it alone.”
May you like
Noah reached for both of them.
For the first time, the Rourke estate felt less like a fortress and more like a home.
