The Heir Read Online Free Page A

was anger. Why couldn’t he have said something to me? When did we even last talk? Two months ago? Three? What did it mean? Why am I here?
    It was all too much. Minutes passed and I just sat, and the others knew better than to break my silence.
    At least Fred and Katie knew better. “Deal with it, man. If someone gives you fifty million dollars, you just say yes. This is not hard to figure out.”
    It was too plain to put into words, but I tried. “I just want something to live on and to get rid of the rest.”
    “You can live on whatever you want.”
    “I don’t want to be Melvin.”
    That shut him up. He didn’t even know what it meant.
    Katie knew nothing she could say would persuade me, so as desperately as she wanted to try, she wasn’t talking. The harder you push a mule, the more obstinate it gets. She left it to the expert.
    “It will take time to adjust.” Fred shuffled the papers. “But you will. And it will take a short time for probate and transfer of titles.”
    He risked a small smile. “You can’t get rid of anything until it’s actually yours.”
    “What do you mean, about not wanting to be him?” Eric said. “I still don’t understand.”
    “Everything he was. His deals, his influence, his manipulations. Sitting in his mansion, being the big man. Being the king.” Was that it? “Being so sure of who he was.” I turned to Fred. “No. I won’t do this. If I have to sign something to refuse it, then make it quick.”
    “You do not understand.” Soft, round Fred had again lost patience and was finally, suddenly, very hard. “And the stakes are too high for childish behavior.” He paused while he got my attention. Now I was seeing the Fred who counseled ruthless men.
    “Listen to me, Jason. Your father had great power in this state, and his wealth was only part of it. He had thousands of employees and held immense sway over government. He could make or break anyone he wanted. He had no rivals because he had defeated them. You know who he was.”
    I had his attention. “I know who he was, Fred. Everyone knew exactly who he was.”
    “That is the point. Now his death has left a vacuum, and that is very dangerous.” He was speaking deliberately, as if I were a child. “I had thought to wait before I had this discussion with you, but I see I need to do it now. You have no choice, Jason. You must take your father’s position.”
    “I don’t want it. You know me. I’d hate it.” I looked away from him. “It wouldn’t work, anyway. Let someone else be king.”
    “That is not an option. I said that a vacuum is dangerous.” He was measuring me; I could see it in his eyes. “Your rivals have already taken the first steps to fill it.”
    “My rivals? I said I don’t want it. If they do, let them have it.”
    “You don’t know what you are saying. There will be war.”
    “You mean that literally?” I shook my head. “War? People getting killed?”
    “Perhaps, yes, but I’m referring to a larger conflict. Political influence and union violence will be part of it. Organized crime would take sides. There are many ways battles would be fought.”
    “And this was how Melvin got to the top, I suppose?”
    Fred shook his head. “I will not discuss that with you. But the Boyer companies could even be forced out of business, and your own wealth eliminated. If you do not choose to fight the war, you will lose it.”
    “But all I have to say is ‘Yes,’ and I’m king, and everything’s fine.”
    “Not that easily. You will have to fight, and it will take some time to consolidate your position. But I will be helping you, and you will have other allies, and you will have your father’s wealth and his name.”
    “What would have happened if he hadn’t changed his will? Nathan Kern wasn’t going to be fighting wars.”
    “Perhaps that was why your father changed his will.”
    Every time I started to get the boat upright, he shoved another wave in and swamped it.
    “Does Kern