Ellis stepped from a room with Winston. Ellis also held Adan to his chest by holding a forearm across the boy’s throat. Winston said, “This little bastard has caused us all some grief. If you’ll leave, we can forget this.”
“Where’s Hunter?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care. Leave.”
Mike Hart emerged from another room and he looked ready to cry. “Everybody, please stop. Please. Ellis, let that boy go.”
Ellis said, “Screw you, Mike.”
Winston said, “Go back in your room, Michael. You’re in the way.”
“Dad, I–”
“Get away, you worthless shit!” Winston yelled.
Mike blinked, and he stepped back as Ellis said, “You’re no help, Mike. Get lost. This is serious stuff here.”
Raymond looked at Norma, then back at the men with the boy. “Let Adan go.”
Ellis said, “No can do. He can’t have a claim to the Hart fortune, no way.”
Winston said, “Because he’s Mexican.” Winston looked at Raymond and a tiny smile showed, “You understand that, of course.”
A voice came from behind them, “He’s a Hart, you sonofabitch.” It was Hunter.
Mike turned and looked at her. “He’s what?”
“That boy is your nephew, Mike. He’s Vincent’s son.”
Mike’s eyes widened.
Hunter said, “Adan, show him.”
The boy pulled out the photo and the marriage certificate from his pocket, holding it out to Mike.
Ellis slapped his arm down so hard it sounded like a pistol firing. The papers hit the floor and Adan yelped in pain.
Mike jumped beside Adan and knelt to pick up the photo and documents. He glared at his father and Ellis as he did.
Mike read them, and studied the photo. He said, “This is Vincent’s marriage document and a photo of him and his wife.” He looked hard at his father, “Did you know about this?”
“It means nothing.”
“Uh-huh. It does to me.”
Ellis said, “It doesn’t mean this boy is related.”
Hunter moved on silent feet and stopped five feet behind Mike Hart so she was out of the path of fire if Raymond and Norma started shooting, and the position left her with a clear shot at Ellis. The .45, was in her hand, safety off, and finger on the trigger. She was so ready. Hunter said, “We did a DNA test on him. You should check it out before you mouth off, Ellis.”
Mike said, “Let the boy go, Ellis.”
“Not on your life.”
Mike turned to his father, “Dad, make him turn the boy loose.”
Winston said, “That Mexican is going to disappear. He’s no relation to us.” He studied Mike, “And you’re a huge disappointment to me, Michael, siding wi
th him over us.”