His will, p.1
His Will, page 1
HIS WILL
ELLA GOODE
CONTENTS
Summary
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Also by Ella Goode
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Jericho Bancroft has zero plans to accept the bequests in his cousin’s will. He doesn’t even want to attend the reading of the will because that means seeing Michael’s widow —Sera James. The only one he’s ever wanted but could never have. She belonged to someone else…. or so he thought.
When Jericho lays eyes on Sera, he wants to claim her and now that Michael’s gone there’s no reason to resist other than Jericho’s own conscience and the idea of him not being the only man to truly own her heart and soul.
Sera James fell in love with Jericho Bancroft when she first met him, but she could never confess her feelings to him because she has a secret to protect for the man that all but saved her life. While their marriage might not have been traditional, he gave her a sense of family. Something she’d never had.
Things are never as they seem. When the truth finally comes to light will Jericho be able to repair the damage he’d caused by pushing away the only woman he would ever love?
1
JERICHO
The house is cold when I arrive, or maybe it’s her. Shrouded in black silk, Sera greets me stiffly at the door.
“Mr. Bancroft, nice to see you.” She extends a hand to take my coat. “It’s raining, is it?”
I swipe the water off the top of my head but keep my jacket on. I think I’ll need it. “Name’s Jericho, as you know, and Michael is dead. There’s no need to lie anymore. We both know you wish you never had to see me again.”
Her cheeks pinken, but her tongue isn’t shy. “Lying to you would suggest I’m making an effort to please you when we both know I don’t give a shit about you.”
I tweak her chin because I know it will rile her up even more. On cue, she knocks my hand away.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Is it because I haven’t paid you yet? My check is in the mail.”
Her slap is expected. The power behind it takes me by surprise. I rub the side of my face and ask, “Have you been working out? You’re stronger than you were years ago.”
“Why couldn’t you have died instead of Michael?” she hisses.
I pretend that jab doesn’t hit and smile. “Because he was good, and I am not.”
Before she can curse me again, Charles, Michael’s lawyer, peeks out the door of the study. “Ah, you’re here, Jericho. We’ve been waiting. Come in.” He gestures hurriedly with his hand. “The others are restless.”
“After you.” I hold out a hand for Sera to precede me. She gathers her silk in her hands and hurries forward. It may be the lighting or the fact she’s a blonde wearing black, but Sera looks extra pale. I guess her husband died and she could be mourning him, but Sera’s a faithless brat who is on the verge of inheriting a ten-figure fortune. You’d think the number of zeros in Michael’s bank account would put a little color in her cheeks. Even so, she's still as beautiful as I remember. Her beauty haunts me nightly. I always think my memories about how beautiful she is must be wrong, but every time I see even a picture of her they’re proved to be right. Especially when I see her in the flesh.
Inside the study, Michael’s vultures await. His dullard, alcoholic father, William, sits in the chair closest to the fireplace. His red cheeks indicate that the drink in his hand is not the first of the night. His greedy stepmother, Anna, is seated next to him, her neck craned as she tries to get a glimpse of the will and, finally, slouched down in the last occupied chair is Lucas, his feckless stepbrother.
All heads swivel toward me as I enter.
“You,” Anna sneers. She wrinkles her nose as if I smell bad and twists around to face the desk. I’m sure I’m supposed to be offended.
“Why are you here?” snaps Lucas.
“I’m the executor of Michael’s estate,” I inform the younger man.
He grimaces. “You should turn down the money. It’s not like you need it. You have your own vaults of cash.”
“It’s vaults of gold, and an executor does not inherit anything. Rather I see to the orderly distribution of the provisions of the will.” I pull out the last empty chair and beckon for Sera to be seated.
Anna’s nostrils flare in disgust. I ball my hand into a fist. It’s one thing for me to insult Sera, but this crow who would steal a ring off a man’s corpse? She’s lucky she gets to breathe the same air as Sera.
“Charles, Anna looks sickly,” I say. “Let me call the staff and have them help her get home. She can get the details of the will later from William.”
“No.” The older woman nearly shouts her refusal. “I’m perfectly well.” She shoots me an evil stare that conveys her unadulterated hatred.
“Really?” I drawl. “You looked like you were about to faint, but if you’re fine, we should get started. Charles?”
“Yes, very good.” He gathers up the two-page document that lays out the main bequests left by my cousin. There are small bequests to staff members which Charles had relayed earlier and then larger ones to foundations and charities that I’ll have to take care of beginning tomorrow. Uncle William’s Scotch is fast disappearing, and Lucas’ face is slack with boredom. He isn’t interested in what other people are receiving—only himself. After a half hour, William finally reaches the end. “To my father, in the event he survives me, I leave all the Conrad properties that were held by the family at the time I turned twenty-five as I had nothing to do with their survival. To my stepbrother, Lucas, all his outstanding debts shall be paid. The remainder of the estate shall be left to Jericho Bancroft for his use during his lifetime with the provision that he provide for Sera James nee Goodwin in the manner to which she has become accustomed. Whatever funds that survive Jericho shall be passed down to her issue.”
Stunned silence greets Charles.
Anna recovers first. “You missed a section.” She taps her long nail on the top of the wood desk.
“I’m sorry, but this is all it says.”
“My name is not there.” Her voice is perilously high.
Charles nods his head. “Yes, I know, and I encouraged Michael to give you a widow’s portion, but he reminded me you were not his widow nor any widow at all. As for you”—he turns to Sera—”Mrs. Goodwin, I advised Michael to give you a gift free and clear of all strings, but he refused. He said that this would be best as it is what you both want.”
Sera shakes her head. “No. No. He wouldn’t have agreed to this. He knows I ha—” She cuts herself off. “It’s just not what he would’ve done,” she finishes.
Hates me, does she?
“You forgot a section,” Anna repeats. “Read it again.”
Charles stacks the paperwork in a neat pile and tucks the papers into his bag. “If you’ll send us your debts, we will be happy to pay them off,” he instructs as he gets to his feet.
“That’s all I’m getting?” Lucas revives himself.
“Michael estimated your debts were about five million, but no matter the amount, we will pay it.” Charles steps toward the door.
“Is that all I’m getting?” Lucas shouts. “And her? She gets the rest of it? That’s fucked up! I’m his brother.” He raises his hand, and maybe he was going to hit her or maybe not, but I’m not waiting to see the outcome. I catch his arm in mid-air.
“Calm the hell down.”
He jerks out of my grip and sneers. “You’ve always wanted to fuck her. I guess this is as good a reason as any.”
2
SERA
I gasp, jumping to my feet to get out of the way when Jericho punches Lucas square in the jaw. Lucas stumbles back, his eyes wide with shock. I’m surprised too. Not because Jericho punched someone but because he did it over Lucas making a crude comment about me.
Then again, he probably did it more for his own reputation. He’d never want anyone to think he’d sleep with a whore like me. I’m sure Lucas insinuating such a thing is what really pushed Jericho to violence. That’s all I am to any of these people. Normally I don’t care what they think of me, but Jericho’s comment about his check being in the mail still stings. I hate that he still can bother me after all these years. He somehow knows just how to ruffle my feathers.
If only he knew that he’s the only man to have ever even so much as kissed me. A kiss I’d asked him for. He’d been more than willing to give it. He’d even wanted to give me more. Until he found out who I was. Lucas wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, smearing blood across it.
“You’ll pay for that.” Lucas lunges at Jericho, who side-steps him easily. I watch as Lucas stumbles into the desk, knocking half of its contents onto the floor. I glance up, knowing Asher’s bedroom is above us. He was fast asleep when I left him for his nap. I’m praying all of this commotion doesn’t wake him up and scare him.
“I won’t pay over a cent of what is owed in your debt as of today’s date,” Jericho drawls. “Anything you stack up from here on out is your responsibili ty.”
Lucas snarls at Jericho as he tries to get to his feet. I don’t know why Michael was nice enough to even do that for Lucas. He doesn’t deserve his kindness. The man is always getting himself into some kind of trouble, and Michael was always having to bail him out. It’s never a small amount of trouble, either. It’s the kind that gets you a broken kneecap or a missing finger—if you’re lucky. I guess that’s better than the alternative.
That might be the only silver lining when it comes to Michael’s passing. The fact that I can get away from Lucas and all the darkness that follows him. I was always worried that would be what took Michael from me before Asher.
“I think we’re done here,” I say loudly. “I would like everyone to leave my home.” I try to keep the tremble out of my voice, wanting to be strong.
Michael always said I was strong. He knew me better than anyone else in this whole world. He was my best friend. My only friend really. I thought I was his too, but now I’m not so sure. Why would he do this to me? Tie me to Jericho. Did he not trust me to handle things on my own?
I suppose I never did have anything to do with the money, but I also didn’t spend the way Michael did. Even after having been married to Michael for three years, I still wasn’t comfortable with the wealth that came along with it.
“You can’t kick us out of here!” Anna hisses.
I open but close my mouth, not sure if I do have that power or not. This is my and Michael’s house. I glance up at the ceiling again, thinking I heard something.
“I can,” Jericho announces. “Get the fuck out.” I almost smile at his rudeness, but I don’t give him the satisfaction.
“This is far from over,” Anna pushes.
“I’ll be right back.” I turn to leave the office. I head straight up the stairs.
When I reach the top of the stairs, I know Asher is awake. I never should have had this meeting here. Michael never wanted his family to know about Asher. I don’t either. The last thing I need is for them to try to get their hooks into him.
One of Michael’s downfalls was how big of a heart he had. He never could push his family out, even when all they ever did was harm. That had been the difference between him and me. I was only sixteen when I’d packed a bag and left my family behind. I knew if I stayed, I’d end up being just like them.
While his big heart might have been his downfall at times, it was the thing that let me into his life. I’d been eighteen and in need of a place to stay. Michael was in need of a nanny. My only experience was I’d practically run the daycare at the women's shelter by myself. I don’t know what Michael saw in me that day, but he’d opened his home to me.
Within a week, I was not only in love with Asher but Michael as well. I didn’t think things could get more perfect until the doctors gave Michael two years to live. He asked me to marry him the same day he received his terminal diagnosis. I thought he’d lost his mind. We loved each other, but we weren't in love.
Both of us wanted this. For Asher to have both a mom and dad. Said if I married him, he’d get my name on Asher’s birth certificate. That I’d be his mom and we’d all have the same last name. I’d have a real family for the first time in my life. How could I say no to that? My best friend was dying, and he was asking me for something I wanted myself too.
“Mommy!” Asher squeals when I open the door to his bedroom.
His whole face lights up when he sees me. Everything else fades away. He reaches his arms out, wanting me to pick him up from Dora’s lap. She’s rocking him in his favorite chair.
“He’s getting too big for you.” I pluck him from her lap. She’s right, he is, but I don’t care. He’ll always be my baby. I kiss his cheek. “I think the noise woke him. Is everything okay downstairs?” Dora asks.
“Not really,” I admit.
“Want me to go down and handle them?” Dora offers.
She might be in her seventies, but she’s not one to be trifled with. She’s been with us for the last year. I needed some help when Michael started to get sicker. She’s become like a mom to me and a grandmother to Asher. I honestly don’t know what we would have done without her these past few months.
“I’ve got them. I just wanted to quiet him down before they heard him. I never should have agreed to the meeting here.”
“Were you going to go somewhere else?” She lifts one of her gray brows.
Yeah, not likely. I’ve started to develop a few problems of my own. The sicker Michael had gotten, the less I would leave the house. It’s gotten so bad that now just thinking about having to go somewhere sends me into a panic.
One that only heightens when I think about having to deal with Jericho. The man who stole my heart with one kiss.
3
JERICHO
“You never used to be so mean-spirited,” laments William. He rises from his chair and sways unsteadily on his feet. “I remember when you were this high”—he places his palm at his thigh—“and always wanting a sweet. Do you remember?” He peers at me, probably wondering why there are two of me instead of only one.
I cross the room and take his arm. I don’t hate William. He isn’t all bad—just weak. “I haven’t been that short since I was five.”
“You did grow up fast,” he agrees. “Too fast. You left Michael behind.”
A pang of sorrow tinged with guilt arrows through me. I tighten my grip on William’s arm and help him to the front door where Anna waits, staring at herself in the entry mirror.
“I picked this out,” she informs me. “Michael wanted to buy the gaudiest thing with these hands all over, and I told him that it would scare visitors away.”
“Maybe that was the point.”
“He had no taste—not in friends, not in women, not in design.”
“Who the fuck cares, Anna? He’s dead.” I throw open the door and nearly drag William over the threshold. William’s refusal to stand up for his son, even in death, pisses me off. My car is sitting at the base of the steps, but I have no desire to drive William home. “You.” I point to the young staffer just inside the entry. “Call these two a cab.” I release William and stalk back inside, leaving Michael’s parents standing on the front steps.
After five minutes of fruitless searching, I find Sera on the third floor in the nursery with her child. Since Michael’s marriage, there has been an unspoken agreement that when we got together, it would be away from his family. He once asked me whether it was his son or his wife that made me uncomfortable. I told him I had no interest in either.
That was a lie, of course. I think about Sera daily and Asher only a little less, but my memory of the boy was of an infant, not this small child with Michael’s face and eyes. Sera hadn’t foisted another man’s child on him.
“That is definitely Michael’s son.”
Her head jerks up. She must not have heard me arrive.
“Why are you still here?” she asks, pushing Asher’s face protectively against her chest as if looking at me will turn the boy to stone.
Michael’s will demanded it. It’s not the money that will tie me to Sera and this boy. I have, as Lucas crudely put it, vaults of cash. Michael’s estate is nothing more than a burden. His bequest, though, is enough of a shackle. By putting it in writing to be read to his family, he has effectively placed me in a box. Either I watch out for his family, or I watch his family be ruined. Michael knew I wouldn’t be able to sit back and see his son suffer. “Why wouldn’t I be? You’re my responsibility.”
“I can take care of myself and Asher. We don’t need you,” Sera says with a scornful lift of her chin.
“Unless you have some secret job that your husband didn’t know about, your very existence depends on me. You very much do need me.”
