I looked at the green fax, where Cole’s signature sat under three paragraphs of tight legal terms.

“He thinks two million dollars will buy my silence,” I said.

“He thinks your resolve will crack if he puts cash on the table,” Daniel said softly.

“He still assumes you’re acting out of fear and money panic.”

“If I take two million dollars from his personal holdings, what happens to the trust protection?” I asked.

“You give up the emergency clause,” Daniel said.

“You give him permanent joint control over the twins’ inheritance, and you bind yourself to a nondisclosure agreement that covers up his corporate fraud.”