"No. The previous owner was on the verge of bankruptcy due to poor management.

I took on his case and managed to save this legacy establishment."

Lemira nodded approvingly. "I'm glad you saved it. The food is phenomenal. It would have been a real tragedy if it closed down."

"Ms. Langston, is your relationship with your family truly that strained?"

She gave a short nod. "Yes. Have they been trying to contact you?"

The lawyer confirmed it with a slight nod of his own.

Lemira frowned, her tone hardening. "I am the sole driver of this case. Disregard everything they say."

She hadn't bothered to hide the fact that Sebastian Bennett was representing her, but it still irritated her that the Langstons had already tried to meddle by reaching out to him.

Sebastian offered a wry smile. "They chose to believe an adopted girl's lies, and they actively marginalized and mistreated you. There really is no reason to acknowledge family members who are that blind."

She had heard variations of this a million times by now. "You don't think I'm being too ruthless?"

"Not at all. In my years practicing law, I've seen every kind of monster human nature has to offer. Frankly, it's better to be a bit selfish. Why exhaust yourself caring about people who don't care about you?"

Lemira smiled softly. "Fair point. But now that we're done eating, I think it's time we get down to business."

Setting his silverware aside, Sebastian's gaze sharpened behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

"The driver is still sitting on the hidden evidence," he began, his voice taking on a strictly professional edge. "That evidence is the only thing that can guarantee the Sinclair family faces actual consequences."

Lemira's lips pressed into a thin line. "I know. He's hoarding it as leverage, waiting to negotiate terms."

"What kind of terms could a guy like that possibly demand? Money? I hear he used to be a chronic gambler."

She let out a cynical laugh. "Not money. He wants us to guarantee Evelina's future. It's hilarious, really. They abandoned her years ago, and now he's suddenly playing the role of the devoted father."

"Do you buy it?"

"No. But I have to play along for now. Otherwise, how are we supposed to figure out what his endgame actually is?"

The biggest unknown was exactly when Hale intended to hand over the proof.

Sebastian leaned forward. "Why do you think he insisted you hand him over to the police instead of demanding you smuggle him out of town, given the leverage he holds?"

Lemira blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "I've thought about that. He had nowhere else to run, and he knew I'd never just let him walk free. Did he just accept his fate and try to secure his daughter's safety as a final act of redemption?"

"That's a plausible theory. Does my mentor agree?"

"Mr. Alfred had a similar read on the situation, though he admitted it felt slightly off. We figured we wouldn't know the truth until we actually had the evidence in hand."

"Then you're both missing a crucial angle," Sebastian countered smoothly. "I've spent years dealing with these exact types of criminal elements. Do you know what terrifies these people the most? Prison."

Lemira frowned in confusion. "If he's so terrified of prison, why was his one non- negotiable condition that we turn him in?"

"Because he knows that whatever is waiting for him on the outside is infinitely worse. Like a bullet to the head."

The blood drained from Lemira's face. "Are you saying the Sinclair family is trying to silence him? But we've kept him under heavy

surveillance, and the Sinclairel ne

been too busy putting out their own fires to make a move."

Sebastian clicked his tongue in disapproval. "If Orion can't even manage basic

witness protection, then he really is useless."

It was painfully obvious that the lawyer had some sort of deep-seated grudge against Orion.

"Because of that exact threat," Sebastian continued, "Hale never even considered running. He wanted to go to jail because it's a fortress. According to his current narrative, he was just a hired hand. Even if he goes down for manslaughter, as long as he claims he was operating under orders, he avoids a death sentence. He'll do a couple of

decades and eventually walk free."

Lemira stared at him, a chill creeping down her spine. "If your theory is right... who

exactly is Evelina's father so afraid of?"

Who was terrifying enough to make a lifelong criminal actively choose a jail cell over freedom?