A Family Affair - Next of Kin by Marilyn McPherson Read Free Book Online Page A

He hadn’t had a chance to write me into the will formally. It’s just a technicality. I’m sure he would have included me if he hadn’t died, you know.”
    Nikki couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Kane, you can’t think that after what happened between us Jack would have put you into his will. He would have been furious with both of us.”
    Kane shrugged his shoulders. “The two of you weren’t suited. Dad probably already knew it, and my lawyer thinks I have a case. In any case, the Bradleys don’t need all that money. They should have settled with me, rather than let it go this far.”
    “Well, I don’t know what to say.” Nikki herself had formally withdrawn any challenge to the will while overseas. The Bradleys’ lawyer had contacted her as a matter of course, and she indicated that she didn’t want one cent of Jack’s money. It wasn’t right for Kane to contest the will either. “I guess there’s no talking you out of this action, is there?”
    “The hearing is this afternoon. I’ve waited for nine months to have my day in court and stand up to these people.”
    “Don’t you think we have caused the Bradleys enough pain, Kane?”
    “Listen, ten million is like spare change to these people. Tom’s got all his makeup money. He doesn’t need his father’s real estate too. He wouldn’t even notice if ten million dollars disappeared from his bank account. And Jack had already divorced his first wife, so she is hardly entitled to it. I’m Jack Bradley’s son. It’s a matter of principle.”
    It was obvious that Kane would not be moved from his planned course of action. In any case, it was his business, and Nikki didn’t want to get involved. “Anyway, I ran into Ellen and her bodyguard the other day,” she said, changing the topic.
    Kane’s interest in the conversation seemed to increase. “She has a bodyguard now?”
    “I think he was there to keep you and me away.” Nikki smiled. It was ridiculous for anyone to think that she or Kane was a physical threat to Ellen.
    Kane raised an eyebrow. “Really? Why do you say that?”
    “He said something about my being on a list.”
    Kane chuckled. “Tom would have made that list. Ellen knows that neither of us would hurt her.”
    “I suppose.” Ellen had asked the security guard to back off.
    Kane was thoughtful for a few moments. “You know, Tom probably hired a bodyguard for Ellen because Ted Blake hasn’t been captured yet.”
    “Who is Ted Blake?”
    “The man that abducted Elle when she first started dating Tom. If I was Tom, I’d keep a guard around her too.”
    Nikki didn’t like the protective way Kane spoke about Ellen, but tried not to feel jealous. “Oh, I didn’t realise he was still on the run.”
    “I don’t know why they haven’t been able to catch him yet. You would think the coppers would be focussed on a high profile case like that. Anyway, how was Elle when you saw her?” He was trying not to appear too interested.
    Nikki frowned, seeing through this charade. “To be honest, she wasn’t really very interested in speaking to me.”
    “You too, hey?”
    Nikki liked to hear that Ellen wasn’t speaking to Kane. “It was a coincidence that I ran into her, but she only gave me a minute or so of her time. She sort of left in a hurry after that. I’m not sure what I said. Have you seen her recently?”
    “No.”
    “Why did you say ‘you too’ then?”
    “I tried calling a few times, but she refused to take my calls. I think she has changed her number now. You don’t know her new number do you?”
    “No, Kane.” Even if Nikki did have a way to contact Ellen, she would not have handed it over. She remembered seeing the two babies side by side. It had almost been shocking. “So, you haven’t seen her baby then?”
    “No. Why do you ask?”
    “I guess it’s because you and Tom are half-brothers, but gee, it’s amazing. The two babies look very alike - Alice and Angus I mean - that’s what she