Chapter 40

"You'd better hold on tight to Scarlett, Cedric," one of his relatives said, their voice full of sly intent. "Better yet, have a kid with her. Once she's a mother, she'll be easier to control." The others chimed in, offering similar "advice," their greed thinly veiled. Cedric nodded thoughtfully, their suggestions planting seeds of an idea. Earlier at the exhibit, Cedric had been irritated by Leroy's presence and the lingering tension between him and Scarlett. With this reminder, Cedric felt the stirrings of a plan to finally put Leroy out of the picture for good. "Don't worry," Cedric assured the group. "I'll take care of everything. When the time is right, you'll all benefit from this." After finally ushering his relatives out the door, Cedric leaned against the wall, a cunning glint in his eyes as he thought about his next move. … That night, Scarlett returned to her villa. The house was unusually quiet and dark. She paused, puzzled. "Cedric? Are you asleep?" she