Within hours, Nathaniel arrived, the hum of his car cutting through the silent night. He looked much the same as I remembered—tall, with an air of authority that bordered on intimidating. We greeted each other with a nod, an unspoken understanding hanging in the air. He followed me inside, where we sat at the kitchen table, the weight of our history palpable between us.

“Tell me what you need, Clifford,” Nathaniel said, his voice as smooth and commanding as ever.

“I need my ranch protected,” I replied, the urgency clear in my tone. “And I need Alan out of Avery’s life. Whatever it takes.”

Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, considering my request. “This could get messy,” he warned. “Alan won’t go down without a fight.”

“I’m prepared for that,” I assured him, the steel in my voice leaving no room for doubt.

He nodded, plans already forming. “I’ll have my team look into Alan’s background. If there’s anything we can leverage against him, we’ll find it. As for the ranch, we’ll make sure it’s untouchable.”

With a plan in place, I felt some of the tension ease from my shoulders. Nathaniel’s methods might be unorthodox, but they were effective. The ranch had always been more than just land to me—it was a legacy, one I intended to protect at all costs.

As the night wore on, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts of the future. The road ahead was uncertain, and the choices I had made would undoubtedly have consequences. But in that moment, I knew I had done what was necessary to safeguard my daughter’s future, even if she couldn’t see it yet.

Morning would come soon enough, and with it, the repercussions of the previous day’s events. Alan would learn the hard way that he had underestimated me, and that my resolve was stronger than his greed. Whatever happened next, I was ready. And with Nathaniel by my side, I was far from alone in this fight.