Total pages in book: 224
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
“And brought her a twenty-five-thousand-dollar bottle of scotch.”
“I caught that as well,” Gabe says. “And what you think it means, which I agree on, by the way.”
I look at Royce. “He sees her as a weapon against her father. I need a weapon against my father to shut this down and so far, you haven’t given me anything.”
“I gave you a laundry list of bad deeds the man has done,” Royce proclaims.
“Nothing that will faze him,” I say. “Because most of it is tied to me or Gabe. He knows we have to protect ourselves and each other which is why he keeps us both in the mix.” My lips thin. “Me more than Gabe.”
Gabe narrows his eyes on me. “What does that mean?”
I lower my voice and tell them both everything there is to tell about the accusations of murder and the dead private investigator. Gabe looks stunned because, like me, he’s always wanted to believe some good existed underneath all the bad that is our father. Royce doesn’t react, remaining his normal, stoic self. “No wonder you were worried about him showing up to see Carrie alone,” Gabe says softly. “I don’t even want him with Cat alone anymore.”
“He knew she was alone,” I say. “I’m certain of it and the minute he chose to play with Carrie’s head was the moment he pushed me too far.” I look at Royce. “I need to shut him down once and for all, and I’m sure you now understand that the laundry list of sins you found on my father are not enough.”
Royce leans in closer. “I have friends in the right places. What if I can get one of them to work a plea deal with you that never gets turned in? It’s just on file. Should your father make a move, it’s put into play. You can show it to him and use it to control him.”
“Why would anyone on that level of law enforcement do that for me?” I ask.
“Because when you do big favors, you get big favors in return, and my team is intimately involved with the right people to make this happen.”
Gabe and I share a look. “What do you think?” Gabe asks. “Will he believe you’ll turn on him?”
“It needs to be both of us,” I say. “Just like when we shut him out of the company.”
“Can we ship him to another country already?” Gabe grumbles. “But yes, of course, I’m in.”
I glance at Royce. “I have a board meeting Friday and I need him on a leash by then. Can you do it or do I need to push the meeting?”
“I can do it.” He glances at his watch. “But let me go make some calls now.” He stands up. “I’ll be in touch.” He leans on the table and looks between us. “You can’t bluff with this. He has to know you’ll turn evidence on him.”
“We will,” Gabe and I say at the same time.
Royce studies us both and then shoves off the table. “More soon,” he says before he turns and leaves. Gabe leans in close. “You think he’s going to make a play against Carrie at the meeting?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised by anything at this point, but he will be. Carrie wants to merge the companies. It’s a good move for us and her. How do you feel about it?”
“I’ve seen the numbers. I feel fucking amazing about it, but does she really want to give up part of her company?”
“She brought it up to me. She wants to do this.”
“Dad is going to lose it if we merge.”
“I’m going to need you at the meeting,” I say. “Most likely ready to fight.”
He holds up his hands. “MMA, baby. Let’s do it.” He laughs but sobers quickly. “Friday is a little fast coming. We need to crunch the numbers and put together a presentation for the board. I need to talk to the partners. We need to talk to the partners. Push it back.”
“That gives dad time to position himself. We need to move on this Friday and fuck the partners. This is making everyone money.”
We go back and forth for a good hour on what has to be done, and then I cut us off. “We need to include Carrie in this and right now, she’s waiting on me. We’re going to get a Christmas tree.”
Gabe arches a brow. “You’re getting a tree?”
“I am, indeed, getting a tree, and looking forward to it, in fact. I’m a changed man, brother. Wait until it happens to you.”
“Never,” Gabe says. “Never happening.”
I laugh and get up. “You won’t know it’s happening until it’s too late.”
I head for the door, eager to get home to my woman and put this crap with my father aside for now. Carrie and I have a tree to buy and lots of fucking to do underneath it, which I plan to enjoy. My father, on the other hand, will not enjoy being fucked the way we’re about to fuck him. I will though, completely and thoroughly and with a smile on my face.