“And why was he an asshole?”

I sit back. “I guess he was just born that way.”

His lips curve and he laughs. “You’re entertaining, Emily.” And with that, he gets up and leaves, and I follow his path, confirming his departure, watching him turn left toward the building’s exit. That’s when my skin prickles and I cut my gaze to find Shane standing near the entryway of the restaurant watching me, his expression unreadable, but that dark, edgy energy is back. He stands there—just stands there—with me as his sole focus. I fear he thinks he just saw proof I’m colluding with his brother. I’m not sure what to do or not do, but before I figure it out, he turns and walks away. I start to go after him, but Jessica’s warning about discretion rings in my head, and I sit back down. I’ll tell her what happened. That’s appropriate, as Shane is my boss’s son. Just my boss’s son and if I keep treating him like more, I’ll become a tool Derek can use against Shane.

The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, lies in its loyalty to each other.

—Mario Puzo

CHAPTER TWELVE

SHANE

It’s nearly seven o’clock and I have six contracts to review—all of which legal says they need by tomorrow—and I can’t help but think the inundation of work is an effort to hide something I need to find. And what the hell does it say that I have to think that way to survive in a family-run business and I’m part of the family in question? I toss my pen down and lean back in the chair, tension stiffening my body. Pushing away from the desk, I stand and walk to the window, staring out at the sky, lightning ripping down the path of darkness, seeing another storm brewing. My mind travels to where it has been many times the past few hours: Emily. Then my brother. Then Emily again.

A knock sounds on my door. “Come in.” I turn to find Jessica in the doorway.

“Can I look at some of those contracts for you?” she asks. “I am a paralegal¸ you know. And you actually pay me to help you with your workload.”

“I’m good,” I tell her. “Go home.”

“You go home.”

“Find me one and maybe I’ll be more eager.”

She narrows her stare on me. “Something happened.”

“Something always happens,” I say, dismissing her dig for information. “Go home.”

“I mean with the apartment and your father. That’s why you’re pushing me to find you a new place.”

“Just get me the hell out of there, Jessica.”

“I tried to get you to look at one today and we lost it. You can’t delay with a hot property.”

My cell phone rings and I fish it from my pocket, confirming it’s Seth with an update on Boulder, and eyeing Jessica, who holds up her hands. “I’m going. I’ll shut the door behind me.”

I give her my back and answer the call. “Talk to me.”

The door shuts behind me as Seth says, “I’m going to need to stay a few days.”

“What the hell does that mean? I thought you had the ammunition to control things down there, namely the CEO of that division.”

“Yes. Riker.” There’s disdain in his voice. “He claims Nina found out he’s gay and threatened to go public.”

I scrub a hand over my jaw. “Fuck. That’s possible.”

“He was lying and I went to see Nina and her place is packed up. I called accounting and her check is to be hand delivered to your father. So wherever she is, he knows. You were right about not underestimating your father.”

“What do you propose?”

“For starters, I fly in a guy I know and the two of us wire the warehouse and Riker’s house. And I get a few guys in the warehouse on our payroll. Approve those things and I’ll get you control over this operation.”

“I don’t see how I have a choice, but we need a backup plan with the rest of the board members.” I end the call and stuff my phone in my pocket, looking skyward and asking myself why I’m here. Really? Why is this important to me? Derek would throw me under a bus in a heartbeat. If I open my mother’s eyes and she doesn’t walk away, then it’s on her. Fuck. This isn’t just about jail with a cartel in play anymore. It’s about life and death. I can’t leave. Besides, truthfully, the challenge of cutting through all this crap and making us great is one I revel in.

Shoving the contracts into my briefcase, I hook the strap over my chest and shoulder, when a knock sounds on the door. Why is she still here? “Come in, Jessica.”

The door opens and I freeze at the sight of Emily. “I need to talk to you,” she says, and before I can object she’s inside and shutting the door.

“Are you insane?” I demand, rounding the desk and stalking toward her.

“You’re angry,” she says as I stop in front of her. “I should have called or texted you after you saw me in the restaurant. Derek showed up out of the blue and just sat down. That wasn’t what it looked like.”

“I’m not angry at you,” I say, fighting the damnable urge to touch her. “And that was exactly what it looked like and it was a reality check for me. You were right. We can’t happen. My brother clearly knows, or suspects, something between us and he will ruin you to ruin me.”

“I can handle myself.”

“You already did. You shut me down when I was too selfish to know it had to be done. Don’t come into my office at this hour. It gets us attention we don’t need. And don’t come to me at all if you don’t have to.”