a's

d by Vincent, smaller portions held by Victor Smith and Vincent's late foster father. Now that Vinc

athan were heavily involved as well-Vincent's wife and stepson from Crescent Moon Pa

u properly," Harrison said. "He wanted to reac

Syl

caught the flicker. "Mrs. Smith is.

ion: she

and glass set among manicured lawns and ancient trees whose canopy swallow

y door. "Welcome

at the towering facade, I couldn't help thinking-maybe

-

d my elbow at

es, silver-streaked hair. Something familiar in t

s hand. "A

ear warning. "I wanted to catch you before you went inside. Sylvia and Nathan have been running things here f

ything. You have every legal right to be he

are you helping me?

in every way that mattered. An

lt my lips twitch. "Than

-

ors, oil paintings worth more than most houses-and stopped at a set of h

t symmetry. Near the windows stood Sylvia-blonde hair swept into an elegant updo, diamonds at her throat an

ons and withdrew. The silenc

ylvia asked, though sh

es

me now. No need

nd this didn't feel

id, settling across from me. "We

ns and partnerships cannot be entrusted to someone with no experience in our world. We're prepared to offer you one hundred milli

d ever imagined. But nowhere near

quishment of all shares in Smith family hold

e than generous given the circumstances." Her voice dripped with false sympathy. "But surely you understand-the Smith family cannot have

sound like

n across the tab

cument down.

renade. Sylvia's cup pau

bout legitimacy-it cares about blood. Vincent left a will, hired a lawyer,

k. "You may have the paperwork. But you don't ha

your decis

ack territories. Our relationships are delicate, built over decades. One wrong

can fight for wh

n this world for five minutes. Do you really

nnual revenue exceeds eight hundred million. You're offering me one hundred million-

iscuss this by law or by family rules-I'm willing. Bu

d son. Under the law, your inheritance rights come after mine. Are you really suggesti

sil

pression hardening into so

r," Nath

rds materialized from the shadows-massive, ston

ively calm. "I suggest you cooper

directly in front of me. "If you're u

t. Vincent left me ten billio

ice-cold. "Then we'll hav

able. The other forced me into the chair, pinning my shoulders. I stru

ows, her back to me. Like she

the document and

to h

he paper. The guard's grip was ironclad. They we

awed at

't do this! Th

fted from the window, bored.

s. Nathan was seconds away f

lor doors ex

ood splintering, hinges s

d by half a dozen others in dark tactical gear.

ck from a face carved from granite. Sharp jawline. High cheekbones. And eyes... God, his eyes. Dark gray, almost black

nstantly, stumbling back

n wen

ing on me. Something flickered in his eye

t, I couldn

a low, lethal growl that

's M