point o

f his jaw. "I have a suggestion. Once he had no hesitatio

e tinged with wariness. I'm n

d down into my seat until Eric releas

ttle you

ave me a categorical no. "Or accept

the icy chill feathering

is at risk. Your bequeathed half-share is projected in

dney and assume directorship, will disa

agree, Michael intended for h

cumulated immense wea

ment of that size to slip through

Sydney. It wasn't a questi

ily, pausing as the waiter removed their plates and

ential for the future of the

d be only

Ye

er of persuasion. Something he was particularly noted for in the business

an attempt to achieve in death what he hadn't be

vining the wariness evident, the faint c

e are transferred into your bank

ght of my liability to the loan shark was se

ank

outstanding bills are paid, any temporary r

ain course. I didn't speak u

s. An instinctive wariness began t

s mortgage-debt, and cover

a catch. A pri

re? Too few, I acknowledged sil

ask. In ret

his voice held an edge of mock

blue fire. "A

sed, and at that mome

.what? I

wi

er of speech, and I felt the

I began shakily, it'

y eyes dilated and became dark, my slightly p

d at last. The concept was ludi

Eric assured

heart-wrenching cry fro

ild

e to get it, and even then

rate are signed in trust to the issue of ch

ulties, and ultimately cause the conglomer

t happen if you and I wed each other and the childre

tie up a few loose ends and keep everything in

hat bot

ing a "loose end"

slowly. Aiming to be cool, calm, and collected proved

ent marriage? I was on a ro

lifted a shoulder in a negligible shrug. "An enviable lifestyle. Children, ev

till, like a predat

r offer to transfer funds. My voice sh

Y

barely restrained the urge to

anger as they collided with his, and it took all

ought and

at my summation, and his gray eye

e, and I battled against the

help tha

Eric warned and dangerous sill

uth? Yet the fact

t me to me

eature on the same

in spirit and attitude to become the fiercely in

d almost out, could still

in his chair. "Th

cho

e Devil...or t

no co

ice stiff with latent anger. When do

n be arranged, by

t s

nt paperwork involved in your d

o mercenary, but sh

ur bank tomorrow. The balance is authorized immediately

elf bitterly, with no sentiment

chin lifted a little and my eye

staurant. It was my pride and joy

restaurant as an investment, he allowed equably.

trouble regulat

cus

u h

and she barely resisted the temptation to tell