I nod.
“He must’ve loved what he saw in you.” She squeezes my shoulder, a surprising gesture from a woman who seems sophysically reserved. “Do you think Josh is foolish? Or impulsive? A man who doesn’t understand what’s important?”
“No, of course not. He’s the most brilliant man I know.”
She gives me an angelic smile. “Then perhaps you should trust his judgment.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Josh
“You know whatever Roland can give you, I can too.”
I stop on my way to board the jet back home.Harvey. Did he follow me all the way from L.A.?
I tilt my head and look at the man who used to slip candy bars into my hands when I was little. I liked him—until the truth about Mom’s background blew up in our faces. Afterward, I couldn’t trust him or his motives, especially after learning that he and my mom had been engaged in a lifelong battle for supremacy and control over the family empire and they didn’t care whose blood they needed to spill along the way.
He isn’t an exact copy of Vincent, not the way Roland is, but he’s a solid man with broad shoulders, hard muscle encased in a bespoke suit. His hands have thick fingers and big, bony knuckles that say he doesn’t need a gun or a knife to fuck you up.
I give him an icy stare. “Adding stalking to your repertoire now?”
His smile is friendly and overly white. “I was in the neighborhood.”
I grunt and resume walking toward the tarmac. “Here? At the airport?”
“Why not? It’s a nice area—great weather, by the way. And the air is so much cleaner. Less traffic.”
“Is Vincent refusing to see you?”
The muscle in Harvey’s cheek twitches, but a practiced smile soon replaces it. “Dad’s a very busy man. You know how it is. And Roland’s all talk. Nothing to back it up. Too young, and he hasn’t had time to establish himself within the industry, if you know what I mean.”
“Be that as it may, he seems pretty close to Vincent.”
Harvey makes a big deal out of appearing to contemplate that, then finally lets out a sigh. “My father is sentimental. He’s just thrilled to have his youngest child back from the dead, you know? Back in his life. But how long will it last once he realizes that I’m the better choice? The one with the experience and all?”
A wistfulness fleets over Harvey’s face, but I don’t buy it. The fucker’s incapable of feeling something as human as familial disappointment.
“The needs of the business will change his mind. After all, he made it clear only the strongest shall inherit the earth.”
“That was the meek, not the strongest.”
Harvey laughs like I just made a joke. “Can’t be meek in this business. Not if you want to be on top.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. That’s my ride.” I tilt my chin at the waiting jet.
The humor vanishes from his face. “I’ll tell you something as a gesture of goodwill.”
Goodwill?“What, you want me indebted to you now?”
“This one’s a freebie. Because I want you to think about my abilities and be all impressed and shit.” He looks around theatrically, then puts a hand over his mouth. “Kenna Miller works for Zoe.”
Hmm. So Harvey isn’t entirely clueless. On the other hand, he doesn’t seem to know that she’s actually a double agent for Roland, which might’ve impressed me. Or maybe Harvey’s keeping that close to his chest.
“Zoe has something on Kenna, something that could land her in jail.”
“Like what?”
Harvey leans forward and lowers his voice. “Like murder.” He flashes his teeth in a sharklike grin. “Didn’t know that, did you?”
