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“Assholes,” she muttered before picking up the blankets and pillows and tossing them back on the bed.
Both men were so obviously holding back their amusement that she could have shot them both.
Now she had to do some serious rethinking about a man she completely hated.
She blamed John for that. It was going to be all his fault until hell froze over.
As she stomped over to the coffeepot, a firm knock sounded on the door. She wanted to groan at the thought of yet more surprises coming her way.
Rising quickly to his feet, Travis took his coffee cup and retreated to the connecting room as John moved to the door and opened it carefully.
“Mr. Vincent.” Myron stood on the other side of the panel. “A moment of your time, if I may?”
John stepped back as Myron moved past him, his gaze raking over the room before taking in the state of the blankets. Bailey glanced at them, let her lips twitch, then turned back to Myron. It looked as though they had been playing in the bed. Well, actually, they had been.
“How can I help you, Myron?” John closed the door behind him and moved to the wet bar at the side. “A drink?”
“No thank you,” Myron said politely as he stepped over to the seating area. “Could we sit, please?”
Moving to Bailey, John settled a hand at her back as he led her to the love seat across from the chair Myron had taken.
“You’re doing well?” Myron asked her as she and John sat down.
“I’m better.” She nodded, keeping her expression calm.
“Good. Good.” He rubbed his hands together as he leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees. “I’d first like to extend Warbucks’s apology for the attack. We’re not exactly certain who ordered it, but we’re tracking the money sent to Rodriquez’s account. We should have answers soon.”
“I’m tracking the information as well,” John informed him. “I have my own sources.”
Myron nodded. “I expected as much. Warbucks has asked that you allow him the pleasure of taking care of this for you, though. He has, over the years, taken extreme measures to protect Bailey from any danger. It disturbs him greatly to believe that one of our own, more or less, would strike out at her for any reason. This society polices itself when possible. Warbucks will police this issue.”
Bailey was aware of John staring back at Myron for long, tense moments before replying. “If he can produce results,” John finally said, shrugging. “If he doesn’t, then I’ll take care of it myself.”
“Good enough.” Myron sat back in his chai
r and stared at them for long, silent moments before continuing. “I always knew I liked you for a reason, Bailey,” he finally stated. “Over the years you’ve surprised me more than once with the operations you’ve covered for Warbucks. You knew he was part of your extended family. How?”
Her brow arched. “Really, Myron, it wasn’t that hard. The thefts were connected too many times and in too many ways back home. There was no mistaking it, if you grew up surrounded by certain men and their idiosyncrasies.”
“Yet you haven’t identified him,” Myron stated.
“I tried not to get too involved,” she answered. “I knew who I suspected, just as I knew how dangerous he could be. If he wanted me to know who he was, he would have told me.”
Myron nodded slowly. “Yes, you were always very cautious as a child as well. Curious, inquisitive. But cautious. That very much suits your personality.”
He seemed subdued, Bailey thought. She had never seen him this quiet or hesitant in anything.
“Warbucks has built his persona carefully,” Myron went on. “He built it by ensuring that only one person knew who he was. It was the only way to be certain. That person is myself. Even Raymond has no idea of his identity.”
John shifted beside her. “That can’t continue, Myron.” He voiced the warning softly. “Warbucks’s deals are growing. He’s not going to get the price he’s demanding for his acquisitions without a level of trust. The only way to succeed in that would be in using you as a broker rather than hiring it out.”
Myron nodded. “I’m not as young as I once was,” he breathed out regretfully. “That job is for a younger man. As I expressed to Warbucks, what we need is our own personal broker. A man we can trust to hold our secrets, and one whom our clients will trust to verify the products and ensure their legitimacy.” He looked between Bailey and John. “If this is a position you’d be interested in, then Warbucks will approve your contract for the job and meet with you to verify the acquisitions and discuss the terms.”
Bailey barely managed to hold back the rush of adrenaline that surged through her. This was the break they had been waiting for. This was what they had worked toward. So many years, and so many deaths, and the end was now within reach.
“Terms can be discussed.” John finally nodded thoughtfully, cautiously. “That would require a great amount of trust from both parties, Myron. As well as a much larger cut. By associating as a retainer of sorts, I’d have to be extremely careful to ensure other interests weren’t affected, and if they were, I’d be forced to drop those clients. That could cost me.”
Myron grinned at the information. “You’re a superior businessman,” he commended him. “That’s pretty much what Warbucks expected from you. He’s preparing his offer. The two of you can discuss terms and percentages after you’ve had a chance to inspect the acquisitions for auction.”
