Page 115 of Nothing to Win

“Gianna, I can’t believe you would do this to us,” her father said.“We’ve been asked to leave.You have ruined this family’s chance of making a valuable acquisition.”

“Maybe Gault doesn’t need my counsel after all,” Tripp said, leaning over to take another chocolate.

“Tripp Breckenridge,” Conway said.“I had a lot of respect for your family before I found out how closely allied you were with Spurn.”

A lot of respect for the Breckenridges, known for their generosity and charity.Funny then that he didn’t value her charitable efforts.Guess it wasn’t his money the Breckenridges spent, so what did he care?Influence was what he cared about and would be the reason for the semi sucking up.

“The Breckenridges have always been close to the Spurns,” Tripp said.“Brogan’s one of the best men I’ve ever met.”

“Perhaps you should broaden your horizons,” her father said, landing his glare on Brogan.

Bram was already one step ahead on the evil eyes.

“Why are you focusing on him?”she asked.“Because you believe a woman can’t make her own choices unless she’s duped or coerced?News flash, that’s a con Mom’s been pulling on both of you for years.I chose to be here.I want to be here!”

“That’s not a choice you get to make,” Conway said.“Get your things, you’re coming home with us.”

“I’m—”

“Like hell,” Brogan said before she could finish a sentence.“Gia goes where she chooses to go.You can ask her to leave with you and if that’s her decision, there’s not a person in this room who will stop her.But if she chooses to stay with us, I don’t care if I have to hire a damn army to protect her, she will make her own choices.”

Terrified by the prospect of starting a war between their families, her guilt was a little overshadowed by the flattery of Brogan’s vehemence.

Slithering off the bed, she went to stand by her guy.“I guess this is it,” she said, looking at him, then at her family.“This is what I expected when they found out we were together in the first place.We got a break because of this Gault thing, now that it’s gone away, we’re getting to the truth.No varnish, no games.”

“We would never support this relationship,” her father said.“You must’ve known that.It wouldn’t have been kept secret for so long if you were proud of it.”

Linking her fingers through Brogan’s she held him tight.“I’m proud of him, prouder than I’ve ever been of any member of my blood family.”

“You are my responsibility, Gianna Sear,” her father said.“As long as you bear that name, you will follow this family’s rules.My rules.”

“We’re going to ruin you,” Bram said to Brogan.“Just like we promised if you went near her again.After what you did tonight, you’ll be a laughingstock.”

“A laughingstock?”Julius said, closing in on Brogan’s other side.“I’d say our prospects for winning contracts skyrocketed tonight.If it comes to a choice between siding with you or Brogan, I’d place my life savings on the industry standing in solidarity with him.”

“The man who sullies and steals the daughters of good men?”Conway said.“I wouldn’t count on that.”

“He didn’t sully or steal me,” she said.“Goddamnit, Daddy—”

“Do not use language like that with me,” he scolded.“Enough of your juvenile idiocy.You are coming with us.”

“Dad—”

“Do you want to ruin him?”her father demanded.“To be the reason for his demise?”

Her mouth opened, but she didn’t speak.Brogan’s demise?No, she didn’t want to be the cause of that, and she didn’t want to be the cause of her family’s demise either.The families had never liked each other, but it had never been all out war.

Her father knew how to hold a grudge, though not half as well as her brother.The company would collapse if they turned all their resources to destroying Spurn Global.Brogan had better things to do with his time than waste resources fending off constant petty attacks.

She breathed out, coming to terms with the truth she’d known since day one.“No,” she murmured.“I don’t want to be the cause of any of this.”

Bad feeling.Hatred.Anger.It was all because of her.The grief and torment were all her fault.

“Irish,” Brogan said.

Letting go of his hand, she faced him.“You know what you mean to me,” she whispered, curling a hand around the back of his neck to pull his forehead down to hers.“How I feel about you.”

“Baby, don’t you even think about—”