Page 17 of Twisted Knight

Motherfucker.

They’re all wondering who Holden Knight really is. Who he’s going to reel in, chew up, and then spit out.

“So it’s us, then?” I ask.

The sharpening of his smile tells me he knows exactly what I’m referring to. A private joke that I don’t find to be funny at all. His lack of a response is an answer in itself.

Oh. Fuck. It is.

Rhett moves in my periphery, and I whirl on him. “You sold the company?”

“Some of the company. Think of it more like a partnership. We’ll be better off with a new—”

“Are you out of your mind?” I shriek.

“If the two of you want to have a sibling spat, the door’s right there. Please do it outside,” Holden says drolly, only fueling my rage.

“I. Want. Answers.”

Holden’s unamused sigh weighs down the room. His bored expression complements it. “It’s called a business deal. Two sides meet. Two sides negotiate. Two sides agree.” The lift of his eyebrows is condescending at best. “Would you like to sit quietly and watch? You might just learn something.”

“Oh, fuck you,” I grit out.

He smirks. “Go on.”

Every part of my body feels like a coil about to snap. “If you’d think for a single goddamn second that you have any valid business dealings with TinSpirits, then you’d be mistaken.”

Rhett’s chair squeaks as he shifts, but my stare doesn’t waver as Holden plants both hands on the conference room table, the veins in his forearms flexing. A flicker of that smirk ghosts over his lips. “You’re a bit late for that, Rowan. That negotiation part I just told you about? That’s been completed. You’re just in time to watch the ink dry on the letter of intent.” His eyes twinkle with smugness. “I think the word you’re looking for is ‘congratulations.’ You’re looking at the soon-to-be majority owner of TinSpirits.”

This isn’t real.

Can’t be.

There’s no way this could be happening.

I look over to Rhett, who’s looking down at the pen in his hands.

Oh. My. God.

He did this.

That son of a bitch did this.

“You’re so excited you’re speechless. I’m flattered,” Holden says, pulling my scrambled thoughts back to him and his arrogant smirk.

“If you think I’m giving up my family business without a fight, you’re crazy.”

The muscle in his jaw pulses as he motions to the papers on the table. It’s the only hint of any reaction that he gives. “It doesn’t exactly look like you have a say in the matter.” He glances at the men around the room and smiles before looking back at me. “Does it, now?”

His words are like acid churning in my gut. How did I not see him for what he was?

“I was right. You are a prick.”

“Never claimed to be any different, but I don’t think that has any bearing on my purchase.” He shrugs. “If I had to guess by your reaction, I’d say you’re against the deal.”

“There isn’t going to be a deal.”

“Gentlemen? She thinks what she has to say matters.” He crosses his arms and doesn’t back down from the challenge in my stare. “It doesn’t.”