Page 84 of No Greater Oblivion

“I pay the mortgage on this house. Why are you here?”

“Guys,” Lyss pleads gently. “Can we not?”

“This doesn’t involve you.” Rian goes on, “I bought you out of Li’s shipping company and you’re selling your shares in the LLC to Antonov.”

Dahlia perks up. “Wait, you did?”

“Last year,” Rian confirms before returning his attention to me. “Which means you’re getting out of this intact. I’m the one who has shit to worry about.”

“My shares haven’t been sold yet and until they are, this is very much my problem. Especially since she’s involved,” I point toward Dahlia without breaking eye contact. “What do you think is going to happen when Li figures out she played a role in all this?”

“Nothing, because I’m going to protect her.”

“You expect me to entrust the life and safety of the woman I love to the idiot who didn’t realize his best friend of nearly thirty years was fucking him over? Have you lost your mind?”

Rian takes a step forward, his gaze darkening. I’m ready to meet him blow for blow when something races toward us, the movement catching in my peripheral. The object hits Rian in the arm first and I reach out to catch it in time.

“A measuring tape?”

Dahlia says, “Since the two of you decided to have a dick measuring contest in my kitchen, I figured you might need one. And for the record, only I know whose is bigger.”

Lyss picks up her plate and orange juice and makes for a hasty exit. “This is getting awkward.”

Rian sits at the seat Lyss once occupied. “Should she know all this?”

“Lyss can be trusted,” I say. “She’s one of very few people who can be.”

Dahlia looks at me and the corner of her mouth lifts just barely. The expression, though subtle, sends a bolt of realization through me.

I can’t remember the last time I made her smile.

“Li’s leaving on business in a few days to handle a last-minute shipment to California. He left me in charge of the investor’s meeting on Friday.” His voice is hoarse when he speaks. I don’t miss the tremor in his hand when he drags it down the length of his face. Noticing as much, Dahlia leans over and gently caresses the side of his neck. The gesture sets my blood on fire.

How familiar, how comforting. Almost as if she really…

I can’t stand to finish the thought.

“He’s planning on consolidating the shipping company and his corporate business before expanding later this year. He’s going to open up more locations like The Empress across the country and in China to help make the narcotics trafficking easier.” He explains. “We may be some of the primary shareholders but he has other investors, smaller ones, looking to make larger contributions once the merger goes through.”

I turn off the stove and take a moment to collect my thoughts. “What do you need from me?”

“To hold off on selling your shares to Antonov. God knows I don’t need my mother’s son causing me anymore headaches.”

“Your family affairs are none of my business but I spoke to him last night. He’s been suspicious of Li for weeks now.”

Dahlia’s head snaps around. “What?”

“I hadn’t originally intended on selling my shares. When he heard I was back in the city, he approached me and made an offer. I didn’t know his motives at first but apparently, he got involved to protect you.”

Rian’s eyes narrow. “Did he now?”

“Something to do with keeping your mother happy.”

In a soft voice, Dahlia interjects. “It sounds like something Sasha would do. You guys have your differences but he’d never do anything to hurt Orla.”

She moves her hand to touch his cheek and he pulls away. The movement isn’t harsh but the way Dahlia startles and shrinks away from him is practically scathing.

“If we can get everyone on board, we can push through the merger and vote Li out in one night.” Rian continues, “We’d have to move quickly and be convincing. Some of Li’s investors have been with him since before his father died. It’d be hard to get them to turn against him.”