Page 95
Dec:
I thought you should know that we just picked up Shilo from the hospital…
There’s more to the message, but I don’t bother reading it. Fear drives me as I take off for the front door, my movements frantic. Why the fuck was he in the hospital? What happened?
“Ryann, wait for me!” Olivia’s heels clack against the marble as she follows close behind. We’re nearly to the foyer when my father steps out of the drawing room like a villain in a bad thriller.
“Where have you been? We’ve got board vacancies to discuss.”
“We’re leaving,” I snap, yanking Olivia’s coat from the hook before grabbing my own. “Paige’s brother was hurt. I need to make sure he’s okay.”
“I fail to see what that has to do with you.” Ronin steps closer, his full height matching mine as his lips curl in disbelief. “You’ve got responsibilities, boy, or did I make a mistake entrusting this company to you?”
Rage ignites in me, burning white-hot. “There are more important things than the company. Family might not matter to you, but I won’t make that same mistake. Declan needs me.”
He scoffs, sneering harshly. “Don’t insult my intelligence. We both know it’s not your brother you’re worried about.”
Blinking, I take a step back, briefly stunned into silence.
“I have cameras everywhere,” he continues. “Especially in my office. Don’t think I didn’t see why you rushed off on Christmas Eve.”
My chest tightens, fury warring with disbelief. The thought of him seeing Shilo that way, witnessing something so private, so ours, makes my blood boil. Beside me, Olivia glances between us, her face pale.
Ronin moves closer, a threatening gleam in his eye. “Take one step out that door, and you can kiss your career goodbye. That boy, too. I’ll make sure neither of you works in the tech industry again.”
Swallowing hard, I clench my fists. “You don’t have that kind of pull.”
His cruel smile twists deep. “Don’t I? With that video, the boy would be lucky to get a job anywhere on the West Coast again.”
My vision goes red, and I pull back my arm, ready to land a punch. Before I can make contact, Olivia catches my wrist, holding firm.
“Then they’ll both work for me,” she interjects, meeting my father’s glare with one of her own.
He laughs darkly. “Did you forget we have a business arrangement, little girl? CalTek owns you.”
“Not yet, you don’t.” Olivia adjusts her coat coolly before tugging me toward the door. “The merger isn’t official until Spring, and Sentinel Solutions doesn’t tolerate blackmail. I’m sure my board of trustees will be very interested in your less-than-ethical business practices.”
Ronin sputters, his face trembling with rage, but I smirk as the front door closes behind us, the sight far more satisfying than it should be.
“Technically, I still own the rights to AVA,” Olivia hisses, stomping toward my car. “And I’ll be damned if I let it fall into his hands.”
Before she can reach the passenger door, I pull her into a crushing hug, feeling the weight lift off my shoulders. “If I were straight, I’d kiss you for that.”
She tosses her head back to laugh. “If I liked men, I’d let you.”
We both grin as we slide into the car, but the moment fades when I pull out my phone to finish reading my brother’s message. With every word, my blood runs colder.
Shifting into gear, I tear out of my father’s driveway, racing across the city toward Declan’s condo as fast as my wheels can take me.
Shilo
“Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you?! A house party?”
My sister’s angry voice makes me wince, too loud for my pounding head and aching neck. I squint at her from the hospital bed, my face feeling like someone took a sledgehammer to it. Across the room, Declan stands stiffly in his suit, shifting uncomfortably.
“I thought you were smarter than this, Shilo,” Paige hisses, hands on her hips. If I could glare, I would, but my bruised eyes hurt too much. Also, I can’t breathe through my nose, and I have a concussion, which sucks.
“What did I do wrong? Those homophobic assholes started it, not me.” Luckily, my nose has been numb since the doctor reset the bone, but there’s packing inside my nostrils to help the fracture heal.
