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Lauren: I was trying to save her. That’s all I want.
Li Na: Next time you cross me, it’s the last time. You’ve been warned.
Lauren stared at the phone miserably, waiting, but there was nothing further.
“I’m going to call Bethany,” she said when it was clear that Li Na had ended her rant. “We need to get started on the rest of those documents.”
I squeezed her shoulder. “I think you should.”
“I’ll be back.” She grabbed her phone, going outside to talk to her attorney in private.
I texted my assistant, Ryan, to coordinate with Lauren’s assistant, Stephanie. We needed to set up a meeting with Lauren’s board for tomorrow—if Li Na got wind that Paragon’s overseas partners were getting cold feet, our trouble would only grow. There wasn’t a lot I could do to help Lauren right now, so taking any sort of action to protect her would feel good.
I turned to Levi. He was staring out the window at Lauren. “I’m seriously pissed at you.”
“I fucked up today,” he admitted. “But it’s not really any of your business.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. Lauren could have died back there. Because not only did you fail to get her away from those guards, you shot up the goddamned car she was in!”
Levi’s eyes glittered dangerously. “You know, for a silent partner, you really never seem to shut the fuck up.”
I took a step toward him, itching for a fight. “Maybe that’s because you’re so fucking dumb, you couldn’t understand me the first time—I have to keep repeating myself!”
“You should stick to what you know: your special hybrid Porsche, your infinity pool, and your ergonomically correct standing desk.” He laughed, taunting me. “Christ, you can’t even keep Lauren in line!”
I grabbed his shirt and pushed him against the wall. “Shut your mouth.”
“There he is.” Levi grinned at me, perfectly at ease underneath my death grip. “That’s the Gabe I know and love. The one I remember, who liked to rip people apart for sport. Dad never saw it, but I did.”
I shoved him one last time and then stepped back. “Then you should have let me stay in Boston. I could have been an asset to your team.”
Levi looked at me smugly. “You seem happy playing the pretty-boy CEO. Maybe Dad was right—maybe you are too good for the rest of us.”
“Fuck you.” I gave him one last murderous look as I stormed out of the kitchen and headed into the backyard, toward the pool. I had to get away from him before I gave in to my instincts and broke his nose…again.
Apparently, Levi hadn’t learned his lesson.
Maybe I hadn’t either.
I took several deep breaths, trying to calm myself. This had been one of the shittiest days on record, and no one pushed my buttons like Levi. I would love to fight him right now—hell, I’d love to fight anyone right now—but it wouldn’t help. I had to keep it together, to keep Lauren safe and get Hannah back.
I looked up and saw Lauren stalking toward me past the helipad, her expression sour.
“Did you talk to Bethany?”
“Yes—she’s going to dive in and keep drafting tonight. What’s the matter with you?”
“Levi’s driving me to drink.”
“Oh.”
She went quiet for a minute, probably thinking I shouldn’t complain—that I was lucky my brother was here, unlike Hannah.
I sighed. “It’s just some longstanding family stuff. Plus the fact that he almost got you killed today.”
“Gabe, it wasn’t his fault.” She sounded weary. “And as for the family stuff—I’m listening.”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about—especially after the day you’ve had.”
