Page 172 of Three Reckless Words

My heart plunges so low in my chest I think it might drop through the floor. Dad has me over a barrel and I hate it with every fiber of my soul.

But what I hate even more?

The horrible reality that this endless family shitstorm has trapped me yet again—and now it’s trapped Archer too.

22

MAD AS HORNETS (ARCHER)

The next few days blur by in a hell that feels like a time-robbing fever dream.

Conference calls and lawyers and so much legal horseshit I hardly know how I’m wading my way through it without drowning. I promised Dexter and Patton I’d take the reins, so everything goes through me personally.

King Carroll Emberly III has plenty of lawyers at his disposal, which comes as no surprise. Although he’s loaded and friends with damn near every high-powered attorney in the state, he doesn’t have the financial war chest we do.

And I’m ready to throw it open.

This is our only advantage and I’m not about to waste it.

“The last thing you want is a protracted court battle. We’ll do what we can to prevent it from getting that far,” Brian Hennessy, my lead attorney, says patiently.

“I’m aware.”

“Right now, we need to buy you time. Time means a better defense to pushback. We’ll work on appeals to stall the data discovery first.”

“Appeals.” I snort. “Will even one succeed?”

He sighs, and I know his answer before he gives it. “Frankly, Mr. Rory, I wouldn’t hold out for any miracles. The state AG’s office is harder to thwart than any competitor or basic civil suit with a customer.”

“If we can’t buy time, you’d want to settle out of court?”

“Better that than the negative press, I’m sure you’ll agree. If it goes to court, I don’t like our chances.”

My fist clenches.

The whole thing is utter bullshit.

We’re hardly the monopoly on the luxury rental market like the antitrust suit claims.

Still, if we have any time left at all, I want to attack this on more than just the legal front.

“I need dirt on Emberly,” I growl. “Every skeleton in his fucking closet, find it and pull it out. Got it?”

“Yes, sir, that’s your prerogative. There’s no rule saying you can’t do a little off-record data discovery yourself or enlist a few private investigators to help. Just please make sure you keep your nose clean and ensure they’re fully licensed with solid reputations.”

“I’ll have them report to you. The second they turn up anything, you call me.”

“But—”

I end the call and lean back in my chair, rubbing my face. Hennessy doesn’t like dealing in anything that isn’t a document, but he knows better than to fight me on it.

Three days of turning over our own records, crafting every single legal defense we have, and I’m exhausted.

When I close my eyes, I see grim-faced judges and lawyers with assassin’s eyes in my future.

This could fucking kill me, and my brothers too.

Everything we’ve built…

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