Page 71 of The Contract

Something about this doesn’t sit right.

I can feel it.

I keep my gaze forward as I speak. “I want you to dig into Kingston.”

Marcus snorts. “I’m offended you think I haven’t been already. We both knew his interjection this late in the game spelled trouble.”

“How deep?” he asks casually, slipping his hands into his pockets.

“As deep as it takes,” I reply, my voice flat. “I don’t give a damn if you have to go back to the day he was born. I want to know everything—his history, his investments, his failures. Find out who he owes money to and who he was fucking in college.”

Marcus hums, considering. “You think he’s trying to sabotage the merger?”

“I know he is,” I say darkly, jaw tightening. “I just don’t know how yet.”

Because this isn’t just some arrogant prick trying to flex his influence.

This is strategic. Calculated.

A man like Adrian Kingston doesn’t insert himself into a billion-dollar deal at the last second without a reason.

He’s not here to observe.

He’s not here to help his dear old Uncle Calloway.

He’s working an angle.

I just don’t know what the hell it is yet.

Marcus exhales sharply. “I’ll get our best guys on it.”

“Good,” I say, my voice cold, clipped.

For the first time in a long time, I have a feeling I’m playing defense instead of offense.

And I don’t fucking like it.

I stretch my neck to each side, my eyes flicking back toward the main house.

Calloway isn’t a fool. He’s built an empire on knowing when to trust and when to question.

So why the hell is he entertaining this?

Does he actually trust Adrian?

Or is he using him?

Watching. Waiting. Testing me.

Or is Adrian bringing in another buyer who thinks they have more to offer than me?

If that’s the case, then I need to be careful. Because if Calloway thinks Adrian has a point, I have more than just a deal to lose.

I don’t break stride as I push open the door to the bungalow, stepping inside and scanning the open space automatically.

Elena isn’t in the living room.

But I hear soft movement from the guest room.

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