Page 19 of Salvaged Hearts

“I still think he should wait for the article to run before stepping down,” Emmaline pressed. She was a senior at the same university in Washington that my baby brother Maverick attended but held herself like she’d been sitting in on these meetings since infancy. Groomed to perfection by two generations of Harts. Her blood bought her seat, but her mind bought everyone’s focus.

It was our COO, Tiffany, who blew out a harsh breath with a counter. “I understand what you’re saying, Ms. Hart, but if we do it now, it looks like we’re ahead of the storm. Should we wait and do it after?—”

“They can use our hesitation as evidence of a bias and run additional articles about the company’s nepotistic nature shieldingan American princefrom criminal investigation.” Aside from The Titan, that was their favorite moniker for him.“The reporters will have documented speaking to me—along with several other staffers—today, which means delay or not, the clock is ticking.” Yet again, the entire board stared at me like I’d grown a second head, but Tiffany nodded solemnly. Yes, youself-important motherfuckers, I’ve been sitting in this room for two years, taking notes for Greyson.

“Protocol would dictate that security walk you out, Grey,” Reggie announced morosely as anger oozed from his pores, peppered brows dipped in the middle. Vivienne was watching with silent fury, although I wasn’t sure if it was in defense of or directed toward her nephew.

“That’s way overkill.”

“It doesn’t need to be a march to the gallows.”

“I thought Ms. Rhodes said it should look like we believe he’s innocent.”

The room exploded in a storm of protests, and I watched as they increased in outrage. How he could be such an ass and inspire such unwavering loyalty was beyond me. Clearing my throat, I offered, “I’ll walk him out through the evac route.”

Only, I wasn’t the only one with the thought, my eyes snapping to Ollie and then to Mike, our head of security, as they said the same thing.

Nodding, Greyson ground his teeth before saying, “I’ll grab my things.” As he prowled out of the room, he looked more like a man preparing for battle than one doing the walk of shame.

I’m notsure what I expected to find when I emerged from Greyson’s home office, but it was probably in the ballpark of him looking pissed while brooding on the back terrace with his phone in his hand. What I certainly hadn’t expected was a shirtless Greyson with his admittedly delicious ass in the sand, building an impressively tall, albeit crumbling, sandcastle with Mattie and Beau.

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen the man with his guard down, but it was unexpected, given his current circumstances. It also wasn’t the first time I’d appreciated all the hard lines of his honed body or that bright flash of his understated smile before remembering who exactly I was ogling. Kicking myself, I looked to my feet before glancing around to find Ollie jamming to One Republic’sI Ain’t Worriedwhere he worked the grill. They’d dismissed the staff for the day to clear the house for candid conversations. NDAs or not, the more people in the know, the more likely we were to have a leak.

The day had been long. Made longer when Max called and told me he needed me to plug the USB he was sending via courier into the Hart House network. Stacy would plant our talons in her company’s as well. Her loyalty to the Harts could end her career, while mine was protected despite my imminent departure.

Under Ollie’s authorization and Max’s signed nondisclosure agreement, we’d started digging and searching for holes. I’d watched the man take down corrupt senators because their sons were girlfriend-abusing shitbags. If anybody could get us answers for what we were up against, Max could.

Sidling up next to Ollie—who was, mercifully, fully clothed—I peered over his shoulder and grinned at the lobster tails on the grill. “Still impressed you know how to cook.”

He shrugged. “Always hated having people in my house. Learning was a given.”

“Fair. How’s he doing?” I asked, glancing out toward his brother.

Shaking his head, Ollie said, “I dunno. Didn’t say much on the ride home.”

“He’s in his head?”

“The depths of it, apparently.”

As if on cue, I watched Greyson bury himself in his thoughts, staring unseeingly down at the sand for a long beat before Mattie leaped at him, and his reflexes jerked him into action to catch her. Sometimes, I hated that my mind seemed hard-wired to defend the truth, no matter who benefited. Because the man on that beach was just an uncle. An uncle who would do anything to protect the kids now attacking him in a synchronized assault that knocked him backward into the sand. And through all our days spent enduring each other’s company, I couldn’t fathom him betraying them.

Captain lifted his black and gold head from where he watched them on the patio sectional before giving a low ‘woof’ from his chest. He leaped off the couch, stalking into the house a beat before the bell rang.

“I got it,” I assured Oliver with a hand on his shoulder before following our canine companion to the front door.

I opened it to a second courier with a slim package already outstretched. After thanking him and signing, I glanced at the box to see my name printed on the label withJorogumo Defenseon the sender’s side.Max. Peeling the box open, I tilted it to pour the contents into my palm, only to catch an old-school flip phone.

“What the fuck?” I muttered, turning it over in my fingers a beat before the thing rang. A chill coasted over my spine before I brought it to my ear.

“Who are you with?” Max’s authoritative baritone came through clear as a bell the instant the line clicked to life. Glancing over my shoulder, I checked to make sure the Harts were where I left them through the wall of windows overlooking the ocean.

“I’m alone.”

“I have good news and bad news.”

“Shoot,” I said, watching as Greyson dove into the ocean to escape his tiny assailants.

“Suit Daddy isn’t stealing from the company. Not as far as I can tell, and I’m kind of the shit.” Max snorted at his own joke, and I couldn’t help but smile.

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