Page 8 of His Prize

She took Brianna’s arm. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Let go of me!”

I watched as Ash kept her cool while Brianna slung around every insult and every threat in the book. My eyes slowly gravitated toward Bruno, who couldn't quite bring himself to look at me. I wouldn’t punish him, though. I understood it. Until my uncle went away for the charges that were rattled off in court today, no one would know who to follow. I mean, all these people had to go on were stories my uncle shoveled into their ears day in and day out. I could only imagine what they thought of me.

Still, it didn’t negate the fact that I had a job to do.

A job I was apparently born to do.

I turned back toward my uncle’s desk as his study door closed. I walked around and sat in the oversized leather seat and leaned back. I heaved a heavy sigh. I let my eyes fall closed for a few seconds. And as I breathed in another lungful of the scented memories around me, my eyes fell back open.

I’ll make you proud, Dad.

I knew that in order to gain the allegiance of this empire my uncle had built, I’d have to do some drastic things. Things I probably wouldn’t enjoy, just so they saw me as one of their own. I didn’t know where to start, though. I started pulling out drawers and clocking the sheer amount of paper files my uncle kept, and I quickly realized what was going on.

My uncle always avoided digital trails because he never used digital items.

“Good God,” I murmured.

A knock came at the study door, and the hairs on the nape of my neck stood on end.

“Who is it?” I called out.

“Ash, ma’am. May I come in?”

I stood. “Come in.”

The door opened, and the female bodyguard slipped back into my office. Well, my uncle’s office. And I had to admit, part of me was worried about moving things back to Israel’s place—or any place, for that matter—until he was behind bars for good. Still, that meant coming here every day to get work done, and I wasn’t sure I could weather Brianna and my aunt regularly until my uncle saw the other side of a jail cell.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

Ash clasped her hands behind her back. “I just wanted to say that it’s very nice to see a woman in power.”

I nodded. “I appreciate that, thank you.”

“And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you in this position instead of giving it back over to Pava.”

I paused. “You don’t like my uncle.”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

“Mind if I ask why?”

“You can ask anything you want. You’re the Donne.”

I nodded. “Okay. Why don’t you like my uncle?”

“Because he’s erratic, hard to read, and quick to pull the trigger. I’ve only been in his employ for a few months now, but I’ve listened to him murmur regrets more than accomplishments at this point. He’s become volatile, and this family needs someone who will guide the business in a different path. And I think it’s going to take a woman to see that.”

“I appreciate your vote of support.”

“Is there anything else you need of me, ma’am?”

I held up my hand. “Call me Bonnie.”

She blinked. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “Yes. I’m sure. It’s very clear to me that I’m going to have to pull teeth around here to get people to listen to me.”

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