Page 12 of These Reckless Hearts

I peek up to find Lance lifting his hands as if in surrender. “I wanted to talk to you two.Justyou two. I’m willing to overlook your transgressions regarding those half-wits Marissa and Cole. Perhaps I was too hasty in trying to marry you off when you’re so clearly enamored with your stepsister.”

Mr. Cummings glances at the two of us in disapproval, but he’s literally sweating bullets, so he has no room to judge. I tip the clutch a little more, trying not to draw attention to myself.

Stone scoffs. “You only say that now because Edward is dead.”

Mr. Cummings shifts in his seat and fans the sides of his suit open. Red streaks blotch his cheeks.

“I guess that’s one way to solve a problem.” Lance sighs. “I didn’t know Dakota had it in her.”

“I have a lot more than that,” I state, refusing to back down from this man’s scare tactics. He may hold all the cards in this boardroom, but he doesn’t out in the real world.

“Ahh, she speaks. I was wondering if you were going to let my son talk for you this whole time.”

I chuckle. He’s only attempting to get a rise out of me, but gaslighting won’t work.

“Why don’t we get this discussion over with.” Stone glares at Mr. Cummings. “My father’s presence must mean you’re not interested in moving your investments to Dakota and I who are—and always have been—the real team behind finding the treasure. Thank you for your consideration, but I have my answer.” Stone pushes his chair back, and attempts, once again, to flee the room with dignity.

“What’s interesting,” Lance starts, “is the information I found out about our thug friend and his connection to Dakota.” He pauses as if we’re either going to confirm or deny, which we don’t for obvious reasons. When we don’t bite, Lance leans over the table to lock gazes with me. “So, now I have a proposition for Dakota. I’ll leave your friend alone if you come work with my team. I know that together we can find the treasure.” He switches his attention toward Stone. “And I’ll no longer try to keep you two apart. I’ll wholeheartedly back your relationship. I’ll pay for your wedding, reinstate your family accounts, and give you everything that the union between you and Marissa entitled you to.”

My stomach churns. What does he meanreinstateStone’s accounts? I had no idea he’d pulled anything from Stone, but I can’t act as if this is news to me. I school my features into a dead stare as Lance capitulates, “The Jacobs and the Wilders can once again work together toward greatness.”

His bullshit makes me want to laugh. He talks as if we’ve been working together for years, and that he didn’t blackmail me into joining forces with him in the first place. He never wanted to pair up, he needs me, and he’s finally realized it. That’s what this is all about. He’s now comprehending that he knows nothing about the treasure, and we do.

I peek at Stone’s profile to see where his head is at and recognize the stubborn feathering of his jaw. No, there won’t be any partnerships today.

Lance tries again, shifting his eyes to me. The color is so like Stone’s but lacks the empathy andfeelingI’ve come to love in his. “I can make you a rich woman, Dakota. Someone who’s grown up like you needs what I have. You work with me and you’ll never have to worry about anything ever again.”

“Except my conscience.”

“What’s a conscience when there’s a treasure to be found?” His eyes brighten with intrigue, but it rings faulty to me. He’s excited by all the wrong things. He wants the treasure for self-serving reasons. It’s not about history or recovering something great for him, it’s about prestige and wealth. Looks like one member of the Jacobs family is exactly as I had them pegged in the first place.

“You know, Lucas is going to be okay.” Stone’s voice dips into dangerous territory, snapping me back to reality where the treasure isn’t the most important thing. There are far more heinous reasons why I can’t work with Lance. “I thought you’d want to know,” Stone all but growls.

Lance laughs. “I heard about that. You think that was me?”

“Oh, I know it wasn’t you.” Stone’s hands clench on his lap, and I once again try to get my phone out now that this is heating up. “You wouldn’t dare get blood on your hands, but the people you hired were only doing what you ordered.” Stone turns toward Mr. Cummings. “He’s ruthless, and by the state of you, I’m guessing he has something over you, too. Get as far away as you can, Cummings.”

I flick my gaze up and find the man pale as fuck and looking as if he could pass out at any moment. I can’t believe this is the guy we were trying to get an investment from. He’s so meek.

“I’ll destroy you,” Lance snaps. “Do you really think you can survive without me? You don’t have any money. I’ll place barriers at your every turn. The only reason you’re anybody is because of your last name—myname.”

“No, Dad,” Stone sneers before I can speak up for him myself. “The only reason why I’m anything is because of myrealfamily. Consider this our answer: Fuck off.”

Stone gets to his feet, and using his response as a distraction, I pull my phone out and press my contacts icon. Cole just happens to be my first contact by alphabetical order, so I press his name and then the Call button before slipping it back into my clutch. I hope if anything happens, he’ll be able to hear it and call for help.

“You’ll be ruined,” Lance taunts.

Stone reaches out for my hand and helps me to my feet. He keeps me on the opposite side of his father while we stroll toward the door, leaving Cummings behind. I almost feelbad for him. Whatever shady shit Lance is involved in must be big to have people sweating bullets while they sit at the same table as him.

“Son, turn around.”

“We’re leaving,” Stone calls out. His firm voice steels my shoulders. We’re feet away from our escape now. We just—

An unmistakable click sounds, and Stone and I stop in our tracks. I close my eyes, wondering how this is happening again. Our plan was to come here, plead our case, and ask men in suits to invest in us instead of Lance, but that’s not what’s happened at all. I’ve now completely immersed myself in a world that’s more dangerous than treasure hunting—and that’s saying a whole fucking lot.

I peek behind us and sigh. I didn’t see this coming. Cummings is on his feet, a silver pistol in his right hand. He aims the barrel at us, moving from my chest to Stone’s and back again.

“Don’t do this,” Stone pleads, slipping in front of me.

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