Page 112 of Misdeeds of a Billionaire
I chuckled. “If anyone’s going to do the killing, it’ll be me. I want to buy a building on the French Riviera.”
“Tell me your requirements.”
“It’s simple. I have the address. I want the entire piece of property around it and that specific building. It was once a castle.”
“Shoot me the address, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks.” My intercom buzzed. “Okay, duty calls. Price is no object. Just make it happen. I want it as soon as possible.”
“Text me the address,” he repeated before hanging up.
Another buzz through my intercom.
“Yes?” I answered as I typed the address of the building.
“Your brother’s here,” my secretary announced.
Clicking the send button, I let out a silent sigh. Didn’t that woman know after so many years, I had so many brothers it was hard to keep track. Retirement was sounding more and more attractive. Or working from somewhere sunny and warm.
Like the French Riviera, my mind whispered. I hadn’t been able to forget Odette’s words. She wanted to raise our son the way she was, after she and her sister had left the States as children. Back in Villefranche-sur-Mer. I knew Kristoff would make it happen. It’d be the perfect wedding gift to my beautiful wife.
“Sir?” My secretary’s voice reminded me it wasn’t time for daydreaming.
“Which brother?” I asked.
“Alessio.” Surprise washed over me. While my brothers were full of surprises, Alessio usually gave me a heads-up whenever he visited.
“Send him in.” It didn’t take long for a knock at the door to follow.
The door opened and Alessio came into view, his son, Kol, trailing behind him. “Hello, Uncle Byron.”
“Hey, buddy!” I stood up and strode to him. “This is such a good surprise. I missed you.”
He grinned, letting go of his father’s hand and running over to me. I lifted him up and swung him around.
He spread his hands wide open. “I’m a plane.”
I chuckled. “And what a pilot you will be. How are your pilot lessons coming along?” I asked, lowering him back to the ground.
Kol wrinkled his nose. “Daddy won’t let me fly a real plane.”
“And the world is grateful to your dad for it.”
My oldest brother—well, half brother—-threw himself into the chair and spread his legs. “God, you have the most comfortable chairs ever here. I don’t know how people leave your office.”
“Sometimes I have to kick them out,” I remarked dryly. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
He shrugged. “Wife’s meeting Aurora. We’re here for the family dinner the day after tomorrow.” Fuck, I forgot. “And let me guess, you forgot.”
“Of course I didn’t forget.” The look he gave me told me he didn’t believe me. I sat back down and pushed my hand through my hair. “Yeah, I forgot.”
His lips twisted into a smile. “And I bet I know why too.”
I leaned back into my desk chair, studying my big brother. It was hard to believe how far we’d come in the last few years. From not speaking, to being closer than I’d ever have imagined. The grumpy brother turned into a contented husband. He gave it all up for his woman, and he didn’t seem to regret it at all.
“And why is that, my all-mighty and all-knowing brother?”
He gave me one of those smug smiles. “It’s got to do with a very specific French woman.”
