My cheeks burned and the flush slid down my neck and onto my chest. “I wasn’t… no damn it… I was wondering that. Sorry.”
My mate took me in his arms and kissed my head. “It’s okay. You set aside your dreams and looked after your dad. And the money will allow you to resurrect those dreams.”
“I should be content with everything we’ve been given.”
“And it’s okay to envision a different future.”
I called the nurses’ desk and checked on how Dad was doing. And I texted Dad saying we’d come visit this afternoon with his favorite cookies.
My palms were sweating rivers as we zoomed up in the elevator to my father-in-law’s office. The last time we’d been here, Dad was still so sick.
When we walked into Devyn's father’s huge office, Roy was standing with his back to the window, his arms folded and his expression defiant. While I hadn’t been around Devyn’s beast much, I recognized the wolf in Roy’s eyes.
“Good, you’re here.” Rein sat behind his huge desk, his gaze on us and ignoring Roy.
I didn’t want to hear what Roy had done or Sebastian. Was I grieving over the possible loss of what my father had built? Absolutely. But I didn’t need a breakdown of what was done. A summary would do.
“Speak,” Rein barked at Roy.
My brother-in-law curled his lips into a snark and I squeezed my mate’s hand.
“I was the mastermind behind the plan.”
Gods, he was proud of himself, puffing out his chest. Rein growled at his son, claws appearing and then retracting from his fingertips.
“Please tell me your father isn’t going to release his wolf?” I whispered to my mate.
“Human, we can hear everything you say because our hearing is far superior to yours.”
“Quiet!” Rein yelled. I jumped and goosebumps prickled over my skin. “Continue. But first was Duke in on this plan?”
“You’ll have to ask him yourself.” Roy circled the room, a hint of a smile on his face. “If you recall Father, I was the one who brought up doing a buy out of Sebastian’s company. I mentioned I’d met him a few times and that was true. I spoke of how he was a fool and didn’t have a head for business. Again true.”
Roy appeared to be relishing his recounting of whatever he’d done because he had a gleam in his eye and he rubbed his hands together.
“But what I didn’t say was that I made a deal with him, telling him I’d rig the books so it would look as though his company had more assets than it did.” He went on to say that the millions Sebastian would earn from the sale would be shared with himself. “And so not only would I have enough money to leave this life where I am under your thumb, Father.” He cleared his throat. “But I would have screwed you in the process.”
“My people did a deep dive into the financials,” Rein muttered.
Roy shook his head and teetered on tippy toes as though he was bursting to say something. “As you well know, Father, money can buy everything, even integrity.”
Rein’s face reddened but no fur rippled over his arms and I hoped I didn’t have to watch my father-in-law’s wolf attack Roy’s.
“But you haven’t heard the best part.”
My stomach roiled. Why did I think this had something to do with me?
“Sebastian mentioned that he wanted to be rid of him.” He jerked his head in my direction. Now it was Devyn’s turn to snarl. He raced toward Roy but Rein got there first and yelled to back off.
“He wanted to kill my mate.” Devyn tried to push his father away but Rein was stronger.
“I will deal with him. Heismy son.” My father-in-law’s voice echoed around the room.
“I didn’t say kill, did I?” Roy’s wolf was in the forefront of his gaze.
“Everyone, push your beasts back.” I didn’t have a beast but Rein’s command had me grabbing Devyn and pulling him close. He hugged me as I tried to control my trembling.
“Speak,” Rein shouted at Roy.
