Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Maybe a few days ago, I would have. But that was before Tempest. Before everything changed. Lena deserves happiness. If her fucking mountain man makes her happy, then I'll support it. But if he breaks her heart, I'll rip his out of his goddamn chest and feed it to him.
When the old man started in on me again, I gave up and left. It seemed like the safest way to keep the peace. Considering that he's in the hospital, there needs to be a whole lot more peace between us.
But fucking hell, he does not make it easy. He's convinced I'm not fighting for Tempest, when that's all I've done.
Jesus. I am doing that, aren't I?
Goddammit. Every time I deal with the old man, he gets my head all twisted up, makes me doubt what I thought I knew.
But I think the old bastard was right, damn him. I'm not fighting hard enough. Because she deserves to know every fucking word I haven't said to her.
Telling her scares the shit out me because words have the power to destroy. In the heat of anger, in a moment of passion, we say things, and everything fucking changes. Sometimes, for the better. In my life, it's always been for the worst.
But I don't get to hide behind that anymore. Not if I want to keep her. Because that's what loving her means—having faith that everything will be okay in the end. Trusting that I'm not going to fuck this up just by loving her. Telling her every damn day that she's the center of my world. Giving her every piece of a healed heart instead of the jagged pieces of a broken one.
That's how I fight. That's what she needs from me.
Jake chuckles. "So, he's going to be okay?"
"Yeah, he's going to be fine." I hit the gas as the light changes and the SUV rumbles through the intersection.
"Good deal. I'll hold down the fort here until you're back," Jake says.
"Right," I snort. The whole goddamn office will be on the verge of anarchy by the time I get back if I leave him in charge. "Leave the fucking company credit card alone, Jake."
"What? I can't hear you!"
I smile, shaking my head. Bastard. "Get off my phone."
"Wait!" Jake calls. "That information you asked for on Triton Evernight came in."
"Good." I sit up straighter, my grip tightening on the steering wheel. That motherfucker is up to something. I don't know what or why, but I'd stake my life on it. He's been nothing but venom and animosity since he found out that Tempest went through with the marriage. It's starting to royally piss me off. "Anything in it that I should know?"
The sound of shuffling papers echoes down the line. "Single, sleeps with everything that moves, party boy, yadda yadda yadda… Oh. That's interesting."
"What?" I growl, whipping around a red Camaro.
"The investigator left a note that says he spoke to someone who claims that Triton was confident Evernight would pass to him."
My brows pull down into a frown. "Why the fuck would it pass to him?"
"His source didn't say."
Is that why the prick is so pissed? He wanted this marriage arrangement to fail because he expected to inherit the company if it did?
Jesus Christ. Does Tempest know?
I snort. Do I even have to ask? Of course she knows. She knows everything about her company. But for some reason, she's not worried about it. I'm betting that's because he convinced her that he didn't want it, that he was on her side.
The manipulative prick.
"Look into it," I order Jake. "See if you can shake anything else loose."
"You expect trouble?" Jake asks, his tone serious.
I hesitate, not sure how to answer that. Do I think Triton is trouble? Absolutely. Do I think he may try to get his hands on Tempest's company? Fuck, yes. He's a prick. But do I think there's a chance in hell of him wresting control of Evernight from Tempest? Hell no. I'll bury him first.
"No," I finally say. "But I'd rather be prepared in case he decides to make a play for her company."
"I'll see what I can find out," Jake promises before disconnecting.
I drum my hands against the steering wheel. There's no fucking way Triton is taking the company from Tempest. I'll wage a goddamn war myself before I let that happen. No one is taking what belongs to her.
But Jesus Christ, I really don't want to have to tell her that her cousin isn't who she thinks he is. That'll break her heart into pieces. He's her best friend. And considering that I'm brand new in her life…well, without evidence, there's no fucking way she'll ever believe me over him. He's had a lifetime to earn her trust. She's still not entirely sure she can trust me.
This has the potential of destroying what little trust she has placed in me entirely.