Page 119 of Billionaire Lumberjack's Bride

Marty has remained suspiciously absent and silent since the last board meeting. Aside from watching him drive away from the house before we went in the day after, we haven’t heard from him at all. Something that sets both of us on edge.

We both, apparently incorrectly, had assumed he would try to pull something before this meeting, that he would show up at the hotel, making threats or otherwise interfere, but maybe he’s just that smug of an asshole to think he doesn’t need to do anything to stop us because he’s confident he’s already done it.

And we’re about to prove him wrong.

We walk into the same ice-cold reception we received last time. The board members all sit with their spines ramrod straight, refusing to look our way, while Marty stands at the head of the table, head held high, as arrogant as ever.

I was right.

He didn’t think heneededto threaten us.

He thinks he’s alreadywon.

The smug grin plastered on his face matches the confident set of his shoulders. “Let’s make this quick. Say what you have to say, then get the fuck out of my building.”

A few board members shift uncomfortably at his language.

Silas moves to his spot opposite his uncle and looks at each member of the board, when they refuse to meet his gaze. He knows his audience, and he will do whatever he has to in order to convince them they need to remove Marty—even force them to listen.

“Once again, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to come back and speak with you again after our less-than-productive meeting last week.” He glares at Marty. “Hopefully, I won’t be interrupted this time. My purpose in coming here last week that got sidetracked”—he glances my way—“by claims about my wife was to unearth some dirty laundry and buried skeletons now that my father is gone.”

Marty lowers himself into his chair, spreading out his hands and appearing bored by the whole ordeal. “I don’t know what it is you think you know, Silas, but before you say another word, I suggest you consider the consequences of making baseless accusations.”

One of Silas’ blond brows rises slowly. “You mean like the ones you threw at mywife?”

I want to clap and jump up and down at that jibe, but I try to maintain my composure while I watch for any signs of Silas about to lose his control and attack his uncle again.

If I have to step in, I will.

And Whiskey seems more than prepared to finish the job he started up on the mountain. He watches Marty from beside Silas, his lips curled, teeth bared, ready to protect his owner from the only apparent threat in the room.

I understand the feeling because it’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do for Joey.

For so long, it was only the two of us, relying on each other, trusting each other and no one else. But now that Silas knows the truth, we have him on our side, too. Willing to fight and throw his money at anyone who might be able to help with this horrific situation.

It has to be enough…just like that diary his father left needs to be today.

Silas holds it up. “I have plenty of evidence for what I’m here to say, Uncle Marty, from someone you know very well.”

Marty doesn’t flinch, but his eyes do cut over to the leather-bound book in Silas’ tattooed hand before returning to his nephew’s face.

Silas looks at each member of the board. “Someone all of you know very well. Know andrespect. Or you did…until he died a few weeks ago. You all knew my father and the type of man he was. And I suspect everyone in this room also knows the type of man Marty is as well; only you’re too afraid to do anything about it. Ronald and I were working together before his death, and while I no longer have access to any evidence he had accumulated against Martin Bolton, I do havethis.”

He opens the book and flips to the first page containing the dates, names, and incidents. Every set of eyes in the room narrows on it, but his father’s elegant scrawl isn’t readable from a distance.

I’ve practically memorized it by now.

Each instance.

All the names.

Every detail seared into my brain.

An almost endless list of horrors the man at the other end of the table has gotten away with for decades, yet he sits here today in control of one of the most profitable companies in U.S. history.

Unashamed.

Unencumbered by conscience.

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