Page 42 of Ruthless Wars

Mystery Tycoon Liam Cooper Byrne storms from negotiations with Long Multinational

coop: Yes.

cd: Got it. They even put your name in it. Unfortunate.

I take in his last word. Of course, Corey knows about the Alliance. But until this very second, I didn’t really consider the impact of the news story. Ignoring other questions on my mind, I go with the most pressing issue at hand.

coop: How soon?

cd: How many people?

coop: Less than a dozen.

cd: Standard answer. Standard $.

Standard answer? Soon, which could be hours. Maybe days. Never more than that.

Standard rate? This investigation, with that many people on it and that deep of a dig? Quickly, I do the calculations in my head. Over six figures.

Without hesitation, I click the round blue app icon with the letters CD centered in it. A few keystrokes later, I know the fee is paid, the funds verified and transferred instantly, and any trace will be gone in thirty seconds.

cd: Received. I’ll be in touch.

With that out of the way, I flip-flop between being relieved Allison hasn’t texted, to wondering why she hasn’t. Checking the time, I realize I’ve been gone a while.

But when I peek into the banquet hall, my heart absolutely swells. There she stands, chatting it up with smiles and laughter, looking like she belongs with the up-and-comers of Dallas.

The smile that tugs until my cheeks hurt instantly falls to a scowl. The tall guy who has his arm around my niece’s waist has about ten seconds to back away slowly.

Ten. Nine. Eight—

“Don’t freak, Grandpa. She’s fine.”

I turn around, feigning a scowl at the woman who dares to mock my misery. “Here’s the difference between you and me, Evelyn—”

“Evie.”

“Evie,” I say, welcoming a relaxed friendship between us. “Look at him. You see an up-and-coming professional with tons of potential and a bright future.”

Lifting a brow, she corrects me. “And a hot-blooded young man with one percent body fat and a cock ready to tear out of his pants and ride her up against the nearest wall.”

Shocked, I’m sure my disbelief is blaring through my wide, freaked-out eyes and dropped jaw. “What the hell, Evie? Don’t you see I’m on the brink of losing my shit, breaking them apart and then dragging her ass home like she’s a fourteen-year-old I caught necking?”

Evie gives me a saucy grin. “Yup. That’s what makes it hysterical. By the way, party-patrol dad, you might want to zip up your fly before you do.”

I spin around to check, sighing as I realize Evie just got the better of me with the oldest trick in the book. Now she knows.

“And don’t worry,” she says when I turn back around. “I already threatened Gabe to within an inch of his career and his balls.”

“You did?”

“Sure did,” she says, nodding. “Which was awkward as fuck because his mother was my nanny. The kid practically grew up at my house.”

My deadpan face breaks into a wide smile as she knocks my elbow with hers.

“So, now when I say there’s no need to worry, you can believe me. Right?”

“Right.”

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