Page 33 of Negotiating Tactics

So I tossed my pride aside, hastily gathered my stuff, and fled.

Seven

Noah

“Can you keep up old man?” Beau called, his grin as taunting as his words.

I had been hunched over, taking a series of deep breaths to slow my heart, but at my youngest brother’s words, I stood up and started dribbling the ball.

“Don’t get cocky, kid. Besides, I might let you win so lunch will be on you,” I said, switching hands before I threw the ball at Beau.

He scoffed as he snagged the ball and then threw it back. “Let me win.”

I dribbled and then blew past him, shot, and watched with pride as the ball swished through the hoop.

“Did you play in high school or something?” Beau asked as he dribbled the ball and walked toward me, his easy demeanor not fooling me one bit.

“No,” I said through clenched teeth.

Beau didn’t push, and I made no effort to offer any additional information.

He wouldn’t get it anyway.

Because what was there to say?

Who could think about extras like basketball when Mom and Nonna were barely keeping a roof over our heads?

And when would I have had the time for those luxuries around the odd jobs I did to help out as much as I could?

Beau wouldn’t get that, and I was in no mood to explain.

I swallowed the bile that burned in my throat and reminded myself that it wasn’t Beau’s fault.

No, that blame lay directly on Prescott Wilder’s feet.

And I was determined not to take Prescott’s failures out on Beau or the others.

Beau dribbled a couple of times more and then started to smile. “Do my eyes deceive me, or is that Dominic Wilder out of the office in the afternoon?”

I looked over my shoulder and watched as Dominic approached.

He wasn’t smiling, but he was dressed casually, and even more, seemed relaxed.

Or as relaxed as Dominic got.

He stopped in front of us and then gestured for the ball, which Beau launched at him.

“Are you ready to get your asses kicked?” he asked before he slammed the ball back at Beau’s chest.

The game was officially on.

“Two out of three. Not so bad,” Beau a long time later, huffing.

“Yes, Beau, losing two out of the three games instead of all three is quite an accomplishment,” Dominic said.

Beau shoved Dominic with his shoulder then looked at me.

“Yeah, not so bad for you either,” Beau said.

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